Can You Get Pregnant On the Depo Shot?

That's why many women chose alternate approaches like Depo-Provera -- administered via injection from your physician every 12 weeks, eliminating the daily contraception management. The consequences of incorrect usage are out of your hands. Because of this, Depo-Provera is a highly effective method of birth control, with an approximate 99 percent success rate.

Only about 3 in 1,000 women will become pregnant while on the contraceptive source: American Pregnancy Association. However, even the best birth control can fail on rare occasions. So, yes, there is a very slight possibility you can get pregnant on Depo-Provera.

What exactly is thishormonal contraceptive? Much like the Pill, it prevents ovulation and makes the cervix and uterine lining hostile to sperm and fertilized eggs.

Any woman who begins a regimen of Depo must be fully aware of when her next shot is due in order to reap the full benefits of birth control offered by this injection. If you are looking for a method of birth control which is fully and easily reversible, Depo is not the option that is recommended for you. This is because it can take a year or longer for your body to become ready to conceive again after taking Depo-Provera.

In fact, in some rare cases taking Depo shots could lead to permanent infertility so it is very important that you choose wisely if you believe you may someday want to become pregnant. Depo shots are primarily intended for older women who have already given birth to all the children they want to have or for women who never intend to have children. It is imperative that you take all the time you need to make a good decision as there is a chance it could be one that will last for a period of years or even for a lifetime.

Keep in mind that this particular risk is very rare but it deserves a mention as it is such a major one. Some women who have used Depo for two years or more never begin their menstrual cycle again. Almost all forms of hormone related birth control methods come with a chance of weight gain during use.

There is a slight concern with Depo as many women do realize a small amount of weight gain during the first year but that weight gain is not very significant, only at approximately 5 pounds. Of course, every woman is different and some could gain more weight than that. No matter what type of oral or injectable birth control you are using, you should always alert your doctor if there is ever an issue with substantial weight gain that seems to have no other explanation.