People Who Are Pregnant
Although the overall risks are low, if you are pregnant or were recently pregnant, you are
- More likely to get very sick from COVID-19 compared to people who are not pregnant. People who get very sick from COVID-19 may require hospitalization, admission to an intensive care unit , or use of a ventilator or special equipment to breathe. Severe COVID-19 illness can also lead to death.
- At increased risk of complications that can affect your pregnancy and developing baby. For example, COVID-19 during pregnancy increases the risk of delivering a preterm or stillborn infant.
Getting a COVID-19 vaccine can protect you and others around you from getting very sick from COVID-19, and keeping you as healthy as possible during pregnancy is important for the health of your baby.
CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccines for everyone aged 6 months and older, including people who are pregnant, breastfeeding, trying to get pregnant now, or those who might become pregnant in the future. This recommendation includes getting boosters when it is time to get one.
CDC recommendations align with those from professional medical organizations serving people who are pregnant, including the:
Path To Improved Health
Depo-Provera works for about 3 months at a time. To prevent pregnancy, you have to get 1 shot from your doctor 4 times a year, about 12 to 14 weeks apart. If you get it in the first 7 days of your cycle, it works right away. If you dont, youll need to use another form of birth control for 1 week. Your doctor will confirm you are not pregnant before giving you the injection.
Most women who use Depo-Provera have changes in their menstrual periods. These may include:
- Bleeding or spotting between menstrual periods.
- An increase or decrease in menstrual bleeding.
- No menstrual bleeding at all.
About half of women who use Depo-Provera stop having periods after 1 year. This is not harmful. Menstrual bleeding usually returns to normal when you stop using Depo-Provera. It may take about 9 to 10 months to get pregnant after your last shot.
Contact your doctor right away if you have abnormally heavy or nonstop bleeding. Other possible side effects of Depo-Provera include:
- chance of an ectopic pregnancy
Are There Any Side Effects With The Birth Control Shot
The birth control shot often causes period changes. Side effects can include:
- irregular periods or no menstrual periods
- weight gain, headaches, and breast tenderness
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a safety warning about the use of the birth control shot. Studies link this shot to a loss of bone density, although bone density may recover when someone stops getting the shot. The loss of bone density seems to be worse when the shot is used for longer periods of time.
Doctors are not sure how this type of shot may affect the bone density of young people in the future, though. Anyone considering the shot should talk to their doctors about it and make sure that they get enough calcium each day. Those who smoke should be sure to let their doctors know because smoking may be connected to this bone density loss.
Some people receiving shots may notice their periods are irregular for up to a year after stopping the shot. But the shot does not cause permanent loss of fertility and most users can get pregnant after they stop getting the shot.
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Vaccination After Delivery Leaves Baby Without Protective Antibodies
If a woman did not get Tdap during pregnancy and has never received it before, she can get it after her baby is born. It will take about 2 weeks for her body to develop the highest protection in response to the vaccine. Once she has protection from the vaccine, she is less likely to give whooping cough to her newborn while caring for them. But remember, the baby will still be at risk for catching whooping cough from others.
Learn why Laura decided to get the whooping cough vaccine in her 3rd trimester of pregnancy and how her baby girl was born with some protection against the disease.Also available on YouTube.
Should Girls And Women Be Screened For Cervical Cancer Before Getting Vaccinated
Girls and women do not need to get an HPV test or Pap test to find out if they should get the vaccine. However it is important that women continue to be screened for cervical cancer, even after getting all recommended shots of the HPV vaccine. This is because the vaccine does not protect against ALL types of cervical cancer.
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Advantages And Disadvantages Of The Contraceptive Injection
The main advantages:
- It can be used by women who cant take oestrogen.
- You only need to have the injection once every 3 months.
- It is safe for use by most women, including those who are breastfeeding.
- It usually stops menstrual bleeding, so is useful for women who have heavy periods or period pain.
- Depo Provera may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, endometriosis and pelvic infection.
- It can be used if youre taking some medications that make the pill or implant less effective.
The main disadvantages:
- It changes the pattern of the periods they might become more frequent or longer lasting, then stop completely.
- If you stop using it, it can take a while to get pregnant it can take 18 months for fertility to return.
- It can cause side effects such as weight gain, moodiness, decreased sex drive, headaches and acne.
- It might cause bone thinning if used for a long time.
- You have to visit a doctor every 3 months for an injection.
You shouldnt have the injection if you are already pregnant, have a bleeding disorder, are taking anticoagulant medication, have had some types of cancer or other medical problems.
