Depo-Provera- question for women

[Miss_E]

Ahhh Wonderful side-effects

I was on Depo for three years.

The upside - No period

The downside - No period (didn't flush the system )
Some people develope insomnia (Me <waving hand> it was me!)
Mood Swings
Popping other pills to regulate the hormones

It took me 18 months of being off the shot to regulate the cycle again. For the nice side-effect, the bad one waaaay outweigh it.

I'm back to being a pill-popper (LOL)

 

[PeaceChild]

I have heard all the horror stories related to Depo, but I have never experienced them myself. Since going on Depo, I have actuallty lost weight without trying, and have had noo change in sex drive. Of course, I guess I should mention that my doctor started me on the stuff to replace hormones I was missing. Unlike most, this shot has been wonderful for me!

 

[nermal]

depro- vation

Depro was too recommended to me as a "great" alternative to the Pill. Huh!! I found that it REDUCED my libido for the 3 months I was on it plus an additional 4 months after that, I has major mood swings, gained weight etc. I could handle most of the side effects except the fall in sex drive.

It is possible, if one believed in conspiracy theories that this drug is being pushed by the moral minority as a good thing as it does reduce libido. SCARY

 

[KillerMuffin]

I have three choices since I've decided a future pregnancy is totally out for me. I will not knowingly pass on my epilepsy to some poor child. Not if I can get out of it.

My choices are abstinence which has worked well for me in the past 10 months, tubal ligation, depo, or the pill.

The pill doesn't work for me, I never take it right and I bleed all the time. The tubal ligation scares me, surgery? Yuck. Depo seems appealing and the military pushes it, but I'm bitchy enough as it is.

It makes one wonder.

 

[Mischka]

Tess1

For what it's worth, I'm in my 20s and have been on Depo for five years. I have experienced zero of the side effects listed by everyone else. I initially started Depo after three different doses of birth control pills did nothing for my mind-numbing pain every month.

Perhaps I escaped the side effects because I have naturally low blood pressure and never experienced mood swings with my period. So if you're like me, then I suggest talking to your doctor about Depo. If you have tendencies like the others, it sounds like Depo exacerbates the conditions and then it wouldn't be for you.

 

[Guest]

My Depo Experience

I was on the shot for a year....

I bled for two months straight.
One of the effects are weight gain cause my an increased appetite. Gained 60 pounds in a three month period.
Moodiness... like everyone else has.
My hormones are still out of control
No ovulation...... which they don't know if it can be fixed
After I stopped using it, I still didn't have a period for six months.
Had to take BC pills to have a period.


Scary huh? Now I know that they have changed it since then... this was five years ago... but my doctor still warns all of her patients against it.

And one of the main side effects that they are having problems with now, is that it causes menopause very early.

Food for thought.

 

[Cheyenne]

The more I read and hear, the happier I am that I did my research first and didn't just take my doctor's suggestion to use Depo. I am very happy with my current low dose bcp alternative, even though I need to keep monitoring my blood pressure (the reason the doc wanted to switch me to Depo in the first place.)

 

[cherrypop]

I could write a novel, but I won't...

It would take me forever to tell you the hell my cycle puts me through. There are downfalls to depo..but it's also, sometimes like the wonder drug! It let me live again. My mood and pain issues are more traumatic than I could even get you to comprehend. My cycle all but stopped..the pain, debilitating migraines, and HELLISH mood swings stopped. It was heaven. Also, some people simply cannot remember to take their pill on a daily basis, at roughly the same time. For me the advantages totally outweighed the disadvantages of the shot. However, in the last few weeks, I have learned from my GP that the average woman is known to gain 60-80 on depo. Scarey thought. In my case, I am attempting pregnancy..and leaving the injection has wreaked havock on my body. I'm just about back to the same old same old. So, ultimately...I guess it depends entirely on why you went on. For me...I wouldn't change a thing. Gave me life, in ohhh so many ways.

 

[lickerish]

I'd like to add my two cents, I KNOW this thread is old, but I cannot stress how much of a bad idea Depo is.

I was on Depo for 3 years. I chose this method because I am AWFUL at remembering to take pills.

The first year I had normal periods.

The second year I had NO period.. it was great!

The third year I was on my period the ENTIRE year. Yuck. I discovered after that point that because Depo is mostly all progesterone, it had depleted all of my estrogen.. my body couldn't make a full cycle, so it was stuck in the bleeding stage. My doctor said I could stay on it, but go on estrogen therapy (pills) or get off and take a high estrogen birth control pill. By that time I wasn't with my S.O. anymore, so I got off Depo and took the estrogen pills for a few weeks (when I remembered to..) and my cycle returned to normal in a few short months.

It's been a couple of years now, the few times I've had sex I've done the condom thing.. but I believe abstinance (to lazy to pull up my spell check) is the best BC yet.

BTW, there is a new BC available that if I do become sexually active again I may try.. Depo is a progesterone hormone shot taken every 3 months.. this new birth control is a birth control pill equivelant- estrogen hormone shot taken once a month! Now that is something that I could handle.

 

[cherrypop]

I will add..

that I did have bleeding that lasted a couple of weeks..I took hormones for a very short period of time, and it went away. I have to say it's probably not the best option to go with, but all said, in my situation....I'm sooo glad I did. Just choose carefully!