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A great option for forgotten women, the injectable contraceptive can be the solution for those who adopt the hormonal form as contraceptive. The oral contraceptive is still the most used to prevent pregnancy and it is usually used for a period of 21 days with a 7-day break.
Some are specific to 24 pills with a 4-day break. However, it can be disadvantageous in cases where the woman frequently forgets the contraceptive . Its ingestion daily or even with different time limits , since it loses the effectiveness of preventing pregnancy a forgetting of more than 12 hours.
Forgetting Oral Contraceptives
A woman who forgets the pill more than once a month, should seriously think together with her gynecologist about another form of prevention, and that is where the injectable contraceptive comes into the picture. It acts in the same way as oral contraceptives, with the advantage of being applied only once a month (monthly injectable contraceptives) or in the case of quarterly injectable contraceptives, every 3 months.
Both the oral pill and the injectable contraceptive use hormones to block ovulation . The difference really, is just the way it is used. Most injectable contraceptives are used for the first time on the first day of menstruation and after that period, applied again between the 7th and 10th day of the cycle. Always counted from the day of live bleeding of menstruation , the same with injectable contraceptives for prolonged use.
What is Injectable Contraceptive Made of?
Like oral contraceptives, injectable contraceptives can be made from progesterone or estrogen, which if used throughout the cycle does not let the ovulatory cycle happen and women do not ovulate. After the injectable contraceptive is applied, it releases small amounts of hormones daily for the purpose of preventing an unwanted pregnancy.
In the case of injectable contraceptives, it may be based on either progesterone or estrogen. The quarterly injection, on the other hand, is the base of progesterone, thus, they are of longer duration as they are absorbed very slowly by the body. The estrogen-based injectable contraceptive has a great result when it comes to reducing PMS symptoms.
However, a major drawback is escapes . These leaks are due to low progesterone in the body and an increase in estrogen. The leak can appear when you least expect it and often when you are unprepared without a hand sanitizer.
IMPORTANT: If you are unsure of which method to use, talk to your gynecologist and see what are the best options for you and your body.
Advantages and disadvantages
A great advantage of this type of contraceptive is also the reduction in the risk of cancer of the cervix and ovaries. But they can be harmful to women who have hypertension because they cause vascular diseases.
The first cycle with both the oral pill and injectables must be preserved because there is still a risk of pregnancy. From the second cycle with continuous use, the woman would already be protected from becoming pregnant. With the use of quarterly contraceptives, from the second week onwards, it would be a safe period to maintain safe relationships with contraceptives only.
Contraceptive Injection Fattening?
Many women still have a resistance with injectable contraceptives due to the myth that it would make them fat and not a legend, you know? The disadvantage of progesterone-based injectable contraceptives is that they can cause swelling in the woman giving the impression that she has gained weight.
It is usually a swelling due to fluid retention, similar to what happens in early pregnancy. This progesterone- based contraceptive injection is often used after delivery and is very effective in breastfeeding cases. In addition, progesterone-based contraceptives can also have side effects of pregnancy symptoms since progesterone is also a hormone present in this phase.
Estrogen-based injectable contraceptives are less susceptible to these swellings, but depending on how the body reacts, it may happen that some women get fat or swell. Women who intend to become pregnant after using injectable contraceptives should know that it can take 3 to 6 cycles for the hormone to leave the body completely . Some women go for up to 4 months without menstruating after stopping the medication and it is normal for it to happen.
How much?
Most injectable contraceptives are very affordable, costing around R $ 12 to 20 applied directly at the pharmacy by a specialist (pharmacist). Depending on the region you live in, it may be cheaper or more expensive. Another factor that can add value is the brand, if generic it can be more affordable.
Questions from Readers:
I forgot the day to take the injectable contraceptive and now?
Depending on the type of contraceptive you use, you have a tolerance of up to 4 days to apply again. However, if you spend this time you should wait for the menstruation that will probably come due to deprivation of use and then apply again on the first day of the cycle and in the meantime protect yourself not to get pregnant.
How long after you stop taking the contraceptive will ovulation return?
The time limit for the ovaries to wake up after stopping the use of injectable contraceptives is 3 to 6 months. Sometimes it can last up to a year. However, if there is no menstruation for more than 3 months, a doctor should be consulted.
During the use of injectable contraceptives, I have menstruated, late menstruation with an aspect of sludge, is this pregnancy?
It is not always and rare cases are pregnancies. Most of the time it is a usual escape from medication. However, there are cases in which the prolonged use of the same type of contraceptive can cause pregnancy. With the body getting used to the quantity and also the medication or with use outside the ideal period, it is possible to have an ovulation that results in pregnancy.
It is worth asking your gynecologist for guidance on the best form of contraception to be used in your case. Each organism can react differently to the varieties of medication. If injectable contraceptives are the best solution. If you are afraid of needles or if it is a big problem to apply medication through this route, look at other forms of contraception such as Patches, IUDs and even contraceptive implants. The important thing is to be safe with the adopted form.
See also: How the Menstrual Cycle and Cycle Stages Work
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
