In reply to JOH.

1. Your friend is a perfect example of why I should exercise more restraint in my negative reaction to depo/the shot. For some people it's what works. We shouldn't say your friend has an "excuse"; she has reasons for doing what she does. Like I said, personal choice is key in this issue. In general, I've had a very unfair bias against medicated birth control because I don't like taking medicine much at all under any circumstances, and I don't/haven't really ever used hormonal birth control. I read a massive book on fertility awareness, pregnancy avoidance/achievement depending on a persons goals. And it's a book I'd recommend to women and men in the U.S. in a heartbeat, because it's so enlightening on many levels (Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler). BUT it would INSANE to try and advocate something like that here because of their lack of education, literacy, and gender equality. All those things are pretty key to accessing and properly using the information in the book. I also had many people tell me I was insane for using this book because they just knew I'd be pregnant in a heartbeat. The Peace Corps medical office was also very skeptical, because I get sent home for good if I end up pregnant.... So you see, we should probably all try to be a little more understanding and educated before sharing strong opinions with people on personal topics and preferences? :P :) It's just so easy to forget that; and I'm very guilty of such memory lapses.
2. Guate (city) is pretty sketch. We just don't go there if we can avoid it and we are not allowed to ride public transport in the city at all. It's a pretty tough situation with no real solutions in sight. But indeed the story you heard seems to have gotten their facts right.
3. Roshambo.