Some effects of depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA): observations in the nursing infant and in the long-term user.

Newborns (210) whose mothers received DMPA postpartum were compared with 121 controls for weight gain and for number of infectious illnesses over an average 1.5 years of follow-up. No differences were found except a possible slight increase in infections when DMPA was started 2 days postpartum. Newborns (118) whose mothers received DMPA prior to conception, 10 newborns exposed to DMPA in utero, and 436 controls showed no significant difference in birth weights or incidence of birth defects. Women (101) receiving DMPA for 8 years or more gained more weight than controls, but showed no cancer or increase in hypertension.