Pretreatment counseling keeps patients on Depo
Contraceptive technology update 18(10): 125-126
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0274-726X PMID: 12321212 Document Number: 270334
Side effects of Depo-Provera (depot medroxyprogesterone) use, such as irregular bleeding and weight gain, can cause many Depo-Provera users to stop using the injectable contraceptive method. The best way to ensure method continuation is to make sure that clients understand the common side effects associated with the method before they receive their first injection. It is common for users of Depo-Provera to experience weight gain and changes in vaginal bleeding. Potential annual average weight gain associated with method use is on the order of 2-4 pounds. Food and exercise diaries, as well as a review of healthy food choices, can help patients manage their weight. Katherine Jensen, a nurse midwife at Roseburg Women's Health Center, currently sees about 120 Depo-Provera clients annually. She has found that women who are naturally thin and typically do not have weight problems seem to have no problem using Depo-Provera.