Birth control shot (Depo-Provera)

The birth control shot is an injection you get in your arm, belly, thigh, or butt that keeps you from getting pregnant. Both types of birth control shots contain progestin which is the synthetic version of progesterone, a hormone made by the body. The shot prevents pregnancy by stopping ovulation from happening, which means that the ovaries don’t release an egg.
You need to get the shot every 13 to 15 weeks (around three months) to prevent pregnancy. There are two ways of doing that: you can get a version of the shot that goes into your muscle at your health care provider’s office, or you can use a different version of the shot that you can give yourself at home, that gets injected just under your skin. The in-office birth control shot is called Depo-Provera (but it’s often referred to as “Depo”) and the at-home birth control shot is called Depo-subQ Provera.
Once you’ve gotten the shot, you’re set for birth control for three full months each time you get a dose—there’s nothing else you need to do during those three months to make the shot effective at preventing pregnancy.
Types of Birth control shots
Depo-subQ Provera is a version of the birth control shot that you inject at home or in another safe space. That means you don’t have to go see a health care provider every three months to get the shot. With the at-home birth control shot, you use a small needle to inject the medication into the fat on your belly or thigh every 13 to 15 weeks. (Fun fact: subQ is short for subcutaneous, which means “under the skin.”)
Both types of birth control shots contain progestin, which is the synthetic version of progesterone, a hormone made by the body. The shot prevents pregnancy by stopping ovulation from happening, which means that the ovaries don’t release an egg.
Just like the in-office birth control shot, the at-home birth control shot prevents pregnancy for three months at a time. You can get the in-office version of the shot in a doctor’s office or health center if the at-home version doesn’t sound right for you.
Depo-subQ Provera is a version of the birth control shot that you inject at home or in another safe space. That means you don’t have to go see a health care provider every three months to get the shot. With the at-home birth control shot, you use a small needle to inject the medication into the fat on your belly or thigh every 13 to 15 weeks. (Fun fact: subQ is short for subcutaneous, which means “under the skin.”)
Both types of birth control shots contain progestin, which is the synthetic version of progesterone, a hormone made by the body. The shot prevents pregnancy by stopping ovulation from happening, which means that the ovaries don’t release an egg.
Just like the in-office birth control shot, the at-home birth control shot prevents pregnancy for three months at a time. You can get the in-office version of the shot in a doctor’s office or health center if the at-home version doesn’t sound right for you.
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.