Injectable Contraceptives

Women with confirmed pregnancy, less than 6 weeks postpartum, and had breast cancer, severe hypertension, cerebrovascular or coronary artery disease, thromboembolism/deep vein thrombosis, complicated valvular heart disease, diabetes with complications, active hepatitis, severe liver cirrhosis, benign or malignant liver tumour are contraindicated for the use of injectable contraceptives. Progestogen Only Injectable is preferred to CIC in breastfeeding women. Clients might experience a delay in the return of ovulation following the discontinuation of Progestogen Only Injectables. Normal ovulation usually returns 6-12 months after the cessation of Progestogen Only Injectables. Both injectables will not cause infertility.

Progestogen Only Injectables (POI)

Progestogen Only Injectables contain progestogen only. Each injection is effective for 3 months. If the the first injection of POI is given within the first 5 days of menses, there is no need to add condoms. You can have the injection any time if you are certain that you are not pregnant, and abstain from sex or add condoms during the next 7 days. You should receive the injection every 3 months. If you are unable to attend on the scheduled date, you may receive the injection 14 days in advance. If your injection is overdue, please notify medical professionals as soon as possible.

Research conducted overseas and in local Chinese women showed POI use for more than 2 years is associated with a small loss in bone mineral density, which can usually recover after discontinuation. Therefore, you should have adequate calcium intake, sunshine exposure and weight bearing exercise daily. If you have other risk factors for osteoporosis like previous fracture, alcoholism, smoking, body mass index <18.5kg/m², parental hip fracture, endocrine diseases e.g. thyroid disease, parathyroid disease, diabetes mellitus, or long-term steroid, please inform our medical staff. Common side effects include depressed mood, decreased sexual drive, headache, nausea, acne, breast tenderness, irregular or no menses and weight gain.The available evidence suggests current or recent use of POI may confer a slight increase in breast cancer risk, and that the magnitude of this increased breast cancer risk is small.

Combined Injectable Contraceptives (CIC)

Combined Injectable Contraceptives contain estrogen and progestogen. Each injection is effective for 1 month. If the first injection of CIC is given within the first 7 days of menses, there is no need to add condoms. You can have the injection any time if you are certain that you are not pregnant, and then abstain or use condoms for the next 7 days.

You should receive the injection every 4 weeks. If you are unable to attend on the scheduled date, you may receive the injection 7 days in advance. If your injection is overdue, please notify medical professionals as soon as possible.

Minor side effects include nausea, dizziness, headache, breast tenderness, fluid retention and mood changes. These symptoms are usually transient and disappear after a few weeks. There is no clear evidence that CIC causes weight gain. Long-term side effects are similar to combined oral contraceptive pills.

Some studies showed a slightly increased risk of breast cancer in recent and current users. The risk will gradually decline after cessation of CIC and will be like non-users 10 years after CIC stopped. Both CIC users and non-users can have breast cancer, so it is important for all women to be breast aware. There is a slight increase in risk for cervical cancer in CIC users who have been infected with Human Papillomavirus. These women are advised to have regular cervical screening, use condom and quit smoking.