Content
The monthly contraceptive injection is a combination of the hormones estrogen and progestogen, which act by inhibiting ovulation and making the cervical mucus thicker, thus preventing sperm from reaching the uterus. Medicines of this type are usually known by the names of cyclofemina, mesygina or perlutan.
Normally fertility in this method does not take long to return to normal, and the woman can plan a pregnancy for the following month when she stopped using the contraceptive.
Main advantages
The main advantage of monthly injectable contraceptives is that there is no major impact on a woman's fertility, as it is possible to become pregnant just one month after the last use.
In addition to being able to be used at any age and to decrease menstrual cramps, it also reduces the chances of ovarian cancer and cysts, pelvic inflammatory disease and decreases the pain present in cases of endometriosis. It also does not have a major impact on the bloodstream, such as increased blood pressure and clotting factor, as it contains natural and non-synthetic estrogen as in oral contraceptives.
How to use
The monthly contraceptive injection must be given by a health professional in the gluteal region, 7 days after the use of the last contraceptive pill, or withdrawal from some other contraceptive method such as the IUD, for example.
In cases in which no contraceptive method was used, the injection should be given until the 5th day of the beginning of menstruation, and the following 30 days after the application of the menstruation, with a maximum of 3 days delay.
For women who are in the postpartum period and want to start using the monthly injectable contraceptive, it is recommended that the injection be made after the 5th day of delivery, if they do not breastfeed. For those who practice breastfeeding, the injection can be done after the 6th week.
This contraceptive method is also available in the quarterly version, with the only difference that it contains only the progestin hormone. Understand what the quarterly contraceptive injection is and how to use it.
What to do if you forget to take your injection
If the delay for renewing the injection exceeds 3 days, it is recommended to use other contraceptive methods such as condoms, until the next scheduled date for the application of the contraceptive.
Possible side effects
The side effects of the monthly contraceptive injection are not present in all women, but when they occur they tend to be weight gain, small bleeding between periods, headache, amenorrhea and sensitive breasts.
When not indicated
The monthly contraceptive injection is not indicated for women with:
- Less than 6 weeks postpartum and breastfeeding;
- Suspected pregnancy or confirmed pregnancy;
- Family history of thromboembolic disease;
- Family history of stroke;
- Breast cancer in treatment or already cured;
- Arterial hypertension greater than 180/110;
- Current cardiovascular disease;
- Recurrent migraine attacks.
Thus, if you have any of these conditions, it is recommended to seek a gynecologist so that the case is evaluated and the best contraceptive method is indicated. See other options for contraception.
Created by: Tua Saúde Editorial Team
Bibliography>
- MINISTRY OF HEALTH. Family planning assistance . Available in: . Accessed on 11 Sep 2020
- MANAGEMENT & HEALTH MAGAZINE. Hormonal contraceptives today: a new paradigm for family planning . 2018. Available at:. Accessed on 11 Sep 2020
- BRAZILIAN FEDERATION OF GYNECOLOGY AND OBSTETRICS ASSOCIATIONS. Contraception Guidance Manual. 2010. Available at:. Accessed on 11 Sep 2020