Monthly contraceptive injection: what it is, advantages and how to use it

The monthly contraceptive injection is a combination of the hormones estrogen and progestogen, which act to inhibit ovulation and make cervical mucus thicker, thus preventing sperm from reaching the uterus. The best known monthly injectable contraceptives are cyclofemina, mesigyna or perlutan.

It is important that the use of this type of contraceptive is discussed with a gynecologist, who will carry out a general assessment of the woman’s health status and, thus, indicate the best contraceptive method, as well as provide guidance on how it works.

The monthly contraceptive injection must be applied every month, in the buttocks, arm or hip region, with an interval of 30 days between the two injections. Normally, fertility with this method does not take long to return to normal, and the woman can plan a pregnancy for the following month in which she stops using contraceptives.

How to use

The monthly contraceptive injection must be applied by a healthcare professional in the buttocks, hip or arm region, 7 days after using the last contraceptive pill, or removing another contraceptive method such as the IUD, for example. In cases where no contraceptive method was used, the injection must be applied until the 5th day of the start of menstruation, and the following 30 days after its application, providing a maximum of 3 days delay.

For women who are postpartum and want to start using monthly injectable contraceptives, it is recommended that the injection be done after the 5th day of birth, if you are not breastfeeding. For those who are breastfeeding, the injection can be administered after the 6th week. This contraceptive method is also available in a quarterly version, which has only progestogen in its composition and the interval between applications is 3 months. Understand what a quarterly contraceptive injection is and how to use it.

Main advantages

The main advantage of monthly injectable contraceptives is that there is no major impact on a woman’s fertility, as it is possible to get pregnant just one month after the last use.

In addition to being able to be used at any age and reducing menstrual cramps, it also reduces the chances of cancer and ovarian cysts, pelvic inflammatory disease and reduces the pain present in cases of endometriosis. It also does not have a major impact on the bloodstream, such as an increase in blood pressure and clotting factor, as it contains natural estrogen and not synthetic estrogen like oral contraceptives.

Possible side effects

The side effects of monthly contraceptive injections are not present in all women, but when they occur they tend to include weight gain, small bleeds between periods, headache, amenorrhea and tender breasts.

When it is not indicated

The monthly contraceptive injection is not indicated for women with:

• Less than 6 weeks postpartum and breastfeeding;
• Suspected pregnancy or confirmed pregnancy;
• History of thromboembolic disease in the family;
• Family history of stroke;
• Breast cancer being treated or already cured;
• Arterial hypertension greater than 180/110;
• Current cardiovascular disease;
• Recurrent migraine attacks.

Therefore, if you present any of these conditions, it is recommended to see a gynecologist so that the case can be evaluated and the best contraceptive method can be recommended. Learn about other contraceptive methods.

Common questions

Below are the main questions related to monthly injectable contraceptives:

1. What cuts the effect?

The effect of monthly injectable contraceptives may decrease due to the use of some medications, such as antibiotics, antivirals and antiepileptic drugs, for example. Therefore, it is important that the doctor is informed about the use of these medications before starting to use contraceptives.

2. Does the monthly injectable contraceptive make you fat?

Due to the presence of hormones in its composition, it is possible that weight gain may be noticed in some women due to increased fluid retention.

3. Can it be combined with another contraceptive method?

The use of monthly injectable contraceptives can be combined with the use of condoms, which in addition to preventing pregnancy, also prevents the occurrence of sexually transmitted infections. However, the use of monthly injectable contraceptives is sufficient to prevent pregnancy, as long as it is administered according to the doctor’s instructions.

4. What to do if you forget to take the injection

If the delay in renewing the injection exceeds 3 days, it is recommended to use other contraceptive methods such as condoms, for example, until the next date scheduled for the application of the contraceptive.