[anii]

So, my form of birthcontrol is Depo shot. Because it's the only thing I can afford that doesn't have estrogen in it. (cannot take anything with estrogen because of blood clots running in my family)

I'm not on it now, i skipped on my last one due to my boyfriend being out of town and I don't sleep with anyone else.

I must say, I do feel a tad bit better.

I have horrible periods, like... my last period lasted as long as my 3 month cycle on my shot. it was horrible. I started spotting brown with a hint of red. Then I went full blown out period and i started bleeding through over night pads.

I get severe cramps, i mean absloutely horrible. They even hurt into my legs.

And my hip will hurt at the injection site for the first 3 weeks.

I've been getting a lot of migranes, though I get those anyway. And I don't know. I know the shot is horrible for you, but I can't afford anything else and I don't want an IUD i'm too paranoid for that. But, is this normal? Or could it possibily be just me? I've been on the shot for almost a year now, and none of my symptoms have gone away. Any other ladies have the same issues? There's a few other small things i've noticed, but what i listed is the main problems.

[Yazwoman]

Hi,
Have you talked to your gyno about the issues you are having? It sounds pretty bad. If you are not allowed to use estrogen containing pills have you considered maybe using a progestin only mini-pill? I don't know the cost for that but it's a possibility.

If you have missed any of your shots then you are at risk for pregnancy so when your boyfriend comes back make sure you are protected for that.

[MissMeSha810]

Hey sweets. I used to get mine in the arm and mine would hurt for like three days. I always had to schedule off work because people would always bump into that exact spot...OUCH!!! Try massaging it out as soon as you get it.

As far as the bleeding is concerned, I didn't! No period at all until I got off of the shot and I bled for 30 days. When I went to the doctor, he told me to take five Alieve a day for three days because there was something in them that would stop the bleeding. It worked and after that my periods were normal and I kept away from the shot. I had been on it for five years off and on.

I tried the hip shot once and did not like that at all due to the pain. After I got off of it completely, it took three years for me to get pregnant again. It will stay in your system for a year and a half or longer.

[Hoyabella]

I have used the Depo shot several times, and the last time, i suffered severe headaches, constant bleeding, weight gain, irritability, and getting the shot in the hip was horrible... if your going to stick with it, try your arm.

You said that it was the cheapest form of birth control that works for you, think... is it really cheaper with all the pads your buying?

I seriously suggest talking to your doc on this one, but i personally, ended up going with the IUD. It hurt going in, and for the first few days, but everything else is all good. No periods, no condoms, no cramps, no headaches (no estrogen= no migraines), and again, no estrogen, and it works for 5 years! all you need to do to take it out is a single office visit, same to put it in.

[Jayci]

Have you tried looking into the Implanon. It lasts three years and still the same active ingredient as the depot shot.

Should this last the three years it saves me $600 AUD. I know it is a bit of an outlay $35 AUD for the implanon and $135 AUD for it to be inserted but I am praying that this works for me.