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Contraception - Management
How should a woman switch to a progestogen-only injectable from her current contraceptive method?
- Currently using a hormonal method — excluding the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (IUS):
- Can have the first injection immediately. If the previous method was another injectable, the woman should have the new progestogen-only injectable when the repeated injection would have been given for the current contraceptive (unlicensed use).
- Currently using a non-hormonal method other than a copper intrauterine device (IUD):
- Can have the first injection immediately. If it has been > 5 days since menstrual bleeding started (unlicensed use), advise additional contraception for 7 days.
- Currently using a copper IUD or levonorgestrel-releasing IUS:
- Can have the first injection within 5 days after the start of menstrual bleeding. The IUD or IUS can be removed at that time.
- Can also start at any other time (unlicensed use), but to provide uninterrupted contraceptive protection, the IUD or IUS should be removed at least 7 days after the injection.
- If amenorrhoeic or bleeding is irregular, the injection can be given as advised for other amenorrhoeic women — see Start injectable: not using contraception.
In depth
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