Medroxyprogesterone acetate (Depo-Contraceptive Injection)

Injection: Loss of Bone Mineral Density

  • Women who use injectable medroxyprogesterone acetate may lose significant bone mineral density. Bone loss is greater with increasing duration of use and may not be completely reversible.
  • It is unknown if use of injectable medroxyprogesterone acetate during adolescence or early adulthood, a critical period of bone accretion, will reduce peak bone mass and increase the risk for osteoporotic fracture in later life.
  • Injectable medroxyprogesterone acetate should be used long-term (e.g., longer than 2 years) only if other methods of birth control are inadequate (see warning)

Patients should be counseled that this product does not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases.