Who Can and Cannot Use Progestin-Only Injectables
Safe and Suitable for Nearly All Women
Nearly all women can use progestin-only injectables safely and effectively, including women who:
- Have or have not had children
- Are not married
- Are of any age, including adolescents and women over 40 years old
- Have just had an abortion or miscarriage
- Smoke cigarettes, regardless of woman's age or number of cigarettes smoked
- Are breastfeeding (starting as soon as 6 weeks after childbirth; however, see p. 129, Q&A 8)
- Are infected with HIV, whether or not on antiretroviral therapy (see
Progestin-Only Injectables for Women With HIV)
Women can begin using progestin-only injectables:
- Without a pelvic examination
- Without any blood tests or other routine laboratory tests
- Without cervical cancer screening
- Without a breast examination
- Even when a woman is not having monthly bleeding at the time, if it is reasonably certain she is not pregnant (see Pregnancy Checklist)
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