What If Im Late Getting My Birth Control Shot
If you get your shot late, you may not be protected from pregnancy but it depends on how late you are. You can get your follow-up shots as early as 10 weeks after your last shot, or as late as 15 weeks after your last shot. But, if you get your shot more than 15 weeks after your last shot, youll need to use another method of birth control, like a condom, for the first week after getting your shot.
If you have vaginal sex without using a condom more than 15 weeks after your last shot, you should use emergency contraception. You may also need to take a pregnancy test before getting your next shot. The best way to prevent pregnancy while using the shot? Make sure you always get your shot on time, every time.
Regular Menstrual Cycle Returns
Having a regular menstrual cycle is the most obvious sign that ovulation has started. Your menstrual cycle lasts from the first day of your period to the first day of your next period. Your cycles are considered regular or normal when they meet the following conditions:
- Duration: Your periods last 8 days or fewer
- Flow volume: You lose between 2 to 3 tablespoons of menstrual fluid during each period. Just spotting could be a sign that you’re not ovulating.
- Frequency: Your periods typically come every 24 to 38 days . This means that from the first day of your last period up to the start of your next period is at least 24 days but no more than 38 days.
- Regularity: Your cycles are consistent from month to month. For example, your cycle is 27 days long one month, and 29 the next. Cycles that vary in length by more than 7 to 9 days are considered irregular.
Irregular cycles are a possible sign of ovulation problems.Irregular cycles are normal when you’re getting injections and just after you stop the shot.
After A Depo Shot Can I Get Pregnant Even If My Normal Period Has Not Returned
Yes, you can get pregnant after a Depo shot even if your regular period has not returned. This is because the body can ovulate without a period, too. You normally ovulate for around 2 weeks before your period. However, you will know for sure if you are ovulating when you have a regular monthly cycle and can track your ovulation and periods.
Getting pregnant after stopping Depo Provera shots can take up to 10 months after the last shot. It takes time for you to regain your fertility after the Depo shot. Some women have reported taking up to 2 years time to get pregnant after stopping Depo. If you have been trying to conceive for a year after Depo but without any success, then you should consult your obstetrician who may recommend a fertility specialist.
Recommended Reading: When Do Pregnancy Symptoms Occur
I Havent Had A Period In Months Because Of The Shot Can I Still Get Pregnant
No period since April 2020 due to the Depo Shot. Can you still get pregnant without a period?
If youre using the birth control shot correctly, which means getting it every 12-13 weeks , its highly unlikely that youll get pregnant. Only 6 out of 100 people get pregnant each year while using the shot. If youre getting the shot regularly, its normal to have fewer or lighter periods, or for your period to stop altogether. The longer you use the shot, the more likely it is for your periods to stop.
If youve stopped using the shot, it can take several months for your period to return to what it was before you started the shot. But it only takes 15 weeks after your last shot for the pregnancy protection to wear off. So even if you still havent gotten a period, if youve stopped using the shot and youre still having vaginal sex, use another method of birth control if you dont want to get pregnant.
Tags:depo shot, Depo-Provera, late period, the shot
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Ovulation Detected Using A Bbt Chart
Your basal body temperature is your body’s temperature at complete rest. This temperature changes depending on where you are in your cycle. If you’re ovulating, your BBT will jump up and remain higher until you get your period. Then, it will drop back down and stay there until ovulation occurs again.
You can track your BBT at home. This is a way to know if ovulation has returned after Depo-Provera, and it can help your doctor help you if you find that ovulation has not returned as expected.
Read Also: How To Guess Sex Of Baby During Pregnancy
What Are The Side Effects Or Health Risks
Irregular bleeding is the most common side effect. For some, there may be increased light spotting and breakthrough bleeding, whereas others may experience longer and heavier bleeding. For most women, after a year of use periods usually, become fewer and lighter or may stop altogether.Depo-Provera has side effects similar to those experienced by users of oral or other hormonal types of contraception which include:
- History of liver disease
Does The Depo Shot Cause Temporary Infertility
The Depo shot suppresses ovulation by increasing the level of progesterone in the body. As a result, it can cause temporary infertility for up to 2 years. Once all the progesterone in the body is eliminated, your fertility will return, and your body will resume ovulating and menstruating. Many women tend to resume their regular monthly cycle 5 months after their last Depo injections. However, it may take up to 22 months for some women to regain their fertility post the last injection.
