Women receiving the birth control shot, Depo Provera, may see unwanted weight gain in the long run, a study found out. Depo Provera, or depot medroxyprogesterone - DMPA, is a low-cost birth control given by injection every three months.

The study led by Dr. Abbey Berenson found out that women who gain weight after the shot are more likely to continue gaining even if doctors tell you repeatedly that it has no weight gain effect. The findings, where 195 women participated, are published in Obstetrics & Gynecology. According to Reuters, “Women who were not obese to begin with, as well as those who had already had children, were at relatively higher risk of becoming an early gainer.”

Fifty-one of the participants put in weight early, gaining 5 percent in 6 months. The research found out that these women could gain as much as 22 pounds in 3 years. Imagine that. Also, some women said that their appetite increased after having the shot, although the study did not find a correlation between calorie-intake and long-term weight gain. The Depo Provera is said to have affected also some hormones involved in metabolism.

If you’re having Depo Provera shots, and are experiencing weight gain, you better consult your doctors fast.