Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection is indicated only for the prevention of pregnancy.

Use of Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection may cause you to lose stored calcium in your bones. The longer you use Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection the more calcium you are likely to lose. The calcium may not return completely once you stop using Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection.

Loss of calcium may cause weak, porous bones (osteoporosis) that could increase the risk that your bones might break, especially after menopause. It is not known whether your risk of developing osteoporosis may be greater if you are a teenager when you start to use Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection.

You should use Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection long term (for example, more than 2 years) only if other methods of birth control are not right for you.

Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection doesn’t protect you from HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases.

Certain women should not use Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection. You should not use Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection if you have any of the following conditions: if you think you might be pregnant, if you have any vaginal bleeding without a known reason, if you have had cancer of the breast, if you have had a stroke, if you have or have had blood clots (phlebitis) in your legs, if you have problems with your liver or liver disease, or if you are allergic to Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection (medroxyprogesterone acetate or any of its other ingredients).

Side Effects of Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection include: weight gain, and other side effects such as irregular menstrual bleeding, amenorrhea, headache, nervousness, abdominal cramps, dizziness, weakness or fatigue, decreased sexual desire, leg cramps, nausea, vaginal discharge or irritation, breast swelling and tenderness, bloating, swelling of the hands or feet, backache, depression, insomnia, acne, pelvic pain, no hair growth or excessive hair loss, rash, hot flashes, and joint pain.

Risks of using Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection include: losing calcium from your bones, irregular menstrual bleeding, cancer, unexpected pregnancy, allergic reactions, and these other risks: increased risk of blood clots or stroke. Also, if a contraceptive method fails, there is a possibility that the fertilized egg will begin to develop outside of the uterus (ectopic pregnancy). While these events are rare, you should tell your health-care provider if you have any of the Warning Signals. (See “Warning Signals”)