Depo-Provera

In 5 minutes
 What is Depo-Provera?
• Long-acting synthetic progesterone
– Progestin
• Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate
– DMPA
 We’ve all heard of it, right?
• Birth control
• Shot in the arm
• Lasts 3 months
 Who is it suited for?
• Unable to take other contraceptives
– Forget / inconvenienced
– Daily
– At time of
– Unable to take contraceptives w/ estrogen
• Don’t need STI protection
• Don’t want to conceive within next year
• No multiple risk factors for osteoporosis
 So where do you get it?
• Healthcare •
provider
• Q 3 months
What Routes?
 How does it work?
1. Suppresses ovulation
 No eggs released
2. Thickens cervical mucus
 Keeps sperm out
3. Thins lining of uterus
 Makes implantation unlikely
 Benefits
• Highly effective (99%)
• 1 shot q 3 months
• Privacy
• Breastfeeding ok
• Protection against cancer
– Endometrial
– Ovarian
 Adverse fx

Menstrual irregularities
Weight gain
Reversible bone loss
 Summary
• Progestin (progesterone) shot
• Lasts 3 months
• Highly effective
• Fx eggs, mucus, uterus
• Amenorrhea, weight gain, bone loss
• Delayed return of fertility after stop
• Shouldn’t be used > 2 years
End.
 History
• Approved by FDA in 1992
• Approval controversy since 1969
– R/T trials
• Ethics violations
– No informed consent
– Using before approved
• Cancer
– Animal standards
 How it works (Video)

1. Stops Ovulation / 2. Thickens cervical mucus / (3. Changes Lining)