Depo Provera Break Through Bleeding Treatment

Depo-Provera, more commonly referred to as Depo, can be described as a popular form of birth control for women. This injection, which is given in the buttocks or the arms, comprises of a hormone that is quite similar to progesterone. A single depo shot should protect you against pregnancy for about 14 weeks. However, in order to remain fully protected, women are advised to get a shot once in every 12 weeks or so. Therefore, 4 injections help prevent pregnancy for an entire year. This method is 99% effective in avoiding pregnancy, though it does not protect you from sexually transmitted diseases. You should also be aware of the potential side effects of a Depo shot, which include:

Absence of periods or irregular menstrual cycle
Acne
Appetite fluctuations
Bone mineral density loss (in case of prolonged use)
Depression
Dizziness
Hair loss
Headaches
Increase in facial and body hair growth
Nervousness
Weight gain

However, apart from a change in menstrual cycle, the side effects of Depo shots do not occur very often. On average, a woman’s body takes about 3 months to get used to these injections. Therefore, if you do experience some amount of bleeding, spotting, or irregular periods in the meantime, it is hardly a cause for concern. Prolonged bleeding, like continuous periods, is also not uncommon after a Depo shot. The constant and irregular bleeding is bound to put a damper on your sex life. This causes many women to feel depressed, upset and cheated. Unfortunately, there is no way to determine when the bleeding caused by Depo will stop on its own.

Moreover, there are no home remedies or self-care measure that will stop the bleeding caused by Depo shots. You need to consult your health care provider if the bleeding lasts for more than 3 months. Some doctors claim that increasing the frequency of the Depo shots helps the bleeding stop faster; however, there are no clinical studies to validate this theory.

Depending upon the severity of your bleeding, your doctor may suggest various treatment options, some of which include:

Supplemental estrogen (oral or transdermal)
Tranexamic acid
Mefenamic acid
Valdecoxib
Mifepristone

However, there are a few side effects associated with each of these treatment options and therefore, it is important to discuss them with a doctor carefully, before you decide to go in for any of them. Many doctors advise women to just “wait it out” for a couple of months, after which the bleeding should stop. However, it is best to discuss the various options with a doctor before deciding.

References

http://www.webmd.com/sex/birth-control/birth-control-depo-provera

answered by G R

Bleeding is one of the common side effects of Depo-Provera administration and many women fail to handle this side effect of this contraception method. Consult a specialist who may advise you some other mild hormones to stop break through bleeding caused due to Depo-Provera. Other options could include -

Reducing the intervals between the next sessions of Depo-Provera injections.
Increasing the dose first (for 2-3 sessions) and then decreasing it to normal.
Adding estrogen in mild doses to stop bleeding.
However all these methods should be done under the guidance and supervision of an health care professional.

answered by S P

Treatment for Bleeding through Depo: How to stop breakthrough bleeding on depo?