A Woman Explains Female
Birth Control Methods

shot250THE SHOT (aka DEPO-PROVERA or DMPA)
• Every 12 weeks, a doctor or nurse injects the woman with hormones that do essentially the same thing as the aforementioned contraceptives.

• The shot works just as well as the pill, the ring, and the patch (that’s also the name of a never-published C.S. Lewis novel), but there’s a slightly lower eff-up rate since a medical pro administers it.

• Unlike other hormonal contraceptives, it starts working immediately. So you can celebrate the decision to start having condom-free sex by having condom-free sex the same day.

• Also unlike other hormonal contraceptives, the shot doesn’t contain estrogen, one of the causes of boob tenderness. So, unless she says otherwise, you may be able to touch and squeeze per usual, my grabby friend.