[ChelseaRenee]

Hello everyone. I took one dose of Depo-Provera last Saturday, and since, have read many horror stories about the shot. Being the complete and TOTAL worrier that I am, I'm anxious to get off the stuff as soon as possible which, needless to say, isn't until October because of the 3-month deal I signed on for. I have yet to feel the effects a lot of women have talked about except no period (it was administered to me the day I was supposed to start and it never came), DRAMATICALLY increased appetite (which so far I have quite successfully been able to ignore), and crying at the drop of a hat. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with just having one dose of Depo? What can I possibly expect in the next 3 months, and then, what after that? Anything will help (or possibly make it worse, as the case may be) because at this point I am staying up late at night worrying my head off EVERY NIGHT about my becoming infertile. (If it makes any difference, I am only 18 and WILL NOT be wanting children for a very, very long time).


I will be scheduling an appt. with a gynecologist soon, and I was wondering, for the women who have gotten off Depo, what are some questions/concerns I should bring up with her? Thank you guys so much!

Edit: Also, for you women who have taken it, what birth control medication did you use after you stopped taking Depo?

[ChelseaRenee]

Anyone? Really, ANYONE sharing their experiences about the Depo-Provera shot would be greatly appreciated!

[jentwothree]

Don't worry!

Hey Chelsea,

Just want to let you know that taking the depo has its effects on everyone differently. I, too, have heard of all the scary things that happen after I took my first shot, but none have happend to me. So far. My next shot is scheduled for next week, and it will be my 4th, so yea, I've been on it for a year now. I haven't gained any weight, I've actually lost a few pounds. No periods, but a little when its time for my shot. Thats cool though, supposed to happen.

My doctor says that if you do experiance any problems, you should look at your lifestyle. Do you have a lot of stress in your life? Do you have any medical problems that exist before you've taken the shot? It all depends on you. Don't go on what other people say, everyone is different and all different sizes. It depends on your height, weight and lifestyle.

Try it for the first three months before thinking of another form of birth control. My advice to you is excercize, eat healthy and laugh a lot. Trust me, you'll be okay. Oh yea, don't smoke. Thats not a good thing anyway.

G'luck to you!

[ChelseaRenee]

That really does make me feel TONS better, thank you. I'm sad to say I have now experience the painful sexual intercourse symptom, and it's not because I'm not becoming wet, so that has me slightly worried. It's not excruciating, but there's a definite burning-type pain that wasn't there before the shot. So that kinda of sucks but other than that so far so good!

[rachelray]

hello I was on depo for 11 years I got on it when I was fifteen and got off it when I turned 26 exactly one year after I got off depo I got pregnant. the only problems I had that I assume were caused by depo and my gyno agrees were migraines and weight gain. while on depo I was extremely active yet continued to gain weight plus I got migraines about 2 to 3 times a week. after being off depo I have drooped 38 lbs and my migraines have stopped completely but it was a slow decrease and came to a complete stop about the same time frame that I got pregnant hopes this helps some.

[jen0519]

Everybody is different i guess. I got depo right after I had my daughter. I didn't start bleeding right away, but within a week I started. I bled for the whole three months. At the time I got it, I had almost lost all of my pregnancy weight, well, I gained 35 pounds and it has never come off. Seriously, I weighed 130 lbs after my daughter. After the shot I have just sat at 165. It really sucks! This was 2 years ago! Mood swings, I was so emotional. I would never recommend depo. But my body has a real problem with any birth control. After I got off depo I tried taking a pill, it did the same things. I bled for the three weeks of regular pills and stopped bleeding for the 1 week of period pills. It was so frustrating! So I just got off birth control all together and have been having unprotected sex for a year and a half now. I have never even had a pregnancy scare. Its not that we don't want another baby, that would be great. But I haven't gotten pregnant in a year and a half. It worries me that my taking birth control might have made it so I cannot have any more kids.

[rdaniel82]

Return user

Hello all, I was on Depo about 5 years back and used it for over a year. I never had any adverse side effects that I've ever read about, my periods became lighter, but I still had them and that's it! However, I recently decided to go back on the shot this past December ( I have since had a child, who is 3 now.) and am having a slew of side effects!! I have a lot of acne all of a sudden around and on my chin, have had a kidney infection followed by the logest lasting yeast infection I've ever had and extreme vaginal dryness. My kidney and yeast inf. are now cleared up, the dryness is stillt there...WOw, I really don't know if I should stay on this stuff! It is the most effective, and I do not wish to go on standard birth control pills as they make me extremely emotional with mood swings. AAARRGGHH!! What to do what to do...we'll see how the rest of the time goes if I renew my shot in March!

[dawn9800]

I think you will be fine. I was on it for 5 years I think and yes I did gain weight but that was it.

[windelkoch]

depo

i was on depo for 6 months (2 shots). within 2 days of getting the shot i started bleeding. the only problem was i kept bleeding and bleeding. i bled for 3 1/2 months. after the second shot was when hell came. i had horrible mood swings, crying spells, 40 lb weight gain (and i was only 125), terrible migraines, and i developed a twitch. once i got off depo life became a little better. the crying spells dissipated, and the migraines are now only on occasion. But i still have the weight, and the twitch. Doctors cannot determine what caused the twitch. the only change i made was getting on depo. i am now on mirena. its an IUC. i now don't have to worry about taking any pills. it doesn't have estrogen in it, so no more side effects. my partner and i don't want kids for a few years so it was a great choice for us. you might want to look into it.

[cassnelz]

Anti Depo

Chelsea,

I don't want to scare you, but I also think it's important that women discuss and learn about the potential side effects of certain types of birth control. I only received the Depo shot once when I was 22, and it was great for those first few months - no period at all. After the 3 months, however, I started having really bad clotting and I lost a ridiculous amount of blood. I couldn't even go to school for a couple of days because I basically had to live in the bathtub. It was like I was losing 3 months worth of blood in 1 week. Eventually, my period was back to normal, but now, 4 yrs later I have a new problem - I haven't been able to get pregnant. Obviously, I can't say for sure if Depo is responsible for our 4-yr stuggle to get prenant, but I just don't know, and I've read a lot about others who have taken the shot and stuggled with infertility so, personally, it's too much of a risk in my mind. If anyone asked me for my advice on birth control, I would NEVER recommend Depo Provera.