Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate

Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) is a long-acting reversible hormonal contraceptive birth control drug that is injected every three months. It is a progestin-only contraceptive. It is marketed under the brand name Depo-Provera.

It is an aqueous suspension for depot injection of the pregnane 17α-hydroxyprogesterone-derivative progestin medroxyprogesterone acetate. It is also used for chemical castration.

Effectiveness

Estimates of first-year failure rates are about 0.3%.

Perfect use

Trussell's estimated perfect use first-year failure rate for Depo-Provera as the average of failure rates in seven clinical trials at 0.3%. It was considered perfect use because the clinical trials measured efficacy during actual use of Depo-Provera defined as being no longer than 14 or 15 weeks after an injection (i.e., no more than 1 or 2 weeks late for a next injection).

Typical use

Prior to 2004, Trussell's typical use failure rate for Depo-Provera was the same as his perfect use failure rate: 0.3%.