As technologies advance, women are moving past conventional forms of birth control and reaching toward new-age methods.The Northern Star will examine five alternative methods of birth control in a four-day series.

Tuesday: Ortho Evra (patch)

Today: Depo-Provera (injection)

Thursday: Intrauterine Device (IUD)

Friday: Morning-After Pill and Seasonale

Although the birth control pill was once the most common method of contraception, alternative methods are becoming more popular, said Lindsay Gates, a senior certified pharmacy technician at the Walgreens Pharmacy in Elgin.

Depo-Provera, commonly known as “the shot,” is a fairly popular alternative method of birth control among women.

A shot is administered once every three months. A hormone called depot medroxyprogesterone acetate is injected into the system and remains there for three months, Gates said.

The shot comes as a single dose in a pre-filled syringe, Gates said. It is already measured for convenient and immediate use.

Doctors told Veronica Villagomez, 29, who used Depo-Provera, that unlike other methods of birth control, the shot is effective immediately.

The shot is 99.7 percent effective and stops the ovaries from releasing eggs, according to www.plannedparenthood.org. The cervical mucus thickens as a result of the shot, which stops sperm from finding eggs.

Although the shot was effective in preventing pregnancy, Villagomez said she experienced some unpleasant side effects.

In the first month of use, she gained 25 pounds. At times she wouldn’t get her menstrual period for three to six months, she said. When she finally did get it, it was irregular.

Kristen O’Neal, 23, has been on the shot for a year-and-a-half. Unlike Villagomez, she has not experienced any bad side effects, which also include potential depression.

In fact, O’Neal said she loves the effects Depo-Provera has had on her. She said she likes the fact that she hasn’t gotten her period since she started on the shot. As a result, she no longer gets cramps or bloating, which are often associated with a woman’s menstrual cycle.

A doctor must prescribe Depo-Provera, Gates said. The prescription can be filled at any local pharmacy, including the University Health Service pharmacy.

Lunelle, a monthly injection, used to be offered at UHS. This product is no longer available to students because of some recalls, said Debra Fetting, pharmacist and pharmacy supervisor. However, she is uncertain whether the product is officially being removed from the market.

UHS replaced Lunelle with Depo-Provera, for which prescriptions “go like hotcakes,” Gates said.

As with many prescriptions, health insurance coverage is always an issue.

Villagomez said her insurance didn’t cover any of the cost. She said she paid about $60 for one dose.

“Compared to the approximate $30 paid per month for the pill, $60 for three months of the shot seems fairly inexpensive,” Gates said.

At UHS, the shot costs students $58 for one dose, which lasts three months, said Mary Strohm, self-educator for Health Enhancement Services.

Villagomez used Depo-Provera for one-and-a-half years, but doesn’t recommend it. She decided to stop using Depo-Provera and has been off of it since July 2002, she said. Since then, she lost most of the weight she had gained and said her menstrual cycle is getting back to normal.