

That fertilized egg must then travel down the fallopian tube and attach to the uterine wall. The sperm must move through the cervix (the opening on the bottom of the uterus). How does the birth control shot work?įor a successful pregnancy to occur, an egg must be released into the fallopian tube and then fertilized by sperm. You should still use a barrier method of protection, like condoms, to help prevent contracting an STI and potentially developing a sexually transmitted disease (STD). The shot doesn’t protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).


In some cases, typical fertility levels may take a little longer to return. It can take around 10 months on average for people to become pregnant after stopping the shot, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

If you have your shot on time without being late, there’s less than a 1 in 100 chance you’ll become pregnant during a given year.įor those who don’t take the shot exactly as prescribed - often called typical use - the efficacy rate slips to around 94 percent, which means 6 out of 100 people getting the shot will get pregnant each year. The birth control shot works similarly to the pill by preventing ovulation, thickening cervical mucus, and thinning the lining of the uterus.Īccording to Planned Parenthood, the shot is 99 percent effective when received every 3 months. It contains a synthetic hormone called progestin. Depo-Provera is an injection that prevents pregnancy for 3 months at a time.
