[ThatsFuzzy]

This year in March I decided to get the Depo shot. My reasonings for doing so was because there were more then a few times when I forgot to take or completely lost my pills so my fiance and I thought that the shot would be the best option. It was my first ever Depo shot and I have had my period since the day my last period ended (which was a couple days after I got the shot.)

We weren't planning on having children until we were married and at least getting ready to settle into a house. But recently my fiance and I have come to find out that he will have a problem having children and that his time frame to have them would be 6 - 8 months. But according to the pamphlet that came with the shot I'm assuming my injection shouldn't stop waring off until December. But I'm a little confused because I've read about it on a couple different sites and doctors said it could take 4 months to a year. I've also read that some women have been able to become pregnant after the three months on the shot (my fiance's one co-worker did.)

But now that this situation has come up I utterly regret getting the shot although no one could predict that it would happen. My fiance and I want to try having a child as soon as possible (although he's perfectly fine with waiting) but I don't know how long the effects of the shot will stay in my system considering that I haven't gotten my period.

So I was wondering, is there anything I can do to make the effects leave my system or should we just wait 9 months to try?

I've also read that your weight gain can contribute to the amount of time the effects take to wear off. My doctor said I would gain weight but I've lost 4 pounds since I've gotten the shot. Will this help the situation any or no?

[LanaBear]

It is such an individual thing... I was on the shot, once upon a time and hated it. After the shot, we tried getting pregnant and it took me over 2 years. But, like you, I'd had friends who got pregnant right away.

To my knowledge, there isn't anything you could do to make the effects leave your system any sooner, however, you don't have to wait 9 months to "try". Take care of your body. You'd be having unprotected sex (no condom) whether you were trying or not, so, what would you be changing if you were to wait 4 months or wait 9 months? If that makes sense, lol.

[ThatsFuzzy]

Well I've been taking vitamins everyday so far.
He bought me the Women's Ultra Mega Wellness Vitapak which (the multivitamin that's in it) has Folic Acid and a couple other things in it that my fiance believes will help.
And I'm not quite sure if I understand your question. x3

[LanaBear]

LOL - I was thinking, that you asked if you should wait 9 months to try to conceive. My thinking was... If you are on depo, you wouldn't be having sex with a condom, right? So, let's say after the 3 months is up, why would you wait an additional 6 to try to conceive, if you are wanting to try immediately... Just keep having sex without a condom and maybe you will be one of the lucky ones that gets pregnant right after those 3 months... Why wait an additional 6?

Cute avatar BTW!

[ThatsFuzzy]

Oh ok!
Sorry I'm a little off today, my niece woke me up a couple times during the night.
I really hope I will be one of the lucky ones that can conceive right away.

And thanks!
I made it myself.

[Ashlee T.]

There's not alot you can do to get it out of your system any faster. Just drink lots of water, exercise, eat healthy, do the normal "healthy living" stuff.

Like Lana said, some women can take several yrs to get pregnant after going off the shot. Some get pregnant right away. Don't consider yourself as having fertility issues if you aren't one of the right away ones. Start charting your cycles so you can physically SEE when you're ovulating. It may take a while so be prepared to be patient.

[ThatsFuzzy]

Ah.
See I haven't had my period since I got the shot so I don't know when I'll start my cycles again.
That's one of the things I'm a little concerned about because my doctor said it would take 6 months for my period to stop.

[Ashlee T.]

I think I'm confused on what you're asking. I thought you were telling us that you were taking Depo and had stopped taking it and wondered when you'd be able to get pregnant.

Are you saying you are still on the shot and you are wondering when you'll be able to get pregnant? Sorry I'm confused.

[ThatsFuzzy]

Well I got my first and definitely my last shot in March.
I'm due for my next one in June but I do not plan on getting it.
I'm moving in with my fiance around the time I'm supposed to get my shot but due to certain circumstances we want to start trying to get pregnant as soon as I get settled in.
But since I haven't gotten my period so I'm afraid that it will take us a year or two to get pregnant so that's why I was wondering if there was anyway to get the effects to leave my system earlier because my fiance and I don't think we will be able to have them in a year or two.
If that makes sense.

Also, I've read that some women get back on the pill to get their cycles started again.
Does it actually work though?

[KMonte85]

it is going to take a while for your cycle to come back, and unfortunately.. other than living a healthy lifestyle there isn't anything you can do to "flush" those hormones out any faster. Also, since all women are so different, there is no way to tell exactly how long it will take you.

I would advise against you going on the pill to jump start a regular cycle. Because you're just pumping your body full of MORE hormones... you won't get a cycle any faster doing this, and you'll end up waiting longer when you do get your period (because you'll be waiting for the pill's hormones to leave your system). For what it's worth, I was on the depo for nearly 8 years, stopped in December. Spotted a little bit and then nothing. I've been on the pill ever since and still no cycle yet. Just takes time...

Basically, the best thing you can do for yourself, is NOT stress about about your period or getting pregnant, and take care of yourself with a healthy lifestyle... that will throw your body off even more. Since you only had 1 shot, chances are it will come back sooner than the 2 years or so it can potentially take.

In the meantime, just have fun with your fiance... don't use protection, but don't make every love making session a baby-making session. Seems when that mindset kicks in, conception can be even more challenging for couples. So just enjoy each other and the "practicing" you'll get to do.