Birth control shot (Depo-Provera)

The shot is just what it sounds like—a shot that keeps you from getting pregnant. Once you get it, your birth control is covered for three full months—there’s nothing else you have to do. Some people call the shot “Depo,” short for Depo-Provera. (Pronounced like Johnny Depp-oh.) The shot contains progestin, a hormone that prevents your ovaries from releasing eggs. It also thickens your cervical mucus, which helps block sperm from getting to the egg in the first place. Worth considering even if you’re afraid of needles… Because what’s a little prick compared to a pregnancy?
Details
Costs
How to Use It
There's not really much you have to do in order to use the shot—just make sure to keep regular appointments with your health care provider. You just go to the clinic, have an exam, and get an injection. Every three months, you'll go in for another injection. Easy-breezy.
Make sure to discuss the timing of your period and the shot with your provider, because that'll help determine how soon after the shot you'll be protected. Also, it's really important to get your shots on time. If you're more than two weeks late for an injection, you may have to get a pregnancy test before the shot. [Download our reminders app](/reminders_app) to help you remember to always get your shot on time. ####Tips and tricks Spotting improves with time. So give it a chance—two or three cycles. (That's 6-9 months in Depo time.)Side Effects
There are positive and negative things to say about each and every method. And everyone's different—so what you experience may not be the same as what your friend experiences.