The Shot

Sharnette twice became a mother by mistake. Both time she was having sex and taking birth control pills. She still got pregnant. “I found out I was taking the pills wrong,” says Sharnette.

Sharnette is not alone. While pills are effective, tens are careless. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, one in four teens don’t follow the prescription. It’s a problem for girls like Sharnette who refuse abstinence. “I said my only choice not to get pregnant again was to either stop having sex or get the shot. So, I decided to get the shot,” says Sharnette.

The shot is called Depo-Provera It’s almost one hundred percent effective but experts debate whether it is sin or salvation. A shot in the arm, at a local health clinic, critics say Depo, as it is called, gives kids too much sexual freedom. Unlike birth control pills there is no daily reminder of their choices. Unlike condoms, Depo provides no protection from disease.

Some experts say Depo-Provera is the lesser of two evils but it does provide extra insurance for kids who make mistakes with more complicated forms of birth control.

What Parents Should Know
Side Effects and Warnings:

1. Most using Depo-Provera stop having menstrual bleeding altogether or have irregular bleeding or spotting while on the shot. Increased appetite which can lead to weight gain is also a common side effect of the drug. Other side effects can include headaches, nervousness, abdominal pain, dizziness and weakness or fatigue.
2. Girls with liver disease, a history of blood clots or stroke, vaginal bleeding without a know cause, breast cancer or known or suspected pregnancy should not use Depo-Provera.

Pros and Cons:

• Depo-Provera is 99.7 percent effective if the shot is received on time.
• The shot should be administered every three months.
• Depo-Provera gives no protection against sexually transmitted diseases.
• The ability to get pregnant is sometimes delayed for up to one year after the last shot.
• The shot is available free of charge at many health clinics to minors without parental consent.