For years, Depo-Provera has been widely prescribed as a contraceptive, but many women were never fully told what to expect. It is only in recent years that I discovered there have been widespread concerns about Depo-Provera. Some studies have linked it to an increased risk of developing meningioma, a type of brain tumour.
The Disability Royal Commission also uncovered alarming reports of women with disabilities being given Depo-Provera without their informed consent. In some cases, women were even told it was a flu shot. This is a shocking breach of their rights – and sadly, it echoes my own experience of being coerced into taking a drug without proper information or choice.
This is my story
I’ll never forget that shot of Depo-Provera in my upper right arm. My newborn baby was only three days old when my obstetrician was doing the rounds with his midwife by his side. She was pushing a drug trolley, overflowing with an assortment of after-birth necessities. Physically, I was fine -just a bit constipated, that’s all. If anyone had asked what I’d like from the trolley, I would’ve opted for some laxatives.
It was as if I wasn’t there
‘She’s had an ectopic pregnancy that resulted in the removal of one fallopian tube and then, surprisingly, three live births in less than three and a half years’, the doctor said, as if I wasn’t even there. He glanced at my hospital notes, hanging at the end of my bed.
‘And she’s young too -under 30,’ he added.
‘The best thing for her would be Depo-Provera, so she doesn’t have any more unwanted pregnancies.’
I was shocked to the very core of my being. Everyone of my pregnancies had been wanted, and each had resulted in perfect, wonderful babies.
I felt coerced
As a young mother, I felt completely coerced into accepting this form of contraception. I knew absolutely nothing about Depo-Provera, except that it was an injection meant to last 6 to 12 months. It wasn’t a choice I made for myself. From memory, I only ever had one shot, due to the breakdown of my marriage.
What would this do to my baby?
At the time, my greatest concern wasn’t for my own health, but for the health of my baby. I intended to breastfeed her, just as I had done successfully with my other babies. But I often worried: if this contraception is floating around in my body, surely it must be going through my breastmilk as well?
Back then, it was almost impossible to find answers. We didn’t have Google, so there was no easy way to research these kinds of concerns. With my previous babies, I hadn’t used any contraception – that had been my choice.
Being treated like an inferior
Yet I couldn’t shake the feeling that because I had three babies very close together, and an absent husband who was never by my side for any appointments, I was being treated as though I was inferior – as though I lacked intelligence. It felt as if, to them, having three children in three years was completely irresponsible. No one ever said that outright -but the way the doctor plunged that shot of Depo-Provera into my arm that day made it painfully clear.
If something doesn’t feel right, ask questions
All that happened nearly 40 years ago. The practice may have been widespread, but nobody talked about it – and worse, nobody did anything to stop it. My hope is that by sharing my story, other women will feel empowered to ask questions, seek second opinions when something doesn’t feel right, and know that their concerns are valid. No woman should ever leave a hospital wondering whether a major decision about her body was made for her instead of by her.
Featured Image: Thanks to Jordan González @Unsplash
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