ONE ATOM AT A TIME: Super Injection. No Pain, No Gain.

In the history of contraceptive methods numerous mistakes were made. Some gynaecologists believed that ovulation occurred at the same time as menstruation. Unbelievable methods to avoid pregnancy were practised, such as smearing olive oil or tobacco juice around the vagina, or even crocodile dung with honey, it even went as far as placing bees wax on the cervix, fancy that. Then the idea of condoms arrived, condoms made out of cloth were placed on the penis but the Egyptians invented them for mosquito bite purposes, until Charles Goodyear developed the first rubber condom in the 19th century. Ever since, many different contraceptive methods were discovered, these included: Birth control pills, IUD, Abortion pills, caps, and many more. The most recent invention is an injection that does not only avoid pregnancy, but may also terminate the menstrual cycle for as long as a year!!

The contraceptive injections have various types, some which last for as short as 4 weeks and some for 12 weeks. These injections are jabs that contain hormones which are injected into the muscle of the buttock. The most common injections are Noristerat (Norethisterone) and Depo-provera (medroxyprogesterone) which is by far the most commonly used.

Image from http://z.about.com on male contraceptive injection

Depo-Provera injection contains the active ingredient medroxyprogesterone acetate, which is a synthetic form of the naturally occurring female sex hormone, progesterone. The medroxyprogesterone prevents pregnancy by preventing ovulation, and changing the quality of the endometrium.

Without focusing on the complex structure of the chemical medroxyprogesterone acetate, the fact that this chemical is very reliable but also comes with numerous side effects shows how strong it is. The injection is 99% effective but when the advantages and disadvantages are considered, some may go ahead and take it while some might decide against.

The advantages are:

You do not have to remember to take a pill every day.
You only have to think about contraception every 2-3 months.
You don’t have to use a condom and worry about conceiving.
It can be used when breastfeeding.
It may help some of the problems of periods, such as pre-menstrual tension, heavy periods and pain.
It can be used by some women who cannot take the combined pill (which contains oestrogen).
It may help protect against pelvic infection. (The mucus plug in the cervix may help stop bacteria travel into the uterus.)

However, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages in terms of side effects, and these are JUST a few:

Menstrual changes, eg irregular bleeding or spotting.
Headache.
Abdominal pain.
Dizziness.
Weakness or loss of strength (asthenia).
Nervousness.
Difficulty in sleeping (insomnia).
Depression.
Nausea.
Hair loss (alopecia).
Decreased sex drive.

For most cautious people, the scariest side effect is weight gain!! Who would want to feel guilty after eating a burger only once a week? Also, once the injection wears off and a woman decides to conceive, she must wait for at least a year.!!!

Contraceptive injections are so far the most reliable methods of contraception and can also be used by men. These Super injections do not stop the spread of STDs but are in my opinion are quite useful when it comes to birth control. People considering these injections must thoroughly research on them first. But nevertheless let’s all be realistic; there is no gain, without pain!