Depo-Provera injection vs Sayana Press injection

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Depo-Provera injection

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Sayana Press injection

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Overview

Rated 2.9

201 reviews

Every 3 months

Frequency

94% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

Short term

Effect on fertility

Rated 3.0

84 reviews

Every 3 months

Frequency

94% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

Short term

Effect on fertility

Depo-Provera injection ingredients

Main hormones in Depo-Provera injection

Less-Androgenic progestogen


Sayana Press injection ingredients

Main hormones in Sayana Press injection

Less-Androgenic progestogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

28% no impact on mood

68% stopped periods

55% lost sex drive

47% gained weight

53% no impact on skin

Cycle return

39% don’t know impact

39% somewhat negative

70% stopped periods

58% lost sex drive

45% gained weight

47% no impact on skin

Cycle return

57% don’t know impact

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Endometriosis

Heavy periods

Period pain

Endometriosis

Heavy periods

Period pain

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Real life reviews from people like you

Depo-Provera injection reviews

201 reviews

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Depo-Provera injection  

I’ve been getting this shot ever since my first period and before I started taking it, I was having heavy period cramps and I disliked the constant pain from my period cramps

Read more

Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Depo-Provera injection  

I’ve been getting this shot ever since my first period and before I started taking it, I was having heavy period cramps and I disliked the constant pain from my period cramps


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Depo-Provera injection  

First 3 weeks were fine, I spent first 3 days filled with rage and nausea and a few headaches but fine. First expected period rolled around at 3 weeks in and didn't stop, like at all (day 77 as I write this). About 6 weeks in my mood crashed. As someone who has previously had mental health problems, I was incredibly apprehensive about going on any kind of hormonal birth control because I was scared of side effects. But in order to get my tubes tied, my doctors wanted to see me try this first and everyone reassured me that I was just being paranoid and it wouldn't be as bad as I imagined. Unfortunately it was worse than I imagined. I spent 4 weeks getting progressively more suicidal until I finally went to the doctors (which was its own story) but had to take three Valium a day in order to function and go to work. At the time of writing, I'm 2 weeks out of the 12-week expected window, still bleeding and still suffering mentally but less so and more manageably. This experience has put me off trying any other form of birth control. I had done this to try and reduce PMS symptoms and wish I never had. I was also recommended the mirena coil but didn't like the idea of having to have it inserted or removed if things went wrong/justify myself to a doctor


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Depo-Provera injection  

I’ve been getting this shot ever since my first period and before I started taking it, I was having heavy period cramps and I disliked the constant pain from my period cramps


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 days ago

Depo-Provera injection  

I’ve been getting this shot ever since my first period and before I started taking it, I was having heavy period cramps and I disliked the constant pain from my period cramps


Very positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Depo-Provera injection  

First 3 weeks were fine, I spent first 3 days filled with rage and nausea and a few headaches but fine. First expected period rolled around at 3 weeks in and didn't stop, like at all (day 77 as I write this). About 6 weeks in my mood crashed. As someone who has previously had mental health problems, I was incredibly apprehensive about going on any kind of hormonal birth control because I was scared of side effects. But in order to get my tubes tied, my doctors wanted to see me try this first and everyone reassured me that I was just being paranoid and it wouldn't be as bad as I imagined. Unfortunately it was worse than I imagined. I spent 4 weeks getting progressively more suicidal until I finally went to the doctors (which was its own story) but had to take three Valium a day in order to function and go to work. At the time of writing, I'm 2 weeks out of the 12-week expected window, still bleeding and still suffering mentally but less so and more manageably. This experience has put me off trying any other form of birth control. I had done this to try and reduce PMS symptoms and wish I never had. I was also recommended the mirena coil but didn't like the idea of having to have it inserted or removed if things went wrong/justify myself to a doctor


Very negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments


Sayana Press injection reviews

84 reviews

Injection  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
46 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  28th Apr 26

Sayana Press injection  

Having used both Depot and Sanaya Press, these are the best method of contraception. No side effect and a huge positive: no periods.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3rd Feb 26

Sayana Press injection  

I would have rated this 5 stars last year. I used to be on the depo jab that had to be done at the doctors but I work 12 hour shifts meaning it was a struggle to attended every 12 weeks. So I was over the moon when I found out about sayana press that I could do myself. I usually do the injection around 11 weeks but the last 3 times I get to 10 weeks and get crippling period pain that completely debilitates me. Even after I’ve done the injection this will continue for about a week afterwards. I’ve never experienced child birth but the pain is horrendous. It will wake me up in the middle of the night, happen at work and is just completely random spouts of unbearable pain until at whatever point doesn’t happen again until I am next at the 10 week mark. I’ve recently learned that it’s a lower strength to Depo-Provera and maybe that’s why however I’m confused as to why it’s only started happening. My gp surgery is useless and it the whole process of going back to having the higher strength at the surgery is going to take some time but being able to do it at home is not worth this horrendous ordeal. I would not recommend switching