Common Questions About Vaccination During Pregnancy
Scientific studies to date have shown no safety concerns for babies born to people who were vaccinated against COVID-19 during pregnancy.1-4, 6, 10, 17 Based on how these vaccines work in the body, experts believe they are unlikely to pose a risk for long-term health effects. CDC continues to monitor, analyze, and disseminate information from people vaccinated during all trimesters of pregnancy to better understand effects on pregnancy and babies.
CDC and professional medical organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, recommend COVID-19 vaccination at any point in pregnancy, as well as booster doses when it is time to get one. COVID-19 vaccination can protect you from getting very sick from COVID-19. Keeping yourself as healthy as possible during pregnancy is important for the health of your baby.
You can choose to get either an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine or Novavax COVID-19 vaccine. The J& J/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for use only in certain limited situations.
Children, teens, and adults, including pregnant people, may get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines, including a flu vaccine, at the same time.
If you would like to speak to someone about COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy, you can contact MotherToBaby whose experts are available to answer questions in English or Spanish by phone or chat. This service is free and confidential. To reach MotherToBaby:
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What Vaccinated Girls/women Need To Know: Will Girls/women Who Have Been Vaccinated Still Need Cervical Cancer Screening
Yes, vaccinated women will still need regular cervical cancer screening because the vaccine protects against most but not all HPV types that cause cervical cancer. Also, women who got the vaccine after becoming sexually active may not get the full benefit of the vaccine if they had already been exposed to HPV.
Which Girls/women Should Receive Hpv Vaccination
HPV vaccination is recommended for 11 and 12 year-old girls. It is also recommended for girls and women age 13 through 26 years of age who have not yet been vaccinated or completed the vaccine series HPV vaccine can also be given to girls beginning at age 9 years. CDC recommends 11 to 12 year olds get two doses of HPV vaccine to protect against cancers caused by HPV. For more information on the recommendations, please see:
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Do I Need To Do Anything Else
For maximum effectiveness, youll want to schedule an appointment to get your shot every 12 to 13 weeks .
It may help to make your next appointment before leaving the doctors office or clinic. You can also jot down a reminder on your calendar or use an app to help you remember to make your next appointment.
Barrier methods of birth control can further lower your chances of unplanned pregnancy and help protect against STIs.
What Is Good About The Injection
- It is very effective.
- It lasts for 12 14 weeks.
- Most users have no vaginal bleeding at all or very light bleeding.
- Periods may be less painful.
- You can use it while breast feeding.
- No medications stop it from working.
- It is another contraceptive option if you have difficulty taking the hormone oestrogen. The Pill and vaginal ring contains oestrogen and progestogen. The injection only contains progestogen.
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What Effects Does The Vaccine Have On Me And My Child While Breast
The data regarding breast-feeding are limited, but some case reports suggest that people who are lactating and who receive the vaccine will pass protective antibodies in the breast milk to their babies. Its important to remember that the vaccines do not contain live virus, so there isnt an infection risk to the baby. You should not delay or discontinue breast-feeding after getting the vaccine.
Getting Tdap During Pregnancy Passes Protection To Baby
After a woman receives Tdap, her body creates protective antibodies and passes high levels of them to her baby before birth. These antibodies provide the baby with some short-term protection against whooping cough in early life.
Getting Tdap between 27 through 36 weeks of pregnancy lowers the risk of whooping cough in babies younger than 2 months old by 78%.
These antibodies can also protect the baby from some of the more serious complications, including hospitalization, that come along with getting whooping cough.
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Preparing For Your Vaccine
COVID-19 vaccination significantly lowers your risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death if you get infected. Compared to people who are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations, unvaccinated people aremore likely to get COVID-19, much more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19, and much more likely to die from COVID-19.
Like all vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines are not 100% effective at preventing infection. Some people who are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations will get COVID-19 breakthrough infection. However, staying up to date with your COVID-19 vaccinations means that you are less likely to have a breakthrough infection and, if you do get sick, you are less likely to get severely ill or die. Staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccination also means you are less likely to spread the disease to others and increases your protection against new variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
There is no recommended waiting period between getting a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines. You can get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines, including a flu vaccine, at the same visit. Experience with other vaccines has shown that the way our bodies develop protection, known as an immune response, and possible side effects after getting vaccinated are generally the same when given alone or with other vaccines.
You should get a COVID-19 vaccine even if you already had COVID-19.
Learn more about the benefits of getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
Temporary Infertility After Depo
But not every woman will get their cycle back 5 months after the last injection. In some cases, it may take up to 22 monthsor almost two yearsfor fertility to return after the last injection. Why does this happen?
