Category: Injectables

Injectable contraceptives are the type of a long-term hormonal birth control commonly known as “the shot” or “the jab”. A birth control pill made a real revolution in sexual life and contraception. Another revolution was made with the invention of injectable contraceptives. This is a more convenient form of hormonal contraception since it provides prevention from pregnancy for up to twelve weeks when injected and a woman does not have to care about everyday pill.

Injectable contraceptives are available in progestin-only form and in combination of both a progestin and an estrogen hormone. A progestin-only form available in market are Depo-Provera known as DMPA (depot medroxyprogesterone acetate) and NET-EN (norethindrone enanthate) when combined hormonal injectable contraceptives are Cyclofem (also called Lunelle) and Mesigyna. Either of these injectables is prescribed by a doctor only and is administered only four times a year. The first shot should be given during the first five days of a normal menstrual cycle. It should be administered differently after labor and during the period of breastfeeding. Usually the shot is given during the first five days after labor if a woman is not breastfeeding and only after six weeks if a woman is breastfeeding. The drug is given as a deep intramuscular injection in the buttocks or the upper arm.

Injectable contraceptives are a very effective and comfortable form of birth contro l for women. There is only 0.1% to 0.6% failure rate during first year of use for progestin-only injectables and 0.2% to 0.4% failure rate during first year of use for combined injectable contraceptives. This type of contraception is as efficient in birth control as tubal ligation and much more efficient than many other birth control methods , such as a diaphragm , an intrauterine device or male condoms . However, injectables provide no protection against sexually transmitted diseases and hence male condoms should be used during each sexual intercourse.

Injectable contraceptives prevent from unplanned pregnancy by suppressing ovulation (release of an egg or ovum). They can also thicken cervical mucus so that it is hard for sperm to enter the uterus. In addition, injectables make the uterine lining thinner and hence there is no possibility for a fertilized egg to implant.

This type of birth control is available also to women who are breastfeeding since it does not have any effect on a baby. However, as noted above injectables should be administered only after six weeks after labor. Note that injectable contraceptives are a reversible form of contraception that offers prevention from unplanned pregnancy for up to three months when injected. It may, however, take nine to ten months to get pregnant after discontinuation of use. One should be aware, that a woman should not use injectables for more than two years due to the negative effect on the bone mass.

Lunelle birth control shot is a hormonal contraceptive used in preventing pregnancy. It consists of a combination of synthetic estrogen and progesterone. This is an injective hormonal contraceptive, used once a month. Every woman taking Lunelle needs a prescription to get it and a health care provider who could make a shot.

This form of birth control helps to protect against unexpected pregnancy through several actions. First, it stops ovulation from occurring, therefore no egg is released and pregnancy cannot occur. Second, Lunelle changes uterine mucus, so that it becomes thicker and it becomes harder for sperm to enter the uterus and meet with an egg. Finally, it alters the uterine lining, so that it becomes harder for implantation to occur.

Lunelle birth control shot

Lunelle is also a very private form of birth control, since nobody sees it, and only your health care practitioner is aware of it. It also does not interact with sexual intercourse. Since this form of birth control is reversible, it does not affect future fertility. It is very easy to use unlike some other contraceptives.

Lunelle birth control shot has to be given every 28 – 30 days. The amount of time between injections cannot be longer than 33 days, since it will not be effective. Usually, the shot is given during the first 5 days of a woman’s menstrual cycle . It can also be given within the first 5 days after first trimester abortion.

Administration of this method of birth control is a bit different in women after pregnancy. A woman can receive a Lunelle birth control shot after 4 weeks following delivery if she is not nursing a baby. She can receive this contraceptive after a minimum of 6 weeks following delivery if she is breastfeeding.

Since Lunelle has to be given every month, you can arrange a date for the next one the day you have your shot. This way you will not forget when the next injection needs to be given. Make sure you do not exceed 33 days between each shot. If you cannot receive the next shot within a month, you need to use additional contraceptives, since Lunelle may not be effective in preventing pregnancy.

Although this form of contraception is very convenient, effective and easy to use, not every woman can take it. Women older than 35 years of age and smokers, also those, who had previous heart attack or stroke, liver disease, cancer and other conditions.

It is important not to take Lunelle for women who have a history of blood clot formation, unexplained vaginal bleeding, or are pregnant. A combination of these medical conditions and this hormonal form of birth control may lead to serious health problems. Therefore, only a doctor or your health care provider can decide if you are a good candidate for having Lunelle birth control shot.

