Depo Provera (birth control shot) concerns

[happyflower]

After being on depo provera for 1 year, I decided to discontinue use and switch to the pill. I decided to be single (and not sexually active) for a while, so I decided to wait until I got my period to start taking the pill. The only problem is that I STILL haven't had a period! It's been 6 or 7 months since I stopped getting the shots. I had normal periods while on the shot, and before I was on the shot, but once I stopped getting it my periods vanished...

I went to the doctor and she put me on provera tablets, 10mg once a day for 10 days, and said I should have a period a few days after they were gone. No such luck, no results. I'm due for another trip to the doctor on friday.

She said it could be hormones and I was billed for labs including TSH, FSH, and prolactin. I thought thyroid related tests were a blood test? I did not recieve any blood tests... Please correct me if there is another way to test, without a blood lab.

Has anyone else experienced my problem after having depo shots, or know what might be causing me to have no periods?

It might also be helpful to mention that I've had swelling in my lower abdomen, like bloating before a period (but for months and months), and it is definately not weight gain/fat. I used to wear a size 5, now I wear a 7 or 9. I am NOT pregnant, bulemic, anorexic, overweight, underweight, athletic, or sickly in any way. I had a c-section when I was 15 (I'm 18 now).

Sorry about the long post, I'm just so worried that I might never be able to have another child sometime later in life. Thanks for reading!

[happyflower]

I asked my doctor if it was normal and she said it wasn't. She said that it was normal for about 3-4 months, and after that to at least have some spotting here and there while your body gets back on track. She wants to do an ultrasound. My mother had 5 cantaloupe sized fibroid tumors (benign) in her uterus, and had to have a hysterectomy. Am I too young to have fibroids, or to go through early menopause? I'm only 18!

I read on other posts involving women with somewhat different symptoms after depo, that they took a high dose birth control pill and after about 6 months they got their periods back. Would it be worth suggesting to my doctor?

[cugirl]

On the package insert it says the it can take Depo 12-18 months to get out of your system once stopping it. But every person varies.  When I stopped taking Depo I went directly on BCP's....to regulate my period.  I aked my OB/GYN and pharmacist and they said it was fine.

[Captivating]

I went to the doctor last monday. I received the Depo shot last November before a sterilization procedure that I had in December. I was told that I needed it to "arrest" my cycle so that it would not present during the surgery. To my surprise, I may have had the procedure for nothing because the one-time Depo shot may have thrown me into early menopause. My doctor has given me a script for Provera. I will have it filled tomorrow. He also gave me a script for lab work. I'll keep you posted. Thank God I'm 38 with two beautiful kids. Otherwise, I think that I would have been an emotional wreck. I guess I'll have to wait and see.

[Janilyn]

You girls have to discontinue Depo Provera at once and I highly recommend never putting any hormones into your bodies ever again.  I have experienced a living nightmare from Depo Prover for the past three years.  After I got the Depo shot I went home and researched on the web about the drug.  I cried for three hours in fear that that could happen to me.  What happened was worse.  Five days after the shot a menstrual cycle started that would not cease.  It wasn't a normal cycle.  I was hemhorraging profusely with multiple massive clots.  I have been a patient at a leading medical institution ever since.  The hormones in the Depo stimulated what tiny fibroid tumors that I had (which were not causing any symptoms) to grow.  I was bleeding incessantly every day.  They had to use double doses of very high birth control pills to try to override the Depo to get the bleeding to stop.  I still experienced breakthrough bleeding.  I had to take the estrogen for over a year becasue if I stopped the bleeding would immediately continue.  My physician at this Clinic told me that Depo Provera is an oil-based drug and it has the potential to stay in your body for the rest of your life.  I finally had to have surgery this year to remove the tumors.  For the past three years this drug ruined my life.  I could no longer exercise because I was always bleeding and severely anemic.  I couldn't sleep because I had to use double protection and had to go to change myself every 20-30 minutes throughout the night.  I have been a very healthy regular girl prior to the Depo.  I am a triathlete but couldn't train or race for the past three years.  Now I may never have children.  The surgery was quite extensive because of the amount of tumors.  Because of the remaining scar tissue and an adhesion I probably won't be able to have children.  My life is forever changed.  I am depressed because I have no hope of ever being the way I used to be or being able to have a child.  This drug has destroyed my life and I don't want this to happen to anyone else.  These doctors and drug companies are pushing these drugs.  They are using women as guinea pigs. What you need to know is that it is excesses of estrogen that creates fibroids and makes them grow, i.e. the birth control pills that doctors push.  I am shocked at the statistics I hear of all the young girls in their early 20s getting fibroids nowadays.  It is because of excess estrogen in our drinking water supplies, food supplies, and because everyone is on the pill.  I eat an organic diet now with lots of fruits and veghetables.  This helps your liver to function better at filtering excesses of estrogen.  All I can do now is pray.  I will never trust the FDA nor drug-pushing physicians.  And I want to help inform other innocent women so that they don't encounter what I have.

[dejana66]

I was on Depo for 6 years. I loved it! I did not get a period for about 9 months at a time. I did however, gain 40 lbs without changing my eating habits.

I decided to get a tubaligation at the age of 38 and stop Depo. I started almost immediately getting my period every two weeks. My physician felt that this will take awhile before my periods regulate. It's still going on after almost 2 years.

I have never had a problem with my sexual organs and in the past two years I've had: 2 breast fibroadenomas, fibroids, ovarian cysts, endocervical thickening and cervical cysts. I'm seeing my gynecologist soon to determine, what I believe, if Depo is the cause for all these problems.

I also developed osteoarthritis and chrondomalacia in both my knees. If Depo use could cause osteoporosis, could it also have caused these problems as well?

[dejana66]

I was on Depo for 6 years. I loved it! I did not get a period for about 9 months at a time. I did however, gain 40 lbs without changing my eating habits.

I decided to get a tubaligation at the age of 38 and stop Depo. I started almost immediately getting my period every two weeks. My physician felt that this will take awhile before my periods regulate. It's still going on after almost 2 years.

I have never had a problem with my sexual organs and in the past two years I've had: 2 breast fibroadenomas, fibroids, ovarian cysts, endocervical thickening and cervical cysts. I'm seeing my gynecologist soon to determine, what I believe, if Depo is the cause for all these problems.

I also developed osteoarthritis and chrondomalacia in both my knees. If Depo use could cause osteoporosis, could it also have caused these problems as well?

[Mrs Oxo]

happyflower i feel your pain i had one baby and i went on depo............ my doctor failed to tell me about the side effects.............i took one shot last august and.... i haven't seen a period till this day............. now i'm married and i want another baby and it seems impossible.........i have gained over 50lbs and i have no sex drive.. what am i supposed to do know??
Mrs Oxo

[kristin82]

no period in 3 years from depo....... i cant take it anymore!!!!

[sjn1002]

I meant SHOT, not PILL in this sentence
" I think my hormones are all out of whack because of this pill.. " <<SHOT

[sjn1002]

I am only 21 and got off of the depo provera shot about 4 years ago. I started it and it was great because I didn't get periods but I started noticing that I was very emotional at times. I was moody, tired, depressed, and not to mention, my sex drive had totally hit rock bottom.. I got off of the shot a year after taking it because my emotions basically ruined mine and my high school sweetheart's relationship. Now being 4 years later, I am a little better, I am not tired all the time, but I do feel depressed like the feeling that no matter what I do, I am going to fail in life. I know that is not true and not how I am supposed to look at things but... I can't help it. I cry for no reason sometimes and I STILL do not have a sex drive. AT ALL! none. zero. I have a very loving boyfriend and I am intimate with him. I love him with all of my heart but I can't seem to WANT to be sexual. I will do it because I am in love with him and I want him to be happy but.. why do I have to feel like this? I want my body to WANT to be intimate... not just my mind. And it is apparently not enough. I think my hormones are all out of whack because of this pill.. but I got my hormones checked a couple months ago and everything turned out normal they said. Who knows... I just know something is wrong and it has been ever since I was on the shot and after it. What the hell.. someone fix it. :( DONT TAKE THIS SHOT. IT MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE **** AND YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER YOUR EMOTIONS. :(

[Gwenith]

I'm currently 23 years old.  I've been on birthcontrol from the age of 13--18 years old. I had an early period at the age of 8. My periods have always been heavy, cramping and tired.  They would last anywhere from a full week to almost three weeks, also they were very heavy. Tampons most of the time hurt even the light ones. Pearl tampax all the way.  I started the pill to regulate and slow down the flow. It worked great!  I had an incredible sex drive till I was 19-20 when I started the shot.  I took the shot my senior year till just the fall before my july birthday.  I went back to the pill due to links of osteo stories. I didn't want thinning bones.

When I was just about to turn 21 I was doing an internship away from home, I was off the shot and not taking the pill. I wasn't active and wanted to give my body a break.  I got home from my internship in late july and started to take the pill again not so regularly my sex drive had sorta died by this point.  Just before I was 22 I had a four month long period and went to my doctor after two months of bleeding.  I was not anemic, but they did presribe me some Sprintec.  I took that for three months and after a month of pill taking my period stopped.  But then again this past late winter/spring I bled again for two months. I went to the doctor this time I was very anemic, clotting heavily, tired, feeling sick and wanting to throw up from heavy hard cramps.  The doctor put me back on sprintec, sent me to an endocronolgist, ordered an ultrasound and this is when it all got worst.

No cancer, no polysystic ovary syndrome.  Ultrasound came back normal.... But I continued to have my period for four months, two packs of sprintec to end my period and ontop of it the endocrongolist put me on some trial meds to help lesson my mood swings the pills he gave me were to help some minor hormones that were either slightly too high but still in the normal range or vice versa. He didn't seem to honestly know what was going on.  The pills made me throw up twice. They upset mystomach so badly I discontinued them.  This was back in april of '07.

I then went to an obgyn and he gave me again sprintec, talked to me and said to give the endocrongolist pills a shot, I did for a month but I never felt they worked. My bf claims my mood was better.  My sex drive is gone.  It's now august and I've had my period again for over a month.  I'm clotting no torwards the month 2 week point.  I'm feeling tired and like barfing again and bad cramps that are completely random.

I'm upset, uninsursed and scared I'm going to have four month long periods for the rest of my life. I'm 23years old and tired.   I use to be almost nympho like and now I can't even get excited before. I cry worrying I'm messed up forever.  

Any ideas. Suggestions, links to stories, posts, breakthroughs.. anything. I'd really appreciate it.  At this point I just want to go back to how I was.

[lalaluv4u]

I had no significant health issues prior to taking Depro, had maintained the same weight, give or take 5 lbs., for many yrs., and had no issue taking the weight off when it did fluxuate. I received my last shot in Nov. of 2006 (I received four shots total) and today am still experiencing many side effects. While taking Depro, my symptoms included excessive weight gain, major circulation issues (my arms would fall asleep repeatedly-very painful), chest pain, dry skin, strange rashes, low sex drive (high libido prior to receiving the shot) body aches, headaches, emotional swings, irregular bleeding, varicose veins, headaches, weakness, dizzy spells, nausea, blurry vision, and visually noticed loss of muscle tone. I gained 25 lbs. in a period of approx. two months despite my already extremely healthy dietary intake (I eat virtually no sugar, no artificial sweeteners, consume very few refined carbs, drink only purified water (no caffeine, no sodas, no juice, no aides), eat plenty of organic veggies, organic low fat lean meats, take supplements, etc.), weight which I cannot seem to take off despite having altered my dietary intake even more & regular exercise; my husband says my mood has been unexplainably tense, my body aches (I feel like a 60 yr. old), i've been bleeding incessantly for prolonged periods of time; at this point, for a month & 1/2 straight (heavy bleeding), i've developed varicose veins, i've noticed that it takes much longer for wounds to heal, am having acne, feel routinely fatigued and weak & must continually battle depression. If I weren't in touch with my spirituality most likely I would be insane by this point, especially after having tried to discuss what's transpiring in my body with doctors who have insisted it's not possible Depro caused these things, even giving me looks (you know that face that indicates "you must not be counting your calories accurately, you must be exaggerating about your bleeding...in other words, maybe you're a nut case), now maybe that was simply my own perception, but, two things are for certain; I listened to the doctor very carefully and read all material given to me regarding depro & the only side effects listed were possible weight gain (which the doctor minimized saying it should only be around 5 lbs., NOT 5-10 lbs. per shot! The only other side effects listed were possible headaches, back pain, & increased risk for osteoporosis, which I was told would be resolved by taking calcium/vitamin d supplements. This drug is poison and needs to be taken off the market. To all of my sisters now suffering from this, may God touch your spirit. Respectfully, while counting calories, eliminating refined sugar from your diet, drinking plenty of purified water, minimizing salt intake, eating lots of green veggies (organically grown), non processed foods, and organic meats (hormone free)  is essential to maintaining your health (esp. in light of all the chemicals & synthetic substances being added to foods, many women are experiencing excessive weight gain after having taken Depro that is NOT contributed to dietary intake. Everyone's body is different. Some women may experience weight loss while on the Depro, but, after having scoured over hundreds upon hundreds of testimonies