In plain words
Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, often called DMPA or the Depo shot, is a hormone injection that is used to avoid pregnancy for a set period. It is a progestin only method, so it is considered compatible with breastfeeding. Some providers offer it soon after birth. It works for months at a time. One common side effect is irregular bleeding. Another is weight change in some people. A well-known concern is bone density, which the labeling addresses with a warning. After stopping it, fertility can take longer to return than with most other methods. This does not mean lasting harm. A provider can talk through the options.
The deeper version
DMPA is a progestin injection that suppresses ovulation through gonadotropin inhibition, and it has among the lowest typical-use pregnancy rates of reversible methods. The CDC US Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (2024) classify DMPA as usable while breastfeeding in the postpartum period, with timing rules that differ by the weeks after birth. Return of fertility after discontinuation is delayed compared with other reversible methods, and some cohort data suggest a median of many months, though estimates vary. US labeling carries a boxed warning on loss of bone mineral density with prolonged use. Controversy persists about the clinical significance of the bone loss in adolescents and about the weight-gain association.
Where it comes up
What mothers here say about depot medroxyprogesterone acetate
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Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — US Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, 2024
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists — Practice Bulletin 186: Long-Acting Reversible Contraception: Intrauterine and Implantable Devices, 2017