Most users of injectables gain weight. The range of weight change is wide. The reason for weight gain is unclear. The extra weight is mainly from fat rather than water retention. Some weight gain is normal with increasing age, of course.
Few women discontinue injectables because of weight gain.
There are regional differences in women's perceptions of weight gain, perhaps reflecting cultural differences in women's ideal weight. LDL cholesterol has been linked to atherosclerosis, while HDL cholesterol reduces the risk of atherosclerosis. There is little direct epidemiologic information, however, on the risk of vascular disease among users of injectables. Headache and dizziness. For example, among DMPA and NET EN users in one clinical trial, the rate of discontinuation for headache in both groups after two years was about 2 per 100 woman-years of use.