anybody use depo provera shot

[ckbarefootkc]

About a year ago I started getting the depo provera shot. At first I loved this method of birth control but recently starting hearing some pretty bad stuff about it. My only complaint is quite a bit of weight gain. I think I am not going to get my next shot due next week. Has anybody here quit using this and what were their symptons? Also, has anybody else gained alot of weight with it? I appreciate any help. Thanks.

[luckimomma]

I have 2 friends who've used Depo- one was on it for years, no problems. She loved it. Friend 2 had one shot. She gained over 20 lbs, and 3 months later still can't loose them. (The scary part is she's always been one who lost weight without trying. High metabolism or something- when she was pregnant, the Dr told her to GAIN weight everymonth. I'd go with her and have milkshakes- she never gained a ounce, I, of course, gained 5 lbs... ) plus she had breakthru bleeding constantly.

Depo may be the perfect birth control- you get fat AND bleed all the time. I know that would kill any chance of me getting preggers! :laugh:

[Marilena]

i was on depo after i had my first child... did 1 yr of shots...gained 25 pounds and couldnt lose them...after the year i went off...lost the weight...then a year later i got preggo...i had no period it was awesome except the weight lol...no period and not preggo was so fun lol...

[ckbarefootkc]

thanks luckimomma, I am like friend number 2. I have always been too skinny and could eat what I wanted. I went from 103 pounds to 160 in less than a year. My lifestyle has not changed, expect for that darn shot. Hope to lose it after getting of depo. Thanks for your answers.

[paris626]

i had huge weight gain too!!!
I was not a big fan of it myself. :worry:

[silvawin]

I was on Depo for about 10 years. I really didn't gain weight. I was still within 5 lbs of my prebaby weight back then. I did finally stop using it because of a loss of interest in ---. I did lose interest about 7 or 8 years ago but did nothing back then because of its effectiveness.

[ltapenuts]

I was also on it for 10 years and gained weight. I gained about 20 lbs. but that was in the course of the 10 yrs. I recently went off of it and have started losing weight. Also I would only have 1 period a year. There is the pros and cons of it just like any other birth control.

[nettester]

I didn't notice any weight gain when I tried Depo, but I did bleed continually. It was like having my period every day for 6 months. Not fun. The nurse said this happens to about 7% of women who try Depo. Lucky me to be in that 7%. I went back to the pill with no problems. I hope it works better for you. My sil and some friends love it.

[sparkleygem]

My results were the opposite of what they said they would be. They said I'd have no perios, I was on my period 3 weeks out of the month for an entire year. They said I may gain weight. I lost weight (hey, I'm not complaining about that one). I was pencil thin until I got on the pill, then I gained about 15 pounds.

[sparkleygem]

Depo may be the perfect birth control- you get fat AND bleed all the time. I know that would kill any chance of me getting preggers! :laugh:
:laugh: :laugh: :rofl3: :rofl3:

[twinangels]

I only gained a couple of pounds the 6 months I was on it but was on my period the entire 6 months.

[drewnancy]

One of my good friends took depo. She also had weight gain problems. Her biggest worry though was when she stopped. No period...ever again. And she and her hubby so desperately wanted a little one. :frown3:

[Markslady]

I had used depo for 5 years. I didn't gain weight or have my period at all. My last shot was Jul 2004. I finally started my period again in April and now it starts every 14 days after it ends. It's real strange. I'm actually going to get back on it once my insurance kicks back in.

Regarding the weight thing tho, I'm the same weight now as I was when I was 13 (38 now). The only time I gained was with my pregnancies and I packed on 50 pounds with each kid. Lost most of that before I left the hospitals. I think if your prone to gain, you will.

drewnancy: how long has it been for your friend since she quit? And has she spoken to the doctor about it? Like I said above, it took a while for my period to come back and it's still not "normal", but my doctor says it takes time and to be patient.

[melalyssa]

I've been on it for the last 6 yrs. and I love the convenience factor and the fact that I have not had my period AT ALL! My DH wanted me off though, cuz he is afraid of the long term effects to be on it that long. I was supposed to get my shot the beginning of June so I have been "off" of it for almost two months now. No period yet. I have gained alot of weight but of course I have no idea how much I can attribute to the shot. I think alot of people react differently from it. My sis tried it and had a continuous period, my best friend tried it and it made her kinda crazy. Personally, I have loved the "ease" factor and the fact that I have not had periods. My DH says I still PMS though!!

[cinderoo]

Everyone, not just here is always primarily concerned about the weight issues, but a BIG issue with Depo is your bone density, your bones do not get the hormones necessary to keep them strong over time, and you could possibly be prone to bone loss, causing fractures early in life. BE SURE you talk to your health care providor about this and get the suggested lab work done to watch for this. :goodevil:

[Fidget]

i would never get Depo - it causes miscarriages. In inordinate amount of women from my pregnancy loss group several years ago were there b/c they got pregnant on Depo. Knew long enough to get over the shock and be excited and then miscarried.... :worry:

[Ravin]

I took Depo for 3 years. I stopped due to feeling awful, worse then I did when I would have my period. I also started having heart palpitations within 2 weeks of every shot. Every month before the time I would have had my period, I went threw all the same pms symptoms, just intensified. I stopped taking the shot in December. I am feeling alittle better. Haven't had a normal period yet.

I have a friend that has no problems. I wish I could say the same.

If you look up Depo on the internet you will come up with links on horror stories. They can tell you there are no side effects, which is what I was told. But anything that completely takes your period away and puts you in a menopausal state, it has to do something to your body.

[Defenderofthefaith]

My SIL is a Nurse Practitioner and she told me never to get the Depo shot.

[drewnancy]

drewnancy: how long has it been for your friend since she quit? And has she spoken to the doctor about it? Like I said above, it took a while for my period to come back and it's still not "normal", but my doctor says it takes time and to be patient.

Over three years. She jumped through all the hoops. Docs believe it is permanent.

[GloryFrost]

I just stopped getting the shots because of the bone density issue, but I LOVED the Depo and am so sad that I had to stop. No periods, no PMS, no cramping. And I was totally protected. Depo has one of the best "not getting pregnant" percentages.

[Defenderofthefaith]

How about trying the Mirena IUD? It releases a progestin but locally so the dose is much smaller. It also gets rid of periods totally in some women and reduces the flow in 90% of others. It is actually more effective than tubal ligation but it is reversible. I am going to try it.

[Carla]

I was on depo for 5 years and got off of it because my dh had a vasectomy so I didn't have to worry about birth control anymore. I, personally, had no side effects whatsoever. My periods stopped completely and I had no weight gain. With the bone density issue, there are things you can do to lessen the risk. My doctor and I spoke about it because I have osteoporosis in my family and my doctor suggested several things I can do and things to add to my diet to lessen the risk of fractures and loss of bone density.

I know people, like those who posted here who didn't do well with depo. Since lissajean mentioned the Mirena IUD, I'll mention that I have a friend who tried that and experienced heavy, painful periods and also experienced significant hair loss. Both are possible side effects of that product. Yet I know another person who uses it and has no problems.

ALL birth control has side effects. Not all forms are right for everyone. The best way to choose a form of birth control is to speak with your doctor. Between the two of you, the choice of what is best for you can be made.