Family Planning

Side Effects, Health Benefits, and Health RisksSide Effects (see Managing Any Problems, p. 95)Some users report the following:óóóóóChanges in bleeding patterns including:– Lighter bleeding and fewer days of bleeding– Irregular bleeding– Infrequent bleeding– Prolonged bleeding– No monthly bleedingWeight gainHeadachesDizzinessBreast tenderness5Monthly InjectablesKnown Health Benefits and Health RisksLong-term studies of monthly injectables are limited, but researchersexpect that their health benefits and health risks are similar to those ofcombined oral contraceptives (see Combined Oral Contraceptives, HealthBenefits and Health Risks, p. 3). There may be some differences in theeffects on the liver, however (see Question 2, p. 98).Correcting Misunderstandings (see also Questions and Answers, p. 98)Monthly injectables:óóóóóóóCan stop monthly bleeding, but this is not harmful. It is similar to nothaving monthly bleeding during pregnancy. Blood is not building upinside the woman.Are not in experimental phases of study. Government agencies haveapproved them.Do not make women infertile.Do not cause early menopause.Do not cause birth defects or multiple births.Do not cause itching.Do not change women’s sexual behavior.Monthly Injectables83