Another aspect that comes into play with regards to fertility is the weight of the woman. It appears that fertility returns more quickly in women of healthy weight than those who are overweight. Also, it doesnt matter whether youve used the Depo-Provera shot for about 6 months or even for a couple of years your fertility will most likely return in the same time period, in both cases.
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How Much Does Depo
There are two fees associated with the use of birth control injections:
- the doctors visit
- the quarterly injections
Office visits to obtain your prescription and the birth control injections range from $50 to $200 follow up visits for additional injections are usually between $20 to $40. The cost for your quarterly injection ranges between $30 and $75.
Is It Possible To Get Pregnant On Depo Provera
Question posted by Beastash on 17 July 2013
Jonnesha
Say if I want to sell inseminate myself today and my shots not do tell June 24th of 2018 can I get pregnant
+0piano16
i have recently been on the depo shot i had sex with my boyfriend and he ejaculated inside of me. am i okay? i no longer have my period and since theres no period then theres no ovulation so i should be okay? the lady that gave it to me assured me that this shot will not get me pregnant. my boyfriends mom is also on the shot. she has had it for 10 years. she said as long as im on the shot and i took it on time, im good. she said the shot has never failed her.
+0
how would i know im not pregnant?? i dont have my periods anymore
jennaburford
I have been off the depo for a little over 7 months now I have been sexually active with my husband I been having symptoms of pregnancy is there a chance I’m pregnant
+1
i wasnt off depo 2 months good and i got pregnant
Jamie275
I am having stomach pains and peeing allot but im the depo. But he pulled out im I pregnant
+0Shemekia
I been on deposit for a little over 3 years and when you get the shot the doctor tells you to use a condom for the first 2 weeks after the shot so this is what you should do to prevent pregnancy
+1Zoefrost
I had the depo injection I slept with my boyfriend on the same day . I heat feeling sick in the morning and I had pains bottlem low of my belly .
+0
Did you turn out pregnant??
Tt-Amber+0Rmtz12kaismama+0NevaehnovaTmoreno24
Don’t Miss: What Are The Warning Signs Of Pregnancy
Who Can Use The Birth Control Shot
Anyone who has trouble remembering to take birth control pills and who wants extremely good protection against pregnancy may want to use the birth control shot. Also, nursing mothers can use the birth control shot.
Some medical conditions make the use of the shot less effective or riskier. For example, it is not recommended anyone who has had blood clots, some types of cancers, or liver disease. Those who have had unexplained vaginal bleeding or who might be pregnant should not get the birth control shot and should talk to their doctors.
Can You Get Pregnant On Depo If You Have A Period
How soon does Depo-Provera® work? Youre immediately protected after receiving the first Depo-Provera® shot if you get it during your menstrual period. If its given to you at another time during your cycle, you may need to wait a week to 10 days before having intercourse without a condom to prevent pregnancy.
What Colour is breakthrough bleeding?
Breakthrough bleeding refers to vaginal bleeding or spotting that occurs between menstrual periods or while pregnant. The blood is usually either light red or dark reddish brown, much like the blood at the beginning or end of a period. However, depending on the cause, it may resemble regular menstrual blood.
Can you fall pregnant while on the 2 month injection?
If youre using the birth control shot correctly, which means getting it every 12-13 weeks , its highly unlikely that youll get pregnant. Only 6 out of 100 people get pregnant each year while using the shot.
How long does it take to get pregnant after a Depo shot?
It is common to take up to 18 months to get your fertility back after missing your Depo shot, even if you only had the 1 shot . However, technically, pregnancy is possible for some women as soon as 13 weeks after the last shot.
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Other Things To Think About
Hormone levels are very low while using Depo Provera, so there is some concern that this may lead to thinning of the bones in women who use Depo Provera for a long period of time. The importance of this is not yet known, but the changes would be expected to happen more slowly than those that occur normally after menopause and reverse after the injections stop.
Although it is extremely difficult to prove a complete lack of risk, Depo Provera has not been shown to have any effect on the risk of breast cancer. It should be noted that protective effects against cancer of the ovary and uterine lining are very likely. No ill effects on the developing baby have been shown to occur if Depo Provera is given when a woman is already pregnant or in the very rare case where a woman becomes pregnant despite the injection.
