Does Depo Shot Cause Weight Gain? How Does This Birth Control Method Work?

Birth control has various forms, and a person can choose the best method for them and their partners. One of these options is the birth control shot, which can protect against pregnancy for about three months. There are reports, however, that this method can cause weight gain in some women.

What is a Depo Shot?

Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) is an injectable birth control method for women. Also known as Depo shot or birth control shot, this medication is injected into a woman's arm or buttocks and can go into a muscle (intramuscular) or under the skin (subcutaneous). The Depo shot is 99% effective in preventing pregnancy if used correctly. It contains a progesterone-only hormone that the body naturally produces each month during the menstrual cycle.

Depo-Provera shot is designed to protect against pregnancy for up to 14 weeks. To effectively prevent pregnancy, a woman is advised to get one image from the doctor four times a year, about 12 - 14 weeks apart.

The birth control shot suppresses ovulation, the stage in a woman's reproductive cycle when an egg cell is released from the ovary. This is made possible by thickening the cervical mucus, preventing the sperm cell from getting to the egg cell and fertilizing it successfully. Aside from this, it also makes the uterine lining thin, making it hard for the fertilized egg to implant or attach itself to the uterus.

Most women can use Depo-Provera safely, although it is not recommended for everyone. Women with medical conditions may not be advised to take the birth control shot. These conditions include liver disease, lupus, heart disease, unexplained vaginal bleeding, and breast cancer diagnosis.

Birth control shot is best used by women who find it hard to take the contraceptive pill daily. It is also recommended for women who cannot use estrogen-containing contraception. In some cases, the Depo shot can provide some protection against uterine cancer and pelvic inflammatory disease.

Does Depo Shot Cause Weight Gain?

The hormones in the birth control shot may cause side effects in some women, although it does not happen to everyone. The most common side effects of depo shots are changes in a monthly period, especially during the first year. Other possible side effects include weight gain, nausea, sore breasts, and slight bruising. These adverse effects usually go away after 2-3 months once a woman's body gets used to the hormones in the shot.

In March 2009, a team of researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston investigated the role of injectable birth control in causing significant weight gain and changes in body mass. It was found that women who used this medication gained an average of 11 pounds (5 kg) and increased their body fat by 3.4 % over three years of using Depo shot.

A follow-up study was conducted in July 2009 by the same research team. This time, they focused on identifying women more likely to gain weight using the Depo-Provera shot. The study reveals that women classified as "early gainers" or those whose weight increased by 5% within the first six months of using Depo shot are at risk of continued, excessive weight gain. This group of participants gained an average of 24 pounds (11 kg) over three years. According to the researchers, their findings help dispel the myth that all women who use DMPA are likely to gain weight, and it can also help doctors in counseling their patients appropriately.