The Depo Provera injection must be injected into a muscle and is injected into either the buttock or upper arm. This shot contains 150 mg of the progestin medroxyprogesterone acetate, and it requires 4 shots a year (every 11 to 13 weeks) to maintain Depo Provera’s high effectiveness rate.
The Depo-subQ Provera 104 injection is the newer version of the original Depo shot. It contains 31% less hormone than the original Depo shot (104 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate). Because of the lower dose of progestin, it may lead to fewer progestin-related side effects. The subQ stands for subcutaneous, which means this newer shot only has to be injected under the skin (not into a muscle), so it has a smaller needle and may cause less pain. Depo-subQ Provera 104 must be injected into the thigh or abdomen 4 times a year (every 12 to 14 weeks).
Both Depo Provera shots can help in the treatment of endometriosis-related pain (The Depo-subQ Provera 104 injection is the first new remedy in the last 15 years to be FDA approved for endometriosis pain). It is also recommended that you stop using Depo Provera one year before you wish to become pregnant. This is because it takes an average of nine to 10 months (sometimes more than a year) to regain fertility and begin ovulating after receiving the last shot. There is also a black box warning required in the package insert cautioning about possible bone loss: "Women who use Depo Provera may lose significant bone mineral density (BMD)." BMD measures how much calcium is stored in the bones. Using this method over time can result in a calcium loss, but calcium starts to return once this method is stopped.
