Search
Messages Podcasts Newsletters

LIFE

Contraceptive injection

First published on Monday 18 July 2016 Last modified on Sunday 18 September 2016

doctor giving injection syringe

This contains the hormone progestogen and can be used every two or three months.

This page contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small amount of money if a reader clicks through and makes a purchase. All our articles and reviews are written independently by the Netmums editorial team.

There are currently two types of injections used in the UK - Depo Provera (lasts for 3 months) and Noristerat (lasts for 2 months) both of which are injected into the bottom, arm or thigh. It works along exactly the same lines as the pill by stopping the ovaries from releasing an egg and thickening the mucus to the entrance of the cervix/thinning womb lining.

A good alternative to the pill - it's ideal for busy women or those who don't want the responsibility of taking a pill every day. You do however need to keep track of when you had it done and when it will run out to ensure you're covered at all times. Some clinics will send you a reminder note, but this might not always be the case.

Advantages:

  • Once it's done, you can forget about it for 2/3 months.
  • There's no interruptions to sex.
  • It's safe for breastfeeding mums or women who can't have oestrogens.
  • There is evidence to show it can reduce heavy or painful periods and provide protection against cancer of the womb.

Disadvantages:

  • Potential weight increase.
  • You might notice more irregularities to your periods, or they could stop altogether.
  • Potential side effects include nausea, skin changes (including acne), mood changes and headaches.
  • The hormone remains in your blood stream for 2-3 months so if you notice immediate side effects, they will continue until the contraception wears off.
  • If you decide to stop the contraceptive injection, you can expect it to take time for your cycle to get back to normal - in many cases this can take months, but in some (more extreme) cases, it can take a year or more.
  • Depo-Provera (the most popular injection) affects your normal oestrogen level, which can cause thinning of the bones, though once you stop having the injection, any risk is reversed.
  • It doesn't protect you against STDs.

Related articles

What mums say

"I had the injection for 2 years, I can honestly say I didn't have periods but it made me put loads of weight on which I wasn't used to."

Gillian B

"I went on the injection at the start of the year, after a couple of weeks I came on what I thought was a period... I experienced this bleeding for just under 3 months. I mentioned it to the nurse at my next appointment for my next injection and she said this "should" calm down after the 2nd injection which thankfully it did but I agree the injection isn't the best form of contraception with regard to side effects !!"

Shelley T

"I've been on the injection for just over a year now and can honestly say, I've had no problems with it whatsoever. There's a risk of side effects with any type of contraception but it seems that I've found one that suits both me and my body."

Lynette C

Don't Miss