Lunelle birth control shot advantages

Lunelle birth control shot has a lot of advantages. First of all, this form of contraception has a very high efficiency in protection against unexpected pregnancy. Its efficacy is up to 99% in birth control . Since, Lunelle shot id given only once a month but it is effective against pregnancy throughout a month, it is more comfortable that the pill. It has to be injected only once monthly, and a woman does not have to bother remembering to take every day, or use additional for of contraception in case she forgets.

Lunelle birth control shot disadvantages and side effects

As with any forms of birth control, this contraceptive has not only advantages but also disadvantages. Women have to remember that this hormonal mean of contraception does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases , including HIV. Therefore condoms have to be used during every sexual intercourse in order to protect oneself from sexually transmitted diseases. This drug has quite a few side effects, and its long-term risks are not yet known. Another disadvantage is that Lunelle is a prescription contraceptive, and a woman needs to go to her health care provider every month to have a shot.

The most common and expected side effects of the use of this contraceptive are irregular bleeding and weight gain. Bleeding can be from very minimal, as spotting, to very intense, due to which a woman has to be admitted to the hospital. Normally, every woman should expect a weight gain of 4 pounds due to fluid retention every year while using Lunelle. However, some women can gain from 10 to 20 pounds every year.

Other known side effects include nausea, vomiting, headache, decreased libido, mood swings, dizziness, and other. Some women experience very hard side effects, others feel quite well taking Lunelle birth control shot.

Another disadvantage of this form of birth control is that some drugs reduce efficiency of Lunelle . These drugs are mainly antibiotics, barbiturates, herbal medicines and anti-seizure drugs. You have to inform your doctor about any medications that you are taking with this form of birth control. If these are drugs that interact with efficiency of this contraceptive, you will need to take additional form of birth control.

Most women, who want to become pregnant after taking Lunelle birth control shot, are usually able to conceive a baby immediately after they stop taking this contraceptive. However, some women may need to wait for a month or three until their periods get back to normal and they can become pregnant. There are no known effects on a baby if a mother has been taking Lunelle before getting pregnant.

This form of contraception is available throughout USA. It is a safe method of birth control . If you are considering hormonal contraception, Lunelle birth control shot might be a perfect option for you due to many advantages. Consult your doctor about other contraception options before choosing, which contraceptive is best for you.

Injectable contraceptives are a rather safe type of birth control they, however, may cause several side-effects which tend to be more obvious than those caused by the use of a birth control pill . The reason for that is a larger dose of hormones than that given by a daily birth control pill. Injectables may cause disappearance of menstruation period for up to one year. Be aware, that statistically only one third of all women using injectable contraceptives have a normal and regular menstrual period during the first year of use. Others tend to experience irregular periods or no menstrual bleeding at all during the first year of use. These side-effects are unfortunately impossible to affect.

Another consideration associated with injectables is the loss of bone mass. Injectables have the effect on the calcium stored in bones. The concentration of the calcium in bones decreases especially during the first year of use. The loss of the calcium from bones causes decrease in bone mass. And although the process is reversible and bone mass normally increases after discontinuation of use there are still some long term concerns of a temporary loss of bone mass. Such women are said to have a higher risk for osteoporosis later in their lives.

Other less complicated side-effects include changes in menstrual bleeding, which may become lighter or heavier, shorter or longer. A woman should see her doctor if heavy or continuous bleeding occurs, since it may cause severe anemia. There could also be spotting or breakthrough bleeding. Other side-effects, not associated with menstrual period and bleeding, include dizziness, nervousness, headaches, change in skin color and rash. There might be severe mood swings from very good mood to depression. Women can experience breast tenderness and hair loss. Facial and body hair may increase or decrease. Some women may gain more weight. If any of these side-effects occur a woman should consult a doctor and if these side-effects continue she might even have to choose another method for birth control.

Another side-effect that women may experience with the use of injectable contraceptives is decreased libido. Injectables have been noticed to suppress testosterone and this is believed to be the reason for decreased sex drive in women using this method of birth control.

Although injectable contraceptives provide some protection against endometrial cancer they, however, increase the risk for some other types of cancers in women. These include increased risk for breast and cervical cancer. Therefore women with family history of breast and cervical cancer are recommended to choose another form of birth control. However, final decision should be made only after a thorough consultation with a doctor.
Other possible complications, associated with the use of injectable contraceptives, include blood clots in legs and lungs, jaundice, allergic reaction and even infertility. Therefore women with liver disease, a history of blood clots or stroke should use another method for birth control.

Even though there are no age limitations, progestin-only injectable contraceptives are not to be used by girls younger than sixteen due to the effect of injectables on the bone density and bone mass. Since progestin-only injectable contraceptives may affect fetus, women who plan to become pregnant within the next year should not use this form of birth control. In addition, one should know that women, who get pregnant while being on progestin-only injectables, show to have higher neonatal and infant mortality rates.