According to the research, the delay seems to be related to a womans weight. Women who weigh less will have their fertility return faster than women who tend to weigh more. This has to do with how long it takes your body to completely metabolize the progestin.
How long youve used Depo-Provera is not associated with a longer period of lack of ovulation. In other words, whether you used Depo-Provera injections for 6 months or two years doesnt matter. Your fertility will likely take the same amount of time to return in either case.
If you received the subcutaneous version of Depo-Provera , your risk for experiencing a lack of ovulation for up to two years is significantly less. According to at least one study, 97% of women who received the subcutaneous version of Depo-Provera had ovulation return after 12 months.
Depo-Provera use is not associated with long-term infertility beyond two years after the last injection.
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Where Do I Get The Shot
You can get a prescription for the shot from a doctor or OB-GYN or at a health clinic, like Planned Parenthood.
Some pharmacies offer on-site birth control consultations, so you may also be able to get the shot at your local pharmacy.
Birth control websites, like Nurx, also offer birth control consultations and prescriptions for the shot online. Of course, if you get a prescription for the shot online, youd need to inject it yourself.
How Much Does It Cost
The cost of the shot depends on where you get it and if you have insurance.
At Planned Parenthood, you might pay up to $150 for the shot itself, and up to $250 if your clinician recommends an exam first. But thats if you dont have insurance.
Health insurance or Medicaid might completely cover the cost of the shot, so you could pay nothing at all.
Planned Parenthood also offers sliding scale fees. If you dont have insurance, you may be able to get lower cost birth control services, depending on your income.
If youre ordering the shot online to inject it yourself, youll pay $15 for a medical consult and $75 for each dose. Again, thats if you dont have insurance. Many insurance plans completely cover the cost of birth control.
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How Does Depo Provera Work
When a woman has Depo Provera, her body senses the presence of the hormone so that her own hormone production is switched off. Because of this, her ovaries will not release an egg and this is how pregnancy is prevented. This is very similar to how the Pill works. Depo Provera is also sometimes used in the treatment of endometriosis.
What About Vaccinating Boys And Men
HPV vaccine is licensed for use in boys and men. It has been found to be safe and effective for males 9 -26 years. ACIP recommends routine vaccination of boys aged 11 or 12 years with with a series of doses. The vaccination series can be started beginning at age 9 years. Vaccination is recommended for males aged 13 through 21 years who have not already been vaccinated or who have not received all recommended doses. The vaccine is most effective when given at younger ages males aged 22 through 26 years may be vaccinated. CDC recommends 11 to 12 year olds get two doses of HPV vaccine to protect against cancers caused by HPV. For more information on the recommendations, please see:
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Are There Any Side Effects From Using The Injection
- Your vaginal bleeding pattern will change. It might be more often and/or irregular . Around 50 60% of people using the injection will have no bleeding at all . Frequent or prolonged bleeding may get better with time. Some medications can help with this bleeding, speak to your doctor or nurse for more information.
- Around 20% of users will gain weight.
- There is a small drop in your bone density . This is not thought to be harmful for most people, as your bone density returns once you stop the injections.
Other possible side effects for a small number of users can include:
These side effects often settle with time.
Can This Vaccine Be Mixed And Matched With Other Vaccines
SAGE accepts two heterologous doses of WHO EUL COVID-19 vaccines as a complete primary series.
For countries considering heterologous schedules, , WHO has made the following recommendations:
- Either of the WHO EUL COVID-19 vectored vaccine can be used as a second dose following a first dose of the Moderna vaccine, dependant on product availability.
- The Moderna vaccine can also be used as a second dose following any of the WHO EUL COVID-19 inactivated vaccines or any of the vectored vaccines
- The Moderna vaccine can also be used as a booster dose following any of the COVID-19 vaccines with WHO EUL.
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When Should I See A Doctor Because Of The Side Effects I Experience From Shingrix
Shingrix causes a strong response in your immune system, so it may produce short-term side effects. These side effects can be uncomfortable, but they are expected and usually go away on their own in 2 or 3 days. You may choose to take over-the-counter pain medicine such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Contact your healthcare provider if the symptoms are not improving or if they are getting worse.
In clinical trials, Shingrix was not associated with serious adverse events. In fact, serious side effects from vaccines are extremely rare. For example, for every 1 million doses of a vaccine given, only one or two people might have a severe allergic reaction. Signs of an allergic reaction happen within minutes or hours after vaccination and include hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, or weakness. If you experience these or any other life-threatening symptoms, see a doctor right away.
