What's the Deal With Depo SubQ Provera 104?

DearSugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:00:00 -0700

I'm sure many of you have a form of birth control that you love, and for those that swear by the Depo shot, you might be interested in learning that there's now a lower-hormone dose version called Depo SubQ Provera 104. It's still estrogen free, but instead of 400 mg of Medroxyprogesterone acetate (the hormone) per shot, it only contains 104mg (that's 31 percent less). You still need to go to your gynecologist every three months to get the shot, but it's just as effective as regular Depo-Provera. Even though it contains less hormones, it can still cause side effects such as weight gain, loss of calcium (which puts you at risk for osteoporosis), and irregular spotting. Also, a disadvantage with Depo SubQ Provera 104, just like with original Depo, is that it may take a while for you to become pregnant after discontinuing the shot (could take as much as one year or more).

This method would be great for someone looking for estrogen-free birth control, or for a woman who doesn't want to pop a pill every day. Unlike other methods of hormonal birth control, this isn't an option that's recommended for long-term use (more than two years), because of the loss of calcium it may cause. If this sounds like something you're interested in, I'd make an appointment to talk to your gyno.

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DearSugar -- Just ask.

What's the Deal With Depo SubQ Provera 104?