Short answer: The Depo-Provera CI label gives 150 mg by deep intramuscular injection every 3 months (13 weeks), in the buttock or upper arm muscle. The first shot is given only in the first 5 days of a normal period or within 5 days after giving birth. If more than 13 weeks pass between shots, the label says the physician first confirms the patient is not pregnant.
This is what the FDA label says. Follow your prescriber. Your prescriber may use a different dose or pace than the label's standard schedule.
What Depo-Provera CI is approved for: Depo-Provera CI is a birth control shot approved to prevent pregnancy in females of reproductive potential (section 1). The label does not recommend it as a long-term method (longer than 2 years) unless other options are considered inadequate.
Source
DEPO-PROVERA CI (medroxyprogesterone acetate) injectable suspension, for intramuscular use, prescribing information and Patient Information. Pfizer (Pharmacia & Upjohn). DailyMed, version published August 28, 2026. DailyMed setid 199cf13e-0859-4a73-9b45-e700d0cd1049
A healthcare professional gives Depo-Provera CI as a deep injection into the gluteal (buttock) or deltoid (upper arm) muscle, rotating sites each time. The vial or prefilled syringe is shaken hard just before use. Body build is checked before each shot to decide if a longer needle is needed (section 2.1).
It is 150 mg/mL in a 1 mL vial or a 1 mL prefilled syringe with a 22-gauge, 1.5 inch needle. The dose does not change with body weight (sections 2.1 and 3).
The table below is the label's schedule, from the Dosage and Administration section. Numbers are copied exactly; the section is in brackets.
| Situation | What the label says |
|---|---|
| Dose | 150 mg every 3 months (13 weeks) by deep IM injection |
| First injection | Only during the first 5 days of a normal menstrual period, or within the first 5 days after giving birth |
| After birth, exclusively breastfeeding | During or after the sixth week after giving birth |
| More than 13 weeks since the last shot | The physician determines the patient is not pregnant before giving it |
| Switching from birth control pills | First shot on the day after the last active tablet, or at the latest the day after the final inactive tablet |
| Length of use | Not recommended beyond 2 years unless other methods are considered inadequate |
| Body weight | No dose adjustment needed |
The label says Depo-Provera CI's effectiveness depends on keeping to the dosing schedule.
When long-term use is needed, bone mineral density is evaluated.
Users of hormonal birth control have a yearly visit for a blood pressure check and other care.
Vials are stored upright at 68 F to 77 F (20 C to 25 C).
The label's rule for a late shot is in section 2.1: "If the time interval between injections is greater than 13 weeks, the physician should determine that the patient is not pregnant before administering the drug." The Patient Information says the shot is given once every 3 months, and that it may be given at other times, likely after a pregnancy test.
More on this: missed a dose of Depo-Provera CI.
When switching from another birth control method, Depo-Provera CI is given so protection is continuous. Someone switching from birth control pills has the first shot the day after the last active tablet, or at the latest the day after the final inactive tablet.
In Dose Track you set up Depo-Provera CI as a protocol with the dose and schedule your prescriber gave you. A protocol can hold dose steps, each with its own dose and length in days or weeks, so a step-up plan like the one on the label can be entered once and the app moves to the next step on its own. Reminders follow the schedule, and every dose is logged with the date and time, so you can see which step you are on and when your last dose was. The app follows what you enter; it does not choose or change a dose.
This page is what the FDA label says, in plain words. It is not medical advice. Follow your prescriber, and ask them or your pharmacist about anything here.