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

1 comments

Injection  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3rd Jan 26

Sayana Press injection  

Great if you’re looking to prevent pregnancy with less admin. Having the year’s supply ant home and not needing to see a doctor every few months was handy. Stopped my periods aside from some very minimal spotting and my skin was great - I barely had any spots over the years I was on it. I did feel like I was quite numb emotions wise. I didn’t experience mood swings but it was alarming that I often didn’t really feel anything! My libido was extremely low too.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
46 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  28th Apr 26

Sayana Press injection  

Having used both Depot and Sanaya Press, these are the best method of contraception. No side effect and a huge positive: no periods.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
37 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3rd Feb 26

Sayana Press injection  

I would have rated this 5 stars last year. I used to be on the depo jab that had to be done at the doctors but I work 12 hour shifts meaning it was a struggle to attended every 12 weeks. So I was over the moon when I found out about sayana press that I could do myself. I usually do the injection around 11 weeks but the last 3 times I get to 10 weeks and get crippling period pain that completely debilitates me. Even after I’ve done the injection this will continue for about a week afterwards. I’ve never experienced child birth but the pain is horrendous. It will wake me up in the middle of the night, happen at work and is just completely random spouts of unbearable pain until at whatever point doesn’t happen again until I am next at the 10 week mark. I’ve recently learned that it’s a lower strength to Depo-Provera and maybe that’s why however I’m confused as to why it’s only started happening. My gp surgery is useless and it the whole process of going back to having the higher strength at the surgery is going to take some time but being able to do it at home is not worth this horrendous ordeal. I would not recommend switching


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

1 comments

Injection  
Used for 5 - 8 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3rd Jan 26

Sayana Press injection  

Great if you’re looking to prevent pregnancy with less admin. Having the year’s supply ant home and not needing to see a doctor every few months was handy. Stopped my periods aside from some very minimal spotting and my skin was great - I barely had any spots over the years I was on it. I did feel like I was quite numb emotions wise. I didn’t experience mood swings but it was alarming that I often didn’t really feel anything! My libido was extremely low too.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  11th Oct 25

Sayana Press injection  

I have had no negative side effects with Sayana Press and my periods have stopped completely, of the four different contraceptives I've tried over the years, this one is my favourite.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Aug 25

Sayana Press injection  

i think it’s amazing


Somewhat positive mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 8+ yr
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  28th May 25

Sayana Press injection  

Used for over 10 years, completely stopped my periods which was fantastic. The devices became harder and harder to use, needing a lot of force to inject so I ended up turning myself into a pin cushion & wasting a few, which made reordering a faff. Don’t think I gained weight and if anything my skin improved (but that could just be normal from teenage to late 20s). The only negative I noticed was decreased sex drive - but it didn’t totally go so not a massive issue for me.


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  13th May 25

Sayana Press injection  

I was on this injection for 2 years, the whole process put me off . when i started the injection i had a period of 16 days (over two weeks) and it was so heavy, months went on and my periods stopped all together, i didn’t have a period for minus 2 years , i’m now on the combined pill but i did receive higher anxiety and depression towards taking it for ages, the doctor offered me antidepressants but i didn’t want to be taking them as i am a quite smily happy person but i literally lost all my energy and motivation to do anything.


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
41 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  8th Apr 25

Sayana Press injection  

I like the injection as no periods at all but gained over 2 stone in weight and no amount of dieting, eating less or exercising helps loose any weight at all I just gain even more.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  23rd Aug 24

Sayana Press injection  

Completely stopped my periods which has been amazing. Very convenient only have to think about 4 times a year and GP now very good at supplying in comparison to when this brand was new on the market. Have struggled to use the devices recently as have to apply a lot of pressure to inject the suspension and have therefore had to discard a few injections on occasion which isn’t ideal. Having using it for so long I can’t tell if my weight or mood have been negatively or positively impacted, but will be keen to see what happens when I stop using.


Improved skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Injection  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2nd Nov 23

Sayana Press injection  

I was on the sayanna press injection for 3 years. My periods started off a little irregular for the first couple of months and then stopped completely, which was a blessing as they have always been heavy and painful! Would start to get slight cramps in the week before the injection was due but otherwise, it seemed to suit me quite well. I'm a healthcare professional so injecting myself didn't bother me at all! I gained a little weight whilst using it but I am overweight anyway so unsure if I can attribute this to the injection!


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Depo-Provera injection with other contraceptives

Compare the Sayana Press injection with other contraceptives

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