Sprintec vs. Depo-Provera
See how Sprintec and Depo-Provera compare on approved uses, dosing, side effects, and cost.
Key Takeaways
Sprintec is a daily combination pill, while Depo-Provera is a progestin-only shot given every three months, so the biggest difference is how often you have to think about your birth control.
Sprintec is also used off-label for moderate acne, while Depo-Provera carries a boxed warning for bone mineral density loss with prolonged use.
Because Depo-Provera has no estrogen, it can work for people who cannot take combination pills like Sprintec, but fertility may take longer to return after stopping it.
Sprintec vs. Depo-Provera Drug Summary
Sprintec
Sprintec is a combination oral contraceptive containing norgestimate and ethinyl estradiol. It is taken as one tablet daily for 28 days, with 21 active pills followed by 7 inert ones, to prevent pregnancy. It is also used off-label to treat moderate acne in females 15 and older.
Depo-Provera
Depo-Provera is a progestin-only injectable contraceptive containing medroxyprogesterone acetate. It is given as a shot once every three months, into the muscle or under the skin, to prevent pregnancy. Long-term use is monitored closely because of a risk of bone density loss.
Sprintec vs. Depo-Provera Side Effects
Sprintec
Depo-Provera
Sprintec vs. Depo-Provera Dosage
Sprintec
Depo-Provera
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 1 tablet once daily | Days 1-28 |
| Maximum dose | 1 tablet once daily | Same as starting |
| Dose changes | None | Fixed dose |
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 150 mg every 3 months | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 150 mg every 3 months | Same as starting |
| Dose changes | None | Fixed dose |
Sprintec
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 1 tablet once daily | Days 1-28 |
| Maximum dose | 1 tablet once daily | Same as starting |
| Dose changes | None | Fixed dose |
Depo-Provera
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 150 mg every 3 months | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 150 mg every 3 months | Same as starting |
| Dose changes | None | Fixed dose |
Sprintec vs. Depo-Provera Indications
Sprintec
Sprintec is a combination birth control pill taken once daily to prevent pregnancy. It is also used off-label to treat moderate acne in females 15 and older who have no contraindications to hormonal birth control.
Prevention of pregnancy in females of reproductive potential
Off-label: treatment of moderate acne (ages 15+)
Not approved as emergency contraception
Not for women over 35 who smoke
Depo-Provera
Depo-Provera is a progestin-only injection given every three months to prevent pregnancy. It is not meant for continuous use beyond two years unless other contraceptive options are not suitable, due to bone density concerns.
Prevention of pregnancy
Not recommended beyond 2 years except when needed
Not indicated before menarche
Not for use during pregnancy
Sprintec vs. Depo-Provera Pros and Cons
Sprintec
Sprintec offers daily control over hormone dosing and a fast return to normal cycles once stopped, but it requires consistent daily use and includes estrogen, which raises certain cardiovascular risks. Generic pricing tends to keep it affordable for many patients.
Pros
Daily pill means fertility returns quickly after stopping
Used off-label to treat moderate acne
No bone density loss warning, unlike Depo-Provera
Cons
Requires remembering a pill every day
Contains estrogen, raising clot and stroke risk with smoking
Not safe for women over 35 who smoke
Not an option for emergency contraception
Depo-Provera
Depo-Provera trades daily effort for a quarterly shot and avoids estrogen-related risks, but it carries a boxed warning for bone density loss and can delay the return of fertility after stopping. It is not intended as an open-ended long-term method.
Pros
Only requires an injection once every 3 months
Progestin-only, an option for those who cannot take estrogen
No daily pill to remember
Cons
Carries a boxed warning for bone mineral density loss
Fertility may take several months to return after stopping
Not recommended for continuous use beyond 2 years
Weight gain and irregular bleeding are common with prolonged use
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