Birth control medication is an advantage for women who don’t want to get pregnant. Unlike birth pills which need a constant reminder and timing to take, Depo shots are an easy approach where a single shot can give protection for a minimum of 3 months. Most women of childbearing age depend on depo to be in the safe zone of not getting pregnant. So, how to get pregnant fast after depo shot?
Depo shot is widely available and US FDA recognised birth control shot with high efficacy. However the question of safety and planning pregnancy after taking a depo shot is quite a concern for the women who use it. Let’s discuss how depo works, how long you can take it, how much time it takes to get pregnant after stopping the shot, possible side effects and when to consult a doctor.
Infographic on Tips to Boost Fertility After Depo-Provera Shot
What is a Depo Shot?
Depo is a hormone chemically known as Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (1). This is mostly available in the brand name Depo-Provera. It is similar to progesterone, a naturally occurring reproductive hormone in females (2).
Depo-provera, a birth control shot is a highly effective contraception method. This injectable hormonal birth control shot can work for 90 days or 3 months straight without the need to take any other form of contraceptive pills daily (3).
You must repeat the shot after 3 months if you want to prolong your contraception.
Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate also works on treating menstrual disorders. High doses help treat certain cancers involving reproductive hormones (4).
[Read : What Are The Different Contraception Methods?]
How Does Depo Shot Work?
Depo shot works in two ways to prevent pregnancy (5).
1. The synthetic progesterone in the shot stops the formation of eggs. As a result no egg release during the cycle.
2. It can also thicken the cervical mucus making it difficult for the sperm to swim and thinning the endometrium. This reduces the chances of implantation.
The injection is given either to your arm muscles or buttocks. The recommended dose is 150 mg and you must repeat the shot every 12 to 13 weeks. You can take it any day during the menstrual cycle (6).
You can continue with a shot every three months as long as you are not pregnant. It is vital to stick to the schedule. If you miss or delay the shot chances are there that you may get pregnant in between.
Depo shots almost work instantly if women take it during their menstruation. If it is taken on other days women must wait for a week or 10 days for the medicine to work as a contraceptive.
The accuracy of depo shots stands at 97 % and efficacy at 99.7% which makes a depo shot to rely on for effective contraception (5A).
When to Stop Depo Shots if You Want to Get Pregnant?
You can get pregnant in around 12 to 14 weeks after you stop taking the last shot. However, most women can get pregnant within 18 months after stopping the drug with a median estimate of at least 9 months to get pregnant after stopping the shot (7).
It’s a long-acting birth control, a healthy individual can take 120 to 200 days for the depo to be eliminated from the body.
If you are planning to get pregnant next year, you might not plan to take a depo shot now.
How long can a woman take to get pregnant after a depo shot has no effect by the length of time she has taken the depo. Every woman has a different elimination rate of drugs from the body.
Things You Can Do to Get Pregnant Fast After Stopping The Depo Shot
There are no hard and fast rules to get pregnant soon after taking depo shots. Most studies show it can take at least 30 weeks to return to normal ovulation.
Ovulation takes at least 12 months to regulate and get back to normal after the last shot.
It takes time for the depo shot to get eliminated from the body. There are no cleanses, supplements are diets that can make the process faster.
You can, in the meanwhile, prepare your body for the pregnancy. Here are a few things you can do.
- Track your ovulation. You can know that you are ovulating once your periods get back to normal and become regular. You can use methods such as ovulation calender chart to track your ovulation.
- Plan your intercourse. Ovulation happens mid-cycle of your menstrual cycle. Having intercourse during this time increases your chances of getting pregnant.
- Have intercourse regularly. Continue having unprotected intercourse with your partner regularly even if your periods are not regular.
- Use ovulation kits. You can use ovulation kits to help get pregnant. These kits help predict your ovulation so that you can plan your intercourse.
- Start fertility supplements and vitamins. You can start taking a few prenatal vitamins to support conception and future pregnancy..
- Focus on nutrition and hydration. Eat a well-balanced diet and nutritious food.
- Workout. Make a routine of daily fertility exercises and be mindful of having a healthy weight without obesity.
- Practice yoga asanas for fertility.
- Do everything you would do to prepare your body for pregnancy.
The FDA information on the depo label says that women with healthy weight come back to normal fertility faster than women with overweight or obesity (8).
The difference in weight gain happens due to the varied absorption of progesterone based on each person’s metabolism.
One study revealed that a new version of subcutaneous depo (under-the-skin injection) decreased the delay of ovulation for 97% of women than in women who take a regular intramuscular Depo injection (9).
[Read : Best Ovulation Period For Pregnancy]
Side Effects of Depo Shot
Most women who take depo shots may experience some common to serious side effects
Side effects of a depo shot are due to its hormonal structure and effects mimicking the progesterone hormone. When used regularly women may experience these side effects.
Here are some of the important side effects you must know if before starting depo provera (10).
1. Low Bone Density
Depo use can result in low bone density (11). Among teenage girls and women with known osteoporosis, anorexia nervosa, and drinking and smoking, use of this medication that can cause low absorption of calcium in the body are at high risk
2. Irregular Menstruation
Menstrual irregularities are most commonly observed in almost every woman using depo. Absence of periods is observed in 57% of women taking this shot.
3. Pregnancy Complications
Ectopic pregnancies may be often observed in a few women taking depo which needs a surgical procedure and immediate medical attention.
4. Cancers
There is an increaed risk of breast cancer with prolonged or frequent usage of the depo provera shot.
4. Clots
Blood clots can occur in certain parts of body mostly in the lungs and lower extremities of the body.
5. Changes in Vagina
Dryness of vagina, painful intercourse. Unusual vaginal bleeding which needs medical attention.
Other side effects that are observed in common are (12)
- Weight gain
- Eye problems
- Depression
- Migraine headache
- Seizures
- Acne
- Severe pain or pus formation at the site of injection
- Hives or breathing difficulty
- Stroke
Calcium and vitamin D supplements are suggested to be taken throughout the usage of Depo to maintain bone density (5B).
Stopping medication usually allows for regaining of the bone density. But for women who are taking depo for more than 2 years, it can be difficult to regain it (13).
When to Consult a Doctor?
For most women, the menstrual cycle and ovulation may resume within a year of using depo shots. But if there are still disturbances in the menstrual cycle or you feel no proper ovulation is happening, you will need to consult a gynecologist or a family health practitioner.
You will need to consult a doctor if
- Periods are not regular even after two years of stopping depo.
- You are not conceiving after one year of regular unprotected intercourse with normal periods.
- You doubt if you are experiencing any other infertility issues.
- You are experiencing regular and severe vaginal bleeding.
- There are signs of low sexual interest, dryness, itching or swelling of the vagina.
Women wanting to get pregnant after stopping depo should understand the cycle of menstruation or ovulation can not be predicted accurately. It would help if you track ovulation have unprotected intercourse. Discuss your plans with your healthcare provider when you want to have a baby before even starting the depo schedule.
Depo Provera has high efficacy and accuracy when it comes to birth control. When taken strictly as per schedule it can show maximum efficacy as a contraceptive. Vaginal bleeding. Women who are planning for pregnancy should refrain from using depo before one year. It is necessary to consult a doctor if you are not conceiving even after 2 years of stopping depo or having regular periods and proper ovulation but delay in pregnancy with regular intercourse.
[Read : Billings Ovulation Method to Get Pregnant]
FAQ’s
1. How Long Will It Take to Get Pregnant After Stopping a Depo Shot?
You may get pregnant once you start ovulating properly. It may take around 7 to 10 months to regain your fertility. Some women may take more time than expected. Women should not take depo one year before planning for pregnancy.
2. Does Depo Cause Weight Gain?
Depo may cause weight gain in most women, especially teens. Studies say depo triggers appetite centers in the brain, increasing appetite and leading to weight gain.
References
- Carolyn Westhoff, Depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate injection (Depo-Provera®): a highly effective contraceptive option with proven long-term safety, Contraception, Volume 68, Issue 2, 2003, Pages 75-87, ISSN 0010-7824 – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0010782403001367
- About medroxyprogesterone contraceptive injections, Brand names: Depo-Provera, Sayana Press, National Health Service (NHS), Last reviewed: 20 April 2023 – https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/contraceptive-injections-medroxyprogesterone/about-medroxyprogesterone-contraceptive-injections/
- Harold A. Nash, Depo provera®: A review, Contraception, Volume 12, Issue 4, 1975, Pages 377-393, ISSN 0010-7824 – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0010782475900748
- Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (Depo Provera®), Mother To Baby ASk, The Expert, Fact Sheets; National Center For Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, December 2023 –
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK582820/ - Depo-Provera (Shot/Injectable), UCDAVIS Student Heath & Counseling Services –
https://shcs.ucdavis.edu/health-topic/depo-provera-shotinjectable - 3-month contraceptive injection approved. FDA Med Bull. 1993 Mar;23(1):6-7. PMID: 12318115 –
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12318115/ - Pardthaisong T, Gray RH, McDaniel EB. Return of fertility after discontinuation of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate and intra-uterine devices in Northern Thailand. Lancet. 1980 Mar 8;1(8167):509-12 – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6102234/
- Highlights of Prescribing Information, Depo-Provera CI, Drugs at FDA – https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2010/020246s036lbl.pdf
- John Jain, Caryn Dutton, Antonia Nicosia, Charlie Wajszczuk, Frederick R Bode, Daniel R Mishell Jr., Pharmacokinetics, ovulation suppression and return to ovulation following a lower dose subcutaneous formulation of Depo-Provera®, Original Research Article, Contraception- An International Reproductive Health Journal, VOLUME 70, ISSUE 1, P11-18, JULY 2004 – https://www.contraceptionjournal.org/article/S0010-7824(04)00049-6/abstract
- Depo Provera Shot, Women’s Health Specialists, California – https://www.womenshealthspecialists.org/services/birth-control/depo-provera-shot/
- Committee Opinion, Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate and Bone Effects, Committee on Adolescent Health Care, Committee on Gynecologic Practice, The American College of Obstetricians And Gynecologists –
https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2014/06/depot-medroxyprogesterone-acetate-and-bone-effects - Side effects of medroxyprogesterone contraceptive injections-Brand names: Depo-Provera, Sayana Press, National Health Services, NHS – https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/contraceptive-injections-medroxyprogesterone/side-effects-of-medroxyprogesterone-contraceptive-injections/
- Depo-Provera and bone health, Royal Osteoporosis Society – https://theros.org.uk/information-and-support/osteoporosis/causes/depo-provera/
Read Also: 10 Ovulation Symptoms to Get Pregnant
