Table of contents:
- Various side effects of injectable birth control
- 1. Menstrual disorders arise
- 2. It will take longer to get pregnant again
- 3. Can reduce bone density
- 4. Trigger headaches
- 5. It is not useful to get rid of acne
- 6. Can cause flatulence
- 7. Weight gain
- 8. Increase the risk of lining of the brain cancer
- How long will the side effects of injectable birth control be felt?
Injectable contraception is a type of contraception that is injected every three months to prevent pregnancy. These hormonal contraceptives have a 99 percent success rate of preventing pregnancy when used on schedule. However, there are some side effects from injectable birth control that may occur in its users. What are the effects of these injectable birth control?
Various side effects of injectable birth control
Similar to the use of other contraceptive methods, injectable contraceptives also have several side effects that must be considered, such as the following.
1. Menstrual disorders arise
The most common side effect of injectable contraceptive use is menstrual disorders.
According to dr. Jason James, medical director of Miami's FemCare Ob-Gyn, one of the drawbacks of injectable birth control is the possibility of experiencing irregular periods, which can even last longer than usual.
In fact, after a few months, the progesterone content in injectable birth control can make the lining of your uterus thinner.
As a result, you will stop menstruating. Your periods will return slowly after you stop using injectable birth control, even if your menstrual pattern becomes irregular.
There is no special treatment you can do to overcome this side effect. The reason is, injectable birth control is a type of hormonal contraceptive method that affects the hormones in your body.
This of course will have an influence on your menstrual cycle.
You don't really need to worry about the side effects of this one injection of birth control. The reason is, when you no longer use this contraceptive method at a later date, slowly your menstrual cycle will return to normal.
2. It will take longer to get pregnant again
Using injectable contraceptives as a means of contraception does require considerable consideration.
The reason is, one of the side effects of using injectable birth control is the length of time your fertility will return.
This means that in order to return to fertility after stopping using injectable birth control, you may have to wait a while.
There are women who can get pregnant immediately after leaving three months of injection contraception. However, this is relatively rare. Often times, a woman has to wait after 10 to 22 months before she can become pregnant.
Therefore, if you want to have a baby immediately after a long delay, you should reconsider if you want to use injectable birth control.
In fact, birth control pills may suit you better so that fertility returns more quickly.
3. Can reduce bone density
One of the side effects of using injectable contraceptives that also needs attention is that this contraceptive can reduce bone loss.
In fact, using injectable birth control for more than two years can apparently cause a decrease in bone density.
This side effect of injectable birth control was found in some women who have used injectable contraceptives for the long term.
This is why injectable contraception is not recommended for use by women under 18 years of age or women who have entered menopause.
Therefore, if you insist on using injectable birth control as the method of contraception that suits you best, accompany the use of injectable birth control with vitamin D supplements and increase your calcium intake.
Actually the same as the side effects previously mentioned, you don't need to worry about the side effects of using this one injection of contraceptive. Why is that?
The reason is, after you stop using this hormonal contraceptive, your bone density will return to normal in a not too long time.
4. Trigger headaches
Usually, contraceptives that provide side effects in the form of headaches are hormonal contraceptives, such as injection contraceptives.
Not only that, the use of birth control pills or hormonal IUDs also has the potential to cause this one side effect.
However, if you experience headaches after using birth control injections, it's best to consult a doctor immediately.
This occurs due to worrying about other triggers that can worsen your headache.
Often these side effects appear with long-term use of injectable birth control.
If the headache is severe enough that you can't handle it, it's better if you stop using it.
5. It is not useful to get rid of acne
When using birth control injections, you should not expect this contraceptive to treat acne problems.
Yes, even though it is a hormonal contraceptive, injectable contraceptives cannot get rid of acne like birth control pills.
Birth control pills can get rid of acne because these contraceptive pills contain a combination of estrogen and progesterone, so they can make the skin acne-free and brighter and cleaner.
Both hormones work by reducing the excess testosterone in the body, which worsens acne, leaving the skin acne-free.
However, once again, the use of birth control injections that only contain the hormone progesterone cannot provide the side effects that can be obtained from using these birth control pills, especially in dealing with acne.
