F/u to birth control: Depo Provera?

aeroluv327 · May 2012

So after talking with my doctor, this is what she ended up recommending for me. I got my first shot today and I go back every 3 months. It's progesterone only, so no estrogen (shouldn't raise my blood pressure, which has been a little elevated the last two times I've seen her) and I don't have to remember to take the pill every day.

Any experiences? She said she has seen very few side effects, a few gained weight but wasn't necessarily attributed to the shot.

Capricorn16 · May 2012

Well, you usually only be on it for 3 years as it can cause bone loss in some people (I just take calcium tabs). Umm...yeah, there's the weight gain...might also stop your period completely. Other than that, all I've had is tenderness at the injection site the next day & I've been on it for 3 years (only 1 more to go).

jerseygirl81 · May 2012

I was on it for years and really hated it, it was just the best option at the time. I did gain weight, and once I went off of it it was gone within a month. I also got super bitchy and extremely moody as the end of the 12 weeks approached.

That said, everyone is different and has different reactions, so it might work for you. Just make sure to keep an eye on your calcium intake and ask your OB about supplements, because it's also (somewhat recently) been linked to bone density issues.

firsttimersluck · May 2012

My sister did the Depo shot for a couple years, but around year two she started seeing her skin discolor so she stopped.. that's the only experience I have regarding it.

aeroluv327 · May 2012

Yes, she did mention the increased risk of osteoporosis, so I need to add a calcium supplent. (Or actually take my multivitamin, which has some added calcium).

By the time 3 years are up, we will probably want to do something permanent unless we've changed our minds about being no-kids.

I really appreciate everyone's helpful advice!

jennifer0124 · May 2012

Depo triggered my Migraines which gave me 3 months with no relief.

ebeth_msn · May 2012

the few people I've know who've taken depo gained an alarming amount of weight at an alarming rate and didn't last more than one shot because of it. my sample size is like 4 though.

at least one study found depo users had significantly more weight gain when compared to other BC.

http://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(08)02460-5/fulltext

there might be more. this is just what I found in a quick search.

MommaInTheSouth · May 2012

I did the Depo shot for years in my early 20s with no noticeable or alarming side effects. I honestly can't even remember why I stopped- probably we moved and I got new insurance and it wasn't affordable anymore. I was by far thinner at that point in my life than at any other- did not have alarming weight gain.

Mrs Acorn Blue · May 2012

I've been on it for 10 years. My doctor has no problem with me being on it for so long, and I take calcium every day. It's great. My period has been non-existant for 10 years, along with the PMS symptoms, horrendous migraines, cramps, bloating, ect. I didn't have a huge weight gain that was not attributed to my eating habits. I plan to stay on it until we either decide not to have kids or start TTC. IF we have a kid, I'll either have a tubal ligation at delivery or DH will get snipped.

rebatwin · May 2012

I was on it for about a year and gained a pretty good amount of weight. As soon as I stopped taking it, the weight disappeared! That was a long time ago though- when it first came out!! I'm old compared to all you young chicks! :-)

PolarBearFans · May 2012

Tried it once. Had a very heavy period for 3 months. Declined 2nd shot. I can't have estrogen so my doctor had me try and wait it out. Regular birth control would have stopped the bleeding but risky for me.

lasirene · May 2012

Mrs Acorn Blue:
I've been on it for 10 years. My doctor has no problem with me being on it for so long, and I take calcium every day. It's great. My period has been non-existant for 10 years, along with the PMS symptoms, horrendous migraines, cramps, bloating, ect. I didn't have a huge weight gain that was not attributed to my eating habits. I plan to stay on it until we either decide not to have kids or start TTC. IF we have a kid, I'll either have a tubal ligation at delivery or DH will get snipped.

This has been my exact experience! I have been on for almost 3 years. I had heavy bleeding in the beginning, but now I have no period, no PMS, no cramps...no nothing! I've had no outrageous weight gain and even managed to lose the baby weight on it. My H had a vasectomy and I will still stay on it as long as possible because it's worth it to not feel like crap once a month!

regenab · May 2012

I was on it for 10 years (age 19-29) and loved it. I didn't have any weight gain that wasn't from me stuffing my face with junk and not exercising. If I ate right and worked out the weight fell off. I took a calcium supplement and didn't have any long term effects. I had a bone density scan done at 26 and I didn't have any significant bone loss.

After I had my twins I started having major pelvic pains and it turned out I had endometriosis. Turns out all those years I was on depo kept it at bay (I had endo when I was 16). So I went back on depo after having a lap done to control the endo and it worked. About a year ago (3 years after being on depo again) my new GYN wanted to put me on something more permenant since I am not having anymore kids and we need to control the endo until I hit menopause (I am 36 now), so she put me on Implanon. It inserted in the upper arm and lasts for 3 years instead of getting a shot every 3 months. It works the same as Depo but doesn't have the bone loss side effect and since I am at risk (white, 5'2", weighing 120lbs and have family history of osteoporosis) we decided to go this route instead. So if you decide after a couple of years you want something more permenant without surgery you could do Implanon. Again when I went back on Depo and since being on Implanon I have not had any unsual weight gain that wasn't from something else (being on high dose steriods for 12 weeks, put 10 pounds on me). I am now working on losing the weight and it is coming off with dieting, so the Implanon is not affecting my weight.

rayofsunshine99 · May 2012

When I talked to my doc about it and asked about side affects, she did say that a lot of women gain weight. But even if say for instance, only 10% of women gain weight on it (hypothetical number), I still don't want to increase my chances of weight issues at all. I have enough trouble in that department, so I don't want to add to it.

I also have a friend who was on it for 10 years, hasn't had a period in all that time, nor when she went off of it. She has been TTC for 5 years with no success. She does have a daughter from before she was ever on the shot, so she didn't always have fertility problems. Only since being on the shot for all that time and she stopped menstruating completely.

I tend to lean toward a natural/holistic approach to most things in life and being on hormonal birth control that makes my body do unnatural things just doesn't seem worth the risk. I'd rather just use condoms if I was trying to avoid pregnancy. If I was sure we were done having kids, then hubby can get snipped.

F/u to birth control: Depo Provera?

Re: F/u to birth control: Depo Provera?

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