In the UK only 3% of women choose the Depo-Provera injection as their form or birth-control but many others claim the side effects are too problematic and feel as though it should be banned... just how safe is it?
Depo-provera is a form of hormonal contraceptive used by women that requires an injection every three months and is said to be 99% effective when used consistently.
'The injection' is said to cause possible side effects of nausea, weight gain, headaches, spotting between periods or no periods at all. It can also take up to 10 months for a regular cycle to return after use.
Many of the women we spoke to said that these side effects effected their day to day lives. They said:
Arinola Araba -"I remember that traditional condoms and the diaphragm could not keep the babies away. So I decided to try the "depo provera” injectable after the third pregnancy. Let’s just say I was not too happy about putting on the weight. I hated the headaches, maybe mood swings, having to book the appointment, bumps in my bum cheeks from the injection and I think, skin changes - pimples. So I came to the conclusion to throw it all away. think with a background in health, I did not consider it a "safe” long term option because of the other side effects (known and unknown) and perhaps "mental health changes”. It was a "lazy” way to do something about contraception then as I had too much going on in my relationship that could distract me from keeping up with the regular taking of the mini pill or the combined pill. Pregnancy 4 came when I thought I was OK, so after that I opted for the coil. And so my trip to labour ward was done."
Lucy Dobson - "I’ve been on the depo twice this is my second time and I really like it because I have endometriosis and for me it’s the only contraception that makes it bare-able pain wise however since starting it I’ve piled on weight and I’m covered head to toe in stretch marks and I mean I do have stretch mark prone skin however just had a few on my legs and now I’m covered everywhere. It’s mainly stopped my periods which is why I like it but I do spot every now and then and I don’t think it has any effect on my sex drive and it normally takes people a while till they can start to conceive once they come off."
Katie Silverthorne - "It was a long time ago now - I was about 18 at the time - I’m now 38! So I imagine that things might have changed somewhat. I don’t remember being given any particular warning about the injection. The doctors were more interested in me not getting pregnant I think, which was what I was interested in too, to be honest. Very soon after I had it I started to experience extreme mood swings and what felt like the worst PMT that I have ever had. I didn’t have periods anymore but felt like I was permanently stressed, bad tempered and very moody. I cried a lot as felt so depressed. It looks me ages to realise what was causing it and was so pleased when the effects of the injection finally wore off. It was terrible! It also made me realise that certain types of pill also reacted unfavourably with me."
Nikki Hesford - "I self inject the Sayana Press injection - it’s brilliant, only have to see a nurse once every 9 months for new script. Far more convenient than previous depo injection that I had to go to clinic for every 12 weeks. They say it’s the same and there’s no side effect in making the transition but it’s not true. I bled for 10 weeks making the transition from depo. You also have to be very careful to empty the full blister or it won’t last full 12 weeks but once mastered it’s much better."
Insight into experiences on the injection was also given by trans-man Toris Aslow who said: "So far I have only had one injection but it had some side effects, so for the first few weeks it made me feel really aggressive. It also made me bleed quite a lot, for almost two weeks towards the end of the first one."
In the US, depo-provera shots are used to chemically castrate male paedophiles as it reduces sex-drive.
According to a paper by researcher, Katherine Amlin, people have argued that this method of chemical castration has been ineffective but research has shown that 75% of repeat offences have been reduced to 2% using the drug.
A representative for National Institute for Health Care and Excellence said: "Hormonal contraceptives are very safe, highly effective medicines for preventing unintended pregnancy and the benefits associated with their use far outweigh their risks.
"In some women, hormonal contraceptives can initially cause side effects, most commonly headaches, nausea, breast tenderness and mood swings.
"In the UK prescribers and women are well informed about the risk of adverse effects with all hormonal contraceptives through the Summary of Product Characteristics and Patient Information Leaflet, including those that may occur in the longer-term.
"If women have any questions, they should discuss them with their GP or contraceptive provider at their next routine appointment but should keep taking their contraceptive until they have done so.
"All medicines have side effects - no effective medicine is without risk and a suspected adverse reaction does not necessarily mean that a medicine has caused this, just that there is a suspicion that it could have been responsible.
"We encourage people to report any side effects of medicines to us directly through our Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard."
NICE refused to comment on other issues relating to the injection.