6. Can cause flatulence
Bloating and stomach cramps are common side effects of birth control injections for women.
This is because the progesterone content can slow down intestinal digestion.
Yes, injectable contraceptives are contraceptives that contain progestin, which is an artificial form of progesterone.
Injectable birth control works by suppressing ovulation (release of eggs). The egg cell will not be released so that it cannot be fertilized every month.
Not only that, birth control injections also thicken the mucus in the cervix so that sperm cannot reach the egg.
Although it is useful for preventing pregnancy, this contraceptive also has side effects for its users.
There are many women who experience flatulence and nausea after birth control injections. What caused it?
According to dr. Jason James from Miami, United States, flatulence accompanied by cramps and nausea is an initial complaint that is usually felt by people who have just had birth control injections.
When the level of the hormone progesterone in the body increases, the digestive system will slow down. This causes the movement of food in the intestines to be slower than usual. As a result, digestive problems such as bloating can occur.
In addition, the content of the hormone progesterone in injectable birth control can also make the body accumulate fluids.
This excess fluid is usually stored in the breasts, hips, and thighs. However, it does not rule out that excess fluid will also be stored in the stomach. As a result, the stomach feels bloated and uncomfortable.
This condition also arises because the body tries to adjust to the additional progesterone hormone that is injected into the body. As the body gets used to it, these side effects will slowly start to disappear.
So, you don't need to worry because usually the side effects of injectable birth control such as nausea and flatulence will slowly disappear over time.
7. Weight gain
Did you know that one of the other side effects of injectable birth control is weight gain?
True, it's not just birth control pills that make you fat, women who use injectable birth control gain an average of up to five kilograms (kg) of weight over the three years of use. Meanwhile, other contraceptives only provide 1-2 kilograms as a side effect.
However, you need to remember that because of these side effects, injectable contraceptives are not necessarily a cause of obesity.
Some experts say that injectable birth control is a good choice for postponing pregnancy.
You can overcome the side effects of using these injectable birth control by exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy diet.
This certainly helps you to hold on to weight which may be easier to increase since the use of this injectable birth control.
For that, you need to discuss with your doctor to find the contraceptive method that best suits you.
If you want to get pregnant again soon after you stop using contraceptives, want to have a more regular menstrual cycle, or have side effects that lighten your skin, it may be better if you use birth control pills.
8. Increase the risk of lining of the brain cancer
Apparently, another side effect that can also occur from the use of injectable birth control is cancer of the lining of the brain.
Yes, long-term use of injectable contraceptives can increase symptoms of cerebral pussumorum, a type of brain tumor that can develop into cancer of the lining of the brain.
Pseudotumor cerebri is a buildup of fluid pressure in the brain and causes severe headaches, vision problems, and other health complications.
Therefore, consult your doctor about the side effects of using this injection contraceptive if you choose to use it as a contraceptive.
If not, ask your doctor for advice on other contraceptives that suit your needs and condition.
If you need further information, please contact your doctor or midwife.
How long will the side effects of injectable birth control be felt?
Quoted from Verywell Health, it generally takes about three months for the body to adjust to the injection birth control that you just did.
Apart from nausea and flatulence as side effects of this injection birth control, at first you will also experience prolonged or irregular bleeding.
No need to panic, the symptoms of these side effects are very normal for people who have just had birth control injections.
However, if the bleeding doesn't stop and causes excruciating pain, it's a good idea to see a doctor immediately.
Not only that, there are several other side effects that you can experience, including the following.
- The appearance of certain skin reactions, such as a rash.
- Decreased sexual arousal.
- Increased appetite.
- Breasts feel tight and painful.
- Hair loss.
When your body is getting used to the progestin hormone, the side effects of this injection of birth control will continue to decrease and go away on its own.
Besides, as mentioned earlier, some of the side effects are temporary.
This means that once you stop using injectable birth control, the effects you feel will also decrease over time.
Moreover, if you decide to stop using injectable birth control as your contraceptive, some of the effects you will experience will gradually improve and return to how you were before.
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