Contraceptive Use of Depo Provera

Efficacy and Administration

• The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend Depo Provera as a highly effective female contraceptive with a typical use failure rate of only 6% and perfect use failure rate of 0.2% 1, 2
• Depo Provera is administered as an injection every 13 weeks (up to 15 weeks) at a dose of 150 mg intramuscularly or 104 mg subcutaneously, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics 3

Contraceptive Options

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that the only approved contraceptive methods specifically for men are condoms (with typical use failure rate of 18%) and vasectomy (with typical use failure rate of 0.15%) 1, 5
• Male condoms provide the additional benefit of STI protection, which hormonal methods like Depo Provera do not offer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 8

Mechanism of Action and Safety

• The American Academy of Pediatrics explains that Depo Provera works in women primarily by suppressing ovulation, thickening cervical mucus, and thinning the endometrial lining 3
• Known side effects in women include menstrual irregularities, weight gain, bone mineral density changes, and delayed return to fertility, as reported by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 3, 4

Clinical Guidance

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise healthcare providers not to prescribe Depo Provera as a contraceptive for men due to lack of approval, evidence of efficacy, and safety data 5, 6
• Men seeking contraception should be counseled on the approved methods available to them: condoms and vasectomy, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1, 5