Michael Frey, MD

The shot is just what it sounds like—a shot that keeps you from getting pregnant. Once you get it, your birth control is covered for three full months—there’s nothing else you have to do.

 

The shot contains progestin, a hormone that prevents your ovaries from releasing eggs. It also thickens your cervical mucus, which helps block sperm from getting to the egg in the first place. Worth considering even if you’re afraid of needles… Because what’s a little prick compared to a pregnancy?

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No (pregnancy) worries for three months: If you’re the kind of person who would have trouble remembering to take a pill every day, the shot might be a good option. You only need to remember to do something once every three months. 

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Total privacy: No one can tell when you’re on Depo. There’s no tell-tale packaging and nothing you need to do before you have sex.

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Yes, there are needles involved. If you’re really that scared of needles, then Depo is not for you. Just think, though. It’s a single shot, and you’re done for three months. Weigh the options.

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It’s a love/hate thing: Depo is one of those methods that some people LOVE and some people HATE. 

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The pregnancy question: YES, it is possible to get pregnant as soon as 12 weeks following the last injection, though for some users it can take around 9 months for fertility to return.