Hello, <p>It seems like the subject of BC has been a hot topic here lately. This interests me because at work I hear a lot of the same stories that are being told in here.<p>True, in some cases the pregnancies are planned for some reason be it to keep the man around or to save a relationship, etc. And, in other cases it was a failure on the part of the BC method, whatever that may have been. However, I have heard so many stories where, specifically, the Depo shot failed.<p>I spoke with a few OB/GYN's that I know and this is the information they gave me regarding the effectiveness of the shot and how often it needs to be replaced in order to be effective.<p>I was told that depending on the female, the shot is effective anywhere from 60 to 90 days. It is standard to tell the female to come in to receive the replacement shot every 90 days, not every 60. However, I was also told that the shot has a grace period, if you will, of about 10-14 days after being due for a replacement.<p>As to the effectiveness, the shot is supposed to be 95% effective in preventing an unplanned pregnancy. When I was told all of that information I was shocked! There are so many variables with this method of BC I'm surprised that the percentage of effectiveness in as high as it is. Why don't the doctors tell these women that the shot may not be effective as long as the women think it's supposed to be?<p>It once again proves that nothing is 100% except for abstaining completely, but it still doesn't change the fact the kids are here needing to be taken care of. Once the child is here I guess the issue of BC really doesn't make a difference anymore, at least it didn't for me. <p>I hope this helped answer any questions regarding this subject.

My H's niece got pregnant on the Depo-Provera shot. I'm not sure how religious she was about making sure she had the shot on time, though.<p>While we're on the subject of BC, the pill generally fails due to user error. In my case, I was taking a low-dose estrogen pill due to my migraines, and I got pregnant twice on it, even though I never missed one and took them correctly, but I did miscarry both pregnancies shortly after the pregnancy was confirmed.<p>User error does not necessarily mean that a woman misses taking one or two. Many women don't seem to understand that to be effective, BC pills need to be CONSISTENTLY taken at the SAME TIME every day. For instance, if you take a BC pill at 6 a.m. on Monday morning, but wait until Tuesday night at 10 p.m. to take another one, you have lessened the effectiveness of the Monday BC pill for 16 hours. Doctors don't always explain this to women.<p>If you miss a second pill or do the "1 on one morning and 1 on the next night" thing again, you really need to use a backup BC method.<p>That being said, I do think that a lot of OW do get pregnant on purpose. For some reason, women who are in love want to have their partner's babies, and these days, it seems as if a lot of women (not just OW) are putting the cart before the horse. I can't understnad the logic, though, of OW who think their MM would leave the children they already have just because SHE is having a child. But, then, I guess if they were logical, they wouldn't be messing with a MM in the first place.
LC

Skittles,
I dont know who these OB/GYN "friends" of yours are. But they have there % wrong. Depo if used correctly should have an effect rate of 99 % which is 2% better than the pill.
Facts:
Depo should be given the first time by the 5th day of your period. If given by the 5th day it is immediatly effective.
Depo works for 12 weeks (3months) after 12 weeks the effects start to taper off. NO WHERE DOES IT SAY IT WORKS 60 days, nor do I know of any colleages that said they had a pregnancy with depo when adminstered correctly.
The proplem we are seeing with Depo now, is the opposite. Women who have been on Depo for a long period of time, some of these women actually are expirencing infertility. It is taking them a long time to GET pregnant. I advise patients to use the pill if they are planning to have a child with in a 2 two year period.
Clueless, I would suspect your neice did not get her shots in a timly manner, unless she was that lucky 1%.
Depo provera shot is actually the BEST method (other than sterilzation) on the market today.
The Number one reason: Patient compliance.<p>You all know How I cant stand whinny excuses from Drive by OW's [img]images/icons/wink.gif" border="0[/img]
Huggs to all- Still thinking and praying for CD<p>[ March 04, 2002: Message edited by: MyCross ]</p>

Hello,
Everything MyCross said is correct. I was on the depo Shot and my Dr. told me everything that MyCross had said it is more effective then the birth control pill. And my dr. said he has never encounter someone getting pregnant from the depo shot.<p>Dawn

I just want to concur with MyCross about what she reported on the Depo Shot. <p>I was on it for 4 years, came off approx. 2 years ago and am experiencing infertility now. My OB and RE (specialist) attribute most of the problem to the depo. <p>Anyway, I guess what I am saying is that it seems to me that someone who gets pregnant "on the shot" is probably not on the shot at all.<p>I'm going back to my corner now.