About the Birth Control Shot
Talking to your kids about sex can be daunting, no matter how close you are. But discussing issues like abstinence, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and birth control can help lower teens' risk of an condoms along with the shot to protect against STDs.
Abstinence (not having sex) is the only method that always prevents pregnancy and STDs.
Possible Side Effects
Many women who receive the birth control shot will notice a change in their periods. The other side effects that some women have include:
- irregular or no menstrual periods
- weight gain, headaches, and breast tenderness
- depression
- acne
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a safety warning with regard to the use of the long-acting progesterone shot. Studies link this shot to a loss of bone density in women, although bone density may recover when a woman is no longer getting the shot. Doctors are not sure how this type of shot may affect the bone density of adolescent girls in the future, though. Young women who are considering the shot as a method of birth control should talk to their doctors about it and make sure that they get enough calcium each day. Women who smoke should be sure to let their doctors know because smoking may be connected to this bone density loss.
Who Uses the Birth Control Shot?
Young women who have difficulty remembering to take Larissa Hirsch, MD
Date reviewed: January 2007