Table of contents:
- How the 3 month injection of contraception works to prevent pregnancy
- 3-month injection contraceptive schedule
- What should I do if I am 3 months late for birth control injections?
- The benefits of using injection contraceptive for 3 months
- 1. Effective
- 2. Easy and fast
- 3. Not permanent
- 4. Can reduce pain due to menstruation
- The risks of using a 3 month birth control injection
- 1. It takes time to be fertile again
- 2. Not able to prevent sexually transmitted diseases
- 3. Likely to increase the risk of osteoporosis
- Side effects of using 3-month injection of contraceptives
The contraceptive injection is one of the most popular contraceptive methods. There are several types of birth control injections that are usually differentiated based on the time of injection. Currently, 3 months and 1 month injection contraceptive are available. In general, injectable contraception was chosen because it was considered practical, because there was no need to go back and forth every month to get a contraceptive injection. Check out the explanation further in the following article.
How the 3 month injection of contraception works to prevent pregnancy
One of the most widely known brands of 3-month injection contraceptive is Depo Provera. Each injection from this injection birth control releases the progestin hormone, medroxyprogesterone. This hormone lasts for 12 weeks.
If you want to use this method as a contraceptive option, you will have to have a birth control injection every three months. This birth control works by thickening cervical mucus so that it is difficult for sperm cells to swim in the uterus. That way, sperm cells cannot fertilize an egg and stop ovulation.
This injectable birth control is classified as very effective in preventing pregnancy. In fact, Depo Provera, one of the injectable family planning brands has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration or the equivalent of the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) in Indonesia.
However, you must understand that using injectable birth control cannot protect you from sexually transmitted diseases. This means that if you want to avoid contracting venereal diseases during sexual intercourse, you still have to use a condom.
3-month injection contraceptive schedule
As the name implies, the 3 month birth control injection can only work effectively only if it is used once every 12 weeks. That way, you should get at least four birth control injections a year.
You can start using these injectable birth control at any time you want. You will immediately get protection from pregnancy if you get your first birth control injection when:
- The first seven days after menstruation stops.
- The first seven days after a miscarriage or abortion.
- The first three weeks after delivery.
If you do not get this birth control injection at the times mentioned above, you must use a condom when having sex with a partner in the first week of use. As long as you get your next shot on time, you won't need another backup form of contraception afterward.
What should I do if I am 3 months late for birth control injections?
As with other injectable birth control uses, you can also forget to get the 3 month birth control injection. This of course depends on how long you forget it. The reason is, how much you forget to show how late you are to get this injection.
You can still get these birth control injections if you are still 10 weeks late from the time you last injected them. However, if you are more than 15 weeks late from that time, you may need backup contraception. For example, you can use a condom. Especially in the first week after you get your new injection.
Therefore, if you have penetrated a partner without using a condom after being more than 15 weeks late for your birth control injection, you may need to use emergency contraception after sex. You are also advised to take a home pregnancy test before getting your next birth control injection.
Therefore, it is very important for you to keep in mind your injection schedule so you don't forget and get late for this birth control injection.
The benefits of using injection contraceptive for 3 months
There are several benefits of using this injectable birth control that you can consider.
1. Effective
According to Planned Parenthood, 3-month injection contraception is a method of contraception that is classified as effective in preventing pregnancy. However, as previously mentioned, these injectable birth control will only be effective for 3 months, and you should get your next injection on time.
2. Easy and fast
This injectable birth control is of course quite fast and easy. The reason is, you only need to remember to use it four times a year. In addition, if you use these injectable birth control, you don't have to bother taking birth control pills every day, or taking them during sex.
In fact, if your doctor allows it, you can do these birth control injections independently at home. Of course very easy, right?
3. Not permanent
Unlike the sterilization method, birth control injections are not permanent. Therefore, its temporary use does not prevent you from having children forever. You can also arrange the right time for you to have children.
This means that if after a long period of time using injectable birth control and you suddenly change your mind, you can stop using it and start a pregnancy program with your partner.
4. Can reduce pain due to menstruation
This injectable birth control can also help reduce pain due to menstruation. Not only that, the use of birth control can also help lighter bleeding. Even for some women, menstruation will stop as long as using this effective method of contraception.
However, that doesn't mean you won't be menstruating forever. If you stop using injectable birth control, your periods will resume as before.
The risks of using a 3 month birth control injection
Apart from the benefits, the use of birth control injections also has certain risks that you may experience. Therefore, you need to consult with your doctor to determine whether these birth control injections are suitable for your health condition. Here are some of the risks you may experience when using these birth control injections.
1. It takes time to be fertile again
Your fertility may return to normal if you stop using these birth control injections. Unfortunately, fertility did not return immediately. That is, it will take some time for the fertility to return to normal.
Usually, you have to wait up to 10 months or more for you to return to ovulating and having your period again after stopping using these birth control injections. If you want to get pregnant immediately after giving up birth control, then this type of birth control injection may not be the right contraceptive method for you.
2. Not able to prevent sexually transmitted diseases
The three-month contraceptive injection cannot protect you from transmitting venereal diseases. In fact, it is possible that using birth control may actually increase your risk of developing HIV or chlamydia. However, the truth as well as the cause of the risk has not been found.
If you want to avoid sexually transmitted diseases, it is better if you use a condom or dental dam when having sex with your partner.
3. Likely to increase the risk of osteoporosis
One other risk that you may also face is osteoporosis. This condition is most likely to occur in adolescents who have not reached ideal bone mass. Moreover, it is still not certain whether this condition can return to normal when you stop using it.
Therefore, it is advisable for you to think carefully about whether the use of injectable birth control is in accordance with your wishes and conditions. In addition, you are advised not to use these injectable birth control for more than two years of use.
Side effects of using 3-month injection of contraceptives
The hormones in these birth control injections can cause side effects in some people, but these don't happen to everyone. Most of the people who use this birth control do not experience any problems.
The most common side effect of the 3 month birth control injection is changes in your periods, especially in the first year. This includes:
- The duration of menstruation is longer than usual after the 3 month birth control injection
- Spotting or spots (light bleeding or brown discharge between periods)
- No menstruation at all after 3 months of birth control injection
Some people even stop menstruating when they get the 3 month birth control injection. However, don't worry, this procedure is completely safe.
Apart from those mentioned above, the body reactions that may arise due to the 3 month birth control injection are:
- Nausea
- Weight gain
- Headache
- Breast pain
- Depression
- A little bruise where you got the injection
- Small play indentation in the area of the skin where you were given the injection
These side effects of birth control injections usually disappear after two to three months, when your body gets used to the hormones in the injections.
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