After taking your medical history and giving you a physical exam, the clinician will inject the hormone into your buttock or arm. Protection against pregnancy begins within 24 hours if you get the injection during the first five days of your period. Do not have an injection if there is a chance that you are pregnant. Be sure to tell your clinician if you think there is any chance that you are. You should have a follow-up visit for another injection at the end of 12 weeks.
Most women adjust to using injections with few or no problems.
However, as with all medicines, there may be some side effects for some women. It is important to consider that there is no way to stop the effects of the injection. For some women, it may only take 12 weeks after the last shot to get pregnant. For others, it may take up to 18 months. The most common side effect of Depo-Provera is not serious.