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Dr. Jim Shelton's Pearls "Pearl" for the week of October 22, 2004

Potential Advantages of Subcutaneous DMPA

This new subcutaneous injection approach for Depo-Provera (DMPA) you described is interesting. But what are the potential advantages?

I can see three:

1. The lower dose could provide even better safety and potentially fewer side effects (such as less weight gain).

2. A subcutaneous delivery system could make it easier to provide DMPA via a single-use injection system such as Uniject and thus enhance injection safety.

3. Subcutaneous injections are somewhat easier for health providers to administer. In fact, it is conceivable that there could ultimately even be a role for self-administration, perhaps along the lines of the way some people with diabetes inject their own insulin via subcutaneous injection.

The "Pearls" offer answers to commonly asked questions about family planning. These "Pearls" are prepared by Dr. James D. Shelton, Senior Medical Scientist, Office of Population, United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Disclaimer: The information provided on this web site is not official U.S. Government information and does not represent the views or positions of the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Government or The Johns Hopkins University.