Content
Injectable contraceptives is a type of contraceptive method that can be indicated by the gynecologist and consists of giving an injection every month or every 3 months in order to prevent the body from releasing eggs and making the mucus in the cervix more thick, thus preventing pregnancy.
The injection must be administered intramuscularly by the gynecologist and may consist only of progesterone or be a combination of progesterone and estrogen. Thus, some of the injectable contraceptives that may be indicated by the doctor are Cyclofemina, Mesigyna, Perlutan, Ciclovular and Uniciclo.
How it works
The injectable contraceptive works in a similar way to the contraceptive pill. Due to its hormonal composition it is able to inhibit the release of eggs, in addition to making the cervical mucus thicker and reducing the thickness of the endometrium, preventing the passage of sperm and, consequently, fertilization and pregnancy.
However, despite avoiding pregnancy, it is recommended that the condom be used in all sexual relations, since this contraceptive method does not prevent against sexually transmitted infections. In addition, if one of the applications is not made, there is a risk of pregnancy, since the levels of circulating hormones decrease.
Monthly injectable contraceptives
The monthly injectable contraceptive must be applied until the 5th day after the start of the menstrual cycle, and another dose must be taken after 30 days, because after the injection is applied, the levels of estrogen and progesterone will vary over time, so that these levels need to be reset in order to have the contraceptive effect.
Although this type of contraceptive consists of progesterone and estrogen, the amount of progesterone is not as high and, therefore, it is possible that the woman has less adverse effects.
Quarterly injectable contraceptives
The quarterly injectable contraceptive is usually composed only of progesterone, which is slowly absorbed by the body and ensuring the contraceptive effect for a longer time.This contraceptive must be applied until the 5th day of the beginning of the menstrual cycle and acts for up to three months on the woman's body, being necessary to do another application after this period to keep the cervical mucus thicker and reduce the risks of pregnancy.
Although this type of contraceptive has the advantage of being applied every 3 months, if the woman decides to become pregnant, fertility returns very slowly, usually after months after the last injection, and it may also be associated with a greater amount of adverse effects. Understand how the quarterly injectable contraceptive works.
How to use injectable contraceptives
Injectable contraceptives should be used according to the gynecologist's guidance, varying according to the woman's menstrual cycle and whether she uses another contraceptive method.
For women with a normal menstrual cycle, who do not use the pill or any other contraceptive injection, the first injection should be taken until the 5th day of menstruation and the following should be administered every 30 days, more or less 3 days, regardless menstruation. If there is a delay of more than three days for the new injection, the woman should be instructed to use a condom.
To start after childbirth, a woman must have the injection between the 21st and 28th day after the baby is born, and to start using after an abortion or after taking the morning-after pill, one can take the injection immediately.
You can also take your first injection on the same day that you decide to change your contraceptive pill or quarterly injection. However, if the woman has not used any contraceptive method before and has had sex, she must perform the pregnancy test before taking the injection. Learn how to change contraceptives without risking pregnancy.
When not indicated
The monthly contraceptive injection is not indicated for people with hypersensitivity to any component of the product formulation, pregnant women, women who are breastfeeding for up to 6 weeks after delivery, who have current breast cancer or suspected hormone-dependent malignancy. In addition, women who have severe headaches with focal neurological symptoms, severe hypertension, vascular disease, a history of thrombophlebitis or thromboembolic disorder and a history of ischemic heart disease or complicated valve heart disease.
The injection should also not be used in women with diabetes with nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy or other vascular disease or diabetes lasting more than 20 years, systemic lupus erythematosus with positive anti-phospholipid antibodies, history of liver disease, who have undergone a major surgery with prolonged immobilization, who suffer from abnormal uterine or vaginal bleeding or who smoke more than 15 cigarettes a day, aged over 35 years.
Main side effects
The monthly contraceptive injection can lead to the appearance of pain in the breasts, nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness and the woman may gain weight.
In addition, menstrual changes may appear, and in these cases the woman must be evaluated by a gynecologist to perform tests in order to identify whether there is any other cause for bleeding, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, for example. If there is no apparent cause for heavy bleeding and the woman is not comfortable with this method, it is advisable to replace this injection with some other method of contraception.
Check out some tips to relieve the pain of the injection: