Question: I have heard that there is now an injection that you can have every few months instead of the pill that will stop you falling pregnant. Can you tell me about this please? Is it effective and safe?
Depo-Provera is an injectable contraceptive that has been used for 30 years overseas (including New Zealand and England), and was approved for use in Australia several years ago. It contains a hormone called medroxyprogesterone acetate, which is similar to the natural progesterone produced in the ovaries.
It is given by injection every three months and prevents pregnancy in two ways:
• It prevents the release of the egg from the ovary (ovulation)
• It affects the lining of the womb (uterus) and the type of mucus at the neck of the womb (cervix) to reduce fertility.
Depo-Provera is more than 99% effective in preventing pregnancy, which is comparable to a vasectomy or tubal ligation, and slightly more effective than th contraceptive pill (which can be forgotten at a vital time).
The first injection is given at a time when it is certain that the woman is not pregnant. This is usually during or immediately after a period, or soon after childbirth. The first injection will be fully effective after two weeks, and will last at least three months from the date of injection. Provided they are given regularly every three months, subsequent injections are fully effective immediately.
As with all medications there may be side effects. Many women find that their usual cycle of menstrual periods is altered by Depo-Provera, and periods often stop altogether. Other possibilities include having irregular light periods, or occasionally, constant light bleeding. Heavy bleeding rarely occurs.
Less common side effects include headaches and a prolonged delay in fertility. Rarer side effects include weight gain, anxiety, acne and breast tenderness. Additional medication can be given to counteract these side effects while the injection wears off, but if any significant side effects occur, the injection is not repeated and another form of contraception must be used.
Depo-Provera may be used safely during breast feeding without affecting the baby or the mother’s milk supply.
Women should be aware that the ability to fall pregnant may be delayed after using Depo-Provera by up to six months after the last injection was given.
Occasionally this extends to 15 months, and very rarely up to two years.

Question: What is vasectomy and what happens during operation ?
Sperm are produced by the testes throughout adult life at a relatively constant rate. The sperm enter a complex network of small tubules which unite to form the sperm tube (vas deferens). The sperm pass along this tube to a s (the seminal vesicle) where they await the next ejaculation. The walls of the sperm storage sac secrete a fluid which nourishes the sperm, and along with an exudate from the prostate gland, forms 95% of the semen passed by the man during intercourse.
When he ejaculates, the sperm and supporting fluid (called semen when combined) pass down the sperm tube to its junction with the urethra, and then along this tube to the outside of the penis.
In the operation, a local anesthetic numbs the side of the scrotum, and through a small incision, the doctor cuts, burns and ties the sperm tube (vas deferens) so no further sperm can pass along it from the testes. This may be done in the doctor’s rooms, or as a day patient in a private hospital. The procedure is very simple and brief, and no pain is felt. There may be some bruising and discomfort of the scrotum for a few days after the operation, but other complications ate rare.
The operation should be considered to be a form of permanent sterilization, and although reversal is sometimes possible, you should not proceed unless you are completely sure that this is what you want.