When To See A Doctor
Women should speak to a doctor as soon as possible if they suspect that they are pregnant or have had a positive result on a pregnancy test while on birth control.
Conversely, if a woman misses a period and gets a negative pregnancy test result, she should also seek medical advice unless she is taking a form of birth control that prevents regular periods.
Although they are rare, false negatives are possible. There may be other underlying conditions causing missed periods or other pregnancy symptoms.
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How Effective Is The Birth Control Shot
When used perfectly, the birth control shot effectiveness is more than 99%, meaning less than 1 out of every 100 people who use it will get pregnant each year. But when it comes to real life, the shot is about 94% effective, because sometimes people forget to get their shots on time. So, in reality, about 6 out of every 100 shot users will get pregnant each year.
The better you are about getting your shot on time, the better it will work. But theres a very small chance that you could still get pregnant, even if you always get the shot on time.
If effectiveness is the most important thing to you when picking what birth control to use, you might want to check out IUDs and the implant. Theyre the most effective kinds of birth control. But if you decide the shot is right for you, make sure you always get your follow-up shots on time.
Effectiveness But With One Big Downfall
This is the big reason why I always ask women who are not done having children and want to go on depo how soon they would like to be pregnant again. If the answer is in a year or less, then depo is usually not my first choice, even if youre only getting one shot. This is because of how unpredictable the return to normal fertility and a regular menstrual cyclecan be. While you can definitely get pregnant three to four months after a depo shot wears off, not everyone does. It can sometimes take up to ten months or more to ovulate again, and it can take up to 18 months for normal periods to restart.
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What If I Am Late For My Injection
| If it is less than 15 weeks since your last injection |
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| If it has been more than 15 weeks since your last injection |
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Seek medical attention immediately if you have any of the following symptoms, as they could indicate a serious complication:
- Signs of pregnancy
What Are The Side Effects Of A Depo Shot
Depo-Proveras side effects include :
- Hair loss on the head or unwanted hair growth on the body
- Slight bruising where the shot has been given
- A small, permanent dent in the skin where the shot has been given
The side effects of the depo shot are significant, and there is a reason why you might have these issues if you take the injection.
Also Check: What Happens If You Are Pregnant And Get An Iud
Early Signs Of Pregnancy
If you miss a period, take a pregnancy test to make sure that youâre not pregnant. Other signs include tiredness, bloating, having to pee a lot, moodiness, nausea, and tender, swollen breasts. Most pregnancy tests will be positive by the time you miss your first period, but if yours isnât, itâs still important to see your doctor if youâre more than a week or two late to rule out any other health conditions and to confirm that you arenât pregnant.
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What To Ask Your Doctor
- Ask them about how soon you can get pregnant after you stop the shots.
- This contraceptive method alters the menstrual cycle. Find out as to what is normal and what is not.
- Weight gain is one of the prominent side effects of Depo. Therefore, ask your doctor what you can do to avoid this problem.
Make sure to discuss the pros and cons of depo shots before moving on or away from it.
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Perfect Use Vs Typical Use
“Typical use” refers to how most people use birth control. Sometimes, things don’t happen as planned. The condom might not be on properly, for instance, or you might forget a pill or two. “Perfect use,” on the other hand, would mean taking your pill at exactly the same time every day, and a condom worn properly every single time.
Effects On Bone Mineral Density
Because the shot can lead to a over time, some experts recommend getting the shot for only 2 years or less, especially if you can use other methods of birth control.
Your clinician may also recommend trying another method during your teen years and early 20s, since adolescence and young adulthood are important times for bone density development.
If you cant use other birth control methods, they may recommend taking calcium and vitamin D supplements as long as you continue getting the shot. These supplements can help protect against bone thinning.
Read Also: How To Know If I M Pregnant Without Test
How Long Will It Take To Get Pregnant After Stopping A Depo Shot
It takes an average of 10 months for most women to conceive after stopping the Depo shot. However, keep trying as some women were able to get pregnant just 4 months after their last Depo shot. It depends on how much time your body takes to flush out all the synthetic progesterone from the liver. Once all the progesterone is eliminated from your body, you will resume having regular periods and will start ovulating every month.
