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Summer 2000

Time to Take a Critical Look at Depo–Provera

DifferenTakes Series
5 ~ Summer 2000
[PDF Version]
By Sara Littlecrow-Russell

My first experience with Depo–Provera was as a young welfare mother. I had just finished my first post–partum check–up after having had my second child. The doctor pronounced me in great health and then pulled out a syringe and a vial. I am just going to give you a shot so that you won’t have to worry about getting pregnant again. She smiled. I asked her what was in the vial and she told me that it was like the pill, but that I didn’t have to worry about remembering to take it every day.

Sara Littlecrow–Russell is a single mother of two, a former welfare recipient, a domestic violence survivor, and a graduate of Hampshire College. Her activism is centered around Native American women’s healthcare, welfare rights, prison reform, and domestic violence in marginalized communities. She is a published poet and a law student at Northeastern Law School.

References

  1. The Columbus Dispatch. July 9, 1997 Business Section, p. 2F.
  2. Medical Advertising News. May 1997, p.76.
  3. PR Newswire Association. "Upjohn Increases Availability of Depo–Provera to Title X Clinics." Financial News Section, Kalamazoo MI––November 8, 1994.
  4. Staff, "Contraceptives; City right to OK money for dispensation of drug." The Houston Chronicle. January 31, 1998 Sec. A p.36.
  5. Lawrence, J. Herald. "Focus: Health; The safe (and secret) option; Injection a popular choice for birth control." The Boston Herald. November 18, 1998.
  6. "FDA got 131,000 complaints about Rxs and OTCs." Drug Topics February 17, 1997 p. 8.
  7. Goldman, Erik. "Weight Gain in Depo–Provera a Problem for Teens." Family Practice News. May 15, 1999 v29 i10 p.42.
  8. Ms. Editors"Is Depo–Provera Really Safe?" Ms. Magazine. January/February 1993 pps. 72–3.
  9. Kluger, J. The Hot Shot Time October 26, 1998 p. 69 (1).
  10. Whitemire, R. "Shot may be contributing to fewer births among teens. Low–income women favor Depo–Provera." The Courier–Journal. (Louisville, KY) November 3, 1996 p.9A.
  11. Marx, P., Spira, A., Gettie, A., Dailey, P., Veazey, R., Lackner, A., Mahoney, C., Miller, C., Claypool, L., Ho, D., & Alexander, N. "Progesterone Implants Enhance SIV Vaginal Transmission & Early Virus Load." Nature Medicine. Vol. 2 No. 10 October 1996.
  12. Center for Disease Control, Trends in the HIV & AIDS Epidemic 1998. CDC Reports. Department of Health And Human Services, 1998 p.3.
  13. Kennedy, M. "A Boost for the Shot." The Baltimore Sun. February 21, 1999 p.9N.
  14. Williams, A. & Rhodes, T. "Contraceptive jab cuts teen pregnancies." Sunday Times. (London) October 18, 1998 Sec: Home News.
  15. Lim, S., Rieder, J., Coupey, S., Bijur, P. "Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate Use in inner–city, Minority Adolescents: Continuation Rates and Characteristics of Long–term Users." Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. October 1999 v153 i10 p.1068.
  16. Forna, A. "A bitter pill; Promoting a particular contraceptive can dramatically cut teen pregnancy rates––but at what cost?" The Guardian. (London) Sec. Guardian Features October 20, 1998 p.7.
  17. Ibid.
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