Alterations in your monthly menstrual pattern are to be expected when you begin using Lunelle. However, many women have found that bleeding becomes more regular as they continue their injections. If an altered bleeding pattern persists or the bleeding is severe, discuss it with your doctor.

Weight gain also is common among Lunelle users. The average gain is four pounds in the first year of use, although some women gain more than 10 or 20 pounds. Increases of as much as 49 pounds and losses of as much as 48 pounds have occurred in a single year of use.

Other possible side effects include breast pain or tenderness, acne, change in appetite, nausea, headache, nervousness, depression, mood changes, changes in sexual desire, dizziness, loss of scalp hair, rash, and vaginal infections.

Whether you use Lunelle, Depo-Provera, Norplant, or the Pill, hormonal birth control takes the guesswork out of family planning and returns spontaneity to sex. It is the most effective method of contraception, and the risks it poses are minimal. As with any medication, it's important to watch for side effects and report them to your doctor. But, if you're like the majority of women, your problems most likely will be few.