All you need to know about birth control injections

Birth control pills are one of the most widely used methods of birth control. However, how to inject birth control pills, beneficial or harmful, many people still do not understand.

Oral contraceptive injection is one of the temporary contraceptive methods that use hormones, which have been around for a long time. The effect of the injection lasts so long that it is not necessary to use another method of contraception such as using a condom or taking it daily. However, just like taking oral contraceptives, after taking birth control pills, there are also unwanted side effects.

Overview of oral contraceptive injections

In addition to taking oral contraceptives or using condoms , the injection is now considered one of the effective and temporary methods of contraception. The drug has the effect of inhibiting the ovulation process in the female body, limiting and preventing sperm from entering, attaching and implanting in the uterus.

Oral contraceptives are divided into two main groups:

• Group I: The composition of the drug includes estrogen and progestin.
• Group II: Progestin-only ingredients, in this group there are 2 types, NETEN (Norethindrone Enanthate) and DMPA (Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate), in which DMPA is more common.

Oral contraceptive injection is indicated for intramuscular injection with a frequency of 1-3 months/time. How long the effect lasts will vary depending on the drug. Usually, injectable birth control pills work within a few weeks, so they don't have to be taken every day. However, to be effective, the drug must be injected periodically.

Oral contraceptive injection is now considered one of the effective and temporary methods of contraception

Is the injection safe or not?

Compared with other birth control methods, the injection is convenient, has a long duration of action, does not need to be taken daily or before sex. The contraceptive injection is a safe method with the following advantages:

• High ability to prevent pregnancy: With the effect of inhibiting almost the entire ovulation process and preventing the penetration of sperm, the contraceptive injection is a measure that brings almost absolute effectiveness.
• Does not affect the ability to become pregnant and have a baby: Using oral contraceptives is a temporary method of contraception, just stop injecting for a few months, the body will gradually stabilize and women can become pregnant again.
• Use in lactating women: Oral contraceptives do not affect the lactation of nursing mothers, only a very small amount of the drug is excreted in breast milk and does not affect development. child's height and weight.
• Does not interact with other drugs and does not cause edema, disturbances in blood pressure, pulse, and does not affect the immune system.

Compared to other birth control methods, the injection is convenient and has a long duration of action

Who should and should not apply this method?

Who is the contraceptive injection suitable for?

• Women of childbearing age who want temporary contraception (for about 2 years).
• Breastfeeding women (children 6 weeks of age and older).
• Women who want to avoid pregnancy by practical, effective methods that do not affect their marriage and do not want to use oral contraceptives daily (due to side effects or contraindications of estrogen-containing drugs).

Women of childbearing age who want temporary contraception (for about 2 years) can inject birth control pills

Who should not inject oral contraceptives with whom?

• Girls under 16 years old.
• Women with tumors in the breast, those who have breast cancer or are being treated for breast cancer, ovarian cancer.
• Women with endocrine diseases or bleeding, menorrhagia for unknown reasons.
• Women who are pregnant but do not know yet should, to be sure, check their pregnancy status before injecting birth control pills.
• Women who are taking drugs or are being treated for certain diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, tuberculosis, hepatobiliary disease, epilepsy , headache, depression, immunodeficiency, sexually transmitted diseases.
• Women experience side effects when using oral contraceptives.

Women with breast lumps or being treated for breast cancer who are not suitable for oral contraceptives

What are some side effects of birth control pills?

Amenorrhea

Amenorrhea is more common with injectable progesterone because the lining of the uterus does not thicken and shed, so a period is not visible. Amenorrhea occurs in most women when using injectable contraceptives, up to 60% of women experience this condition.

This phenomenon does not harm the woman's body and reproductive health in the future, so it is still possible to continue using injectable contraceptives if the missed period is acceptable.

Irregular menstruation

This condition is also common in people using hormonal contraceptives, which can go away a few months after the injection.

Irregular periods are common among people using hormonal contraceptives

Menorrhagia, bleeding

Menorrhagia is menstrual bleeding that lasts more than 7 days. Menorrhagia is not a common occurrence after taking birth control pills. The side effects of this birth control injection are usually seen during the first injections, then will gradually stop and stabilize, so the contraceptive injection can be continued.

Headache

You may have a headache after injecting birth control pills, if the pain is unbearable, you can use one of the pain relievers containing ibuprofen or paracetamol.

If the headache is severe and does not improve after the injection, a general examination should be sought to find another cause. Discontinue injection if headache is accompanied by blurred vision, non-hormonal contraceptives should be used.

After the birth control injection, you may have a headache, you can use one of the pain relievers

Weight gain

The side effect of the birth control pill injection is that it can cause rapid weight gain. If after the injection, the rapid weight gain cannot be controlled, you can go to a medical facility to be consulted by a doctor to change another temporary contraceptive method.

Osteoporosis

Oral contraceptives reduce bone mineralization, causing osteoporosis in women of all ages. This condition is more common in women who have used the injection for more than 2 years, using the drug for less than 2 years is not or less common.

Oral contraceptives reduce bone mineralization, causing osteoporosis in women of all ages

Pregnancy-like symptoms

Using injectable birth control pills can cause some of the same symptoms during pregnancy as breast engorgement, lower abdominal pain , mood swings (fatigue, irritability), and nausea. This condition can go away on its own, and if it persists, it needs to be treated.

Oral contraceptives have many advantages such as high efficiency, convenience, and safety, but they also have some limitations. Therefore, women who need to inject birth control pills should learn and think carefully before deciding to avoid pregnancy with this method.