“My boyfriend and I recently had sex without a condom. However, I have been taking contraceptive injections for seven months now. He didn’t come inside, but I’m afraid of getting pregnant. Is there a risk?”

If the girl uses monthly or quarterly injections regularly, always on the right date, there is no risk of pregnancy, even if the boy eventually ejaculates inside the vagina. When there is a contraceptive method protecting at all times and there is no ejaculation inside, there is no chance of pregnancy occurring.

Is the quarterly injection really effective?

Yes, the contraceptive method is quite effective. There are two alternatives for women who opt for injections to prevent pregnancy:

  • Monthly injections: applied every month;
  • Quarterly injections: The woman takes it every three months, that is, four times a year and, most of the time, she stops menstruating. It is a good method for those who forget to take the pill or for those who want to stop having their period.

Other possible options

Currently, when we think about hormonal contraceptive methods, there are many possibilities beyond injections (monthly and quarterly):

The difference between them is durability. Subcutaneous implants, for example, last an average of three to four years. It all depends on how the woman adapts and which one she feels most comfortable with.

Teenagers often complain about the contraceptive pill because they have to remember to take it correctly, although today there are several apps and resources to help with this task.

In any case, it is worth discussing with a gynecologist which option is best suited as a prevention strategy for each woman.