OBJECTIVE To assess the demographic and clinical characteristics and experience of Turkish women treated with depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA). METHODS This prospective clinical study was carried on 9262 subjects, treated with DMPA at Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, between 1996 and 2004. RESULTS The mean age of study population was 28.4+/-4.6 years; 1759 (19%) subjects were breast-feeding at the time of the first injection. Eight (0.08%) pregnancies occurred, within 3 months of injection in 9262 women. Of 9262 cases, irregular bleeding occurred in 80% (7410) of the women. Discontinuation rate with this contraceptive method was recorded as 71% (6576) of the subjects. The rate of other predominant side effects was observed as follows: 8% for increase in weight, 8% for breast engorgement, 7% for mastalgia, 5% for headache. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study suggest that DMPA may be an attractive contraceptive choice for both the patient and the physician in some clinical situations, especially in women at risk for complications with oral hormonal contraceptives and women who have had low compliance with other contraceptive methods. Moreover, DMPA contraception might be particularly appropriate in some cases such as in the postpartum period and in lactating women.