Injectable contraception is the most widely used type of contraception in Indonesia. Many women choose the injectable birth control method because it is practical and effective in preventing pregnancy. However, if you want to choose injectable birth control, there are some side effects of injectable contraceptives that are important to know.
Injectable family planning is done by injecting an artificial progestogen hormone into the arm or buttocks once every 12 weeks. This hormone is similar to the natural hormone progesterone, which the body produces when women are menstruating.
In addition, there are also types of injectable family planning that are injected once a month. Injectable contraceptives that are used every month usually contain progestogens and estrogens.
If done correctly and on schedule, the injectable contraceptive method has a high effectiveness in preventing pregnancy, which is up to more than 99%.
How KB Injections work
Once injected, the hormone progestogen will be released gradually into the bloodstream. The hormones in this injectable birth control can prevent the fertilization process in three ways, namely:
- Stops ovulation or the process of releasing eggs from the ovaries every month
- Thickens the mucus in the cervix, so that sperm is blocked and difficult to enter the uterus to fertilize an egg
- Makes the lining of the uterus thinner, so that if there is a successful fertilized egg, the cell will not develop because the uterus does not support it
To work effectively, injectable birth control is usually given in the first 5–7 days of the menstrual cycle. If injectable birth control is used when your menstrual cycle is past day 7, you will need to use additional forms of contraception, such as condoms or birth control pills.
If you have just given birth and are breastfeeding, you can give birth control injections at the 6th week after giving birth. Injectable birth control can also be used in women who have had a miscarriage within a few days.
Some Side Effects of Injectable Birth Control
Although very effective in preventing pregnancy, there are some side effects of injectable birth control that can occur, namely:
- Weight gain
- Irregular menstruation
- Blood spots appear in the vagina
- Change mood
- Headache
- Nauseous
- Breast pain
- Decreased sexual desire
- Bone loss and increased risk of osteoporosis
- Allergy
In addition, if you plan to get pregnant again, you need to wait about 1 year after the use of injectable birth control is stopped.
Because it can cause some side effects and interactions with some drugs, injectable birth control is also not recommended for use by women who have the following conditions:
- Are taking certain medications, such as anakinra, aminoglutethimide, acarbose, and atorvastatin
- Have or are suffering from certain diseases, such as breast cancer, heart disease, stroke, or liver disease
- Have weak or porous bones, for example due to osteoporosis
- Are pregnant or have plans to undergo a pregnancy program
- Frequent vaginal bleeding
- Have a history of allergies to birth control injections
Although effective in preventing pregnancy, injectable birth control cannot protect you from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Therefore, to prevent transmission of the disease, you still need to practice safe sex behavior by using condoms when having sex and not changing sexual partners.
In order to keep injectable contraceptives safe and effective for you to use, it's a good idea to consult your obstetrician first.
If your doctor judges you to be unsuitable for using injectable contraceptives, either because of the side effects of injectable contraceptives or your medical history, the doctor may suggest the use of other methods of contraception, such as implants, IUDs, or the use of condoms.