Depoprovera is a popular hormonal medication of progestin type popularly used in the southern part of Nigeria. It is used as a method of birth control and also a part of menopausal hormone therapy. It is an injectable known as depot medroxyprogesterone acetate. It stops pregnancy by preventing ovulation and thickening the cervical mucus. Depo is usually administered as a shot of 150mg/ml injection which last for 12weeks. Advantageously, it is very easy to administer and it helps women against the monotony and forgetfulness in taking daily pills. One hundred and fifty (150) women attending a tertiary hospital in southern part of Nigeria, who has not been on any previous contraceptive, had 5millilitre of blood collected at baseline, 3^rd, 6^th, 9^th and 12^th month after quarterly administration of depoprovera. LH, FSH, Prolactin, Progesterone and estradiol were determined using Enzyme Linked Immuno Assay method kit. The data obtained were analysed using statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 21.There is a significant decrease in LH concentration, while there is a significant increase in prolactin and progesterone from baseline to the 12^th month. There was no significant difference in FSH and Estradiol concentrations. Also, there was significant difference (P<0.05) in LH concentration at different age groups, while no significant difference (P>0.05) in FSH, prolactin, progesterone and estradiol at different age groups. The result of the study showed that Depoprovera usage caused a decreased in LH with increase in prolactin and progesterone; an endocrinology condition which supports anovulatory cycle.

Keywords: Depoprovera, progestin, medroxy progesterone acetate, Hormone.

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Olugbenga Emmanuel Bamigbowu

Department of Chemical Pathology, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria