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CHAPTER 4 - Progestin-Only Injectables
What Are Progestin-Only Injectables?
- The injectable contraceptives depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) and norethisterone enanthate (NET-EN) each contain a progestin like the natural hormone progesterone in a woman’s body. (In contrast, monthly injectables contain both estrogen and progestin. See Monthly Injectables.)
- Do not contain estrogen, and so can be used throughout breastfeeding, starting 6 weeks after giving birth, and by women who cannot use methods with estrogen.
- Given by injection into the muscle (intramuscular injection) or, with a new formulation of DMPA, just under the skin (subcutaneous injection). The hormone is then released slowly into the bloodstream. (See DMPA for Subcutaneous Injection.)
- DMPA, the most widely used progestin-only injectable, is also known in its intramuscular form as “the shot,” “the jab,” the injection, Depo, Depo-Provera, and Petogen. The subcutaneous version in the Uniject injection system is currently marketed under the name Sayana Press and in prefilled single-dose disposable hypodermic syringes as depo-subQ provera 104.
- NET-EN is also known as norethindrone enanthate, Noristerat, Norigest,and Syngestal. (See Comparing Injectables for differences between DMPA and NET-EN.)
- Work primarily by preventing the release of eggs from the ovaries (ovulation).