Health Questions and Answers: What is the risk I will get pregnant after Depo shot runs out?

Health Question:
Is it possible to get pregnant while using the Depo Shot?

Question:
I have a question, is it possible to get pregnant when you get the depo shot? We used a condom, but it broke.

Response:
No method of birth control is 100% effective. Depo Provera is 99.7% effective if used correctly, which means that during one year only 3 women out of a thousand would get pregnant using Depo as their only method of birth control. Depo works by preventing you from releasing an egg, so that the sperm and egg cannot meet to form a pregnancy.

If you are concerned about pregnancy, you should take a pregnancy test at home or at a clinic. Be sure to wait 2 weeks after the condom broke to take the pregnancy test, as it may take up to 2 weeks to turn positive (a positive test result means you are pregnant). You may also want to get tested for sexually transmitted infections as well. Condoms and other barrier methods are the only form of birth control that can also reduce your risk of sexually transmitted infections.

Watch out for fake clinics when you look for a free pregnancy test.

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