Side Effects, Health Benefits, and Health Risks
Some users report the following:
- Changes in bleeding patterns including, with DMPA:
First 3 months:
- Irregular bleeding
- Prolonged bleeding
At one year:
- No monthly bleeding
- Infrequent bleeding
- Irregular bleeding
- NET-EN affects bleeding patterns less than DMPA. NET-EN users have fewer days of bleeding in the first 6 months and are less likely to have no monthly bleeding after one year than DMPA users.
- Weight gain (see Question 4)
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Abdominal bloating and discomfort
- Mood changes
- Less sex drive
Other possible physical changes:
Known Health Benefits
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Known Health Risks
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|
DMPA
Help protect against:
- Risks of pregnancy
- Cancer of the lining of the uterus (endometrial cancer)
- Uterine fibroids
May help protect against:
- Symptomatic pelvic inflammatory disease
- Iron-deficiency anemia
Reduces:
- Sickle cell crises among women with sickle cell anemia
- Symptoms of endometriosis (pelvic pain, irregular bleeding)
|
None
|
|
NET-EN
Helps protect against:
- Risks of pregnancy
- Iron-deficiency anemia
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None
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NET-EN may offer many of the same health benefits as DMPA, but this list of benefits includes only those for which there is available research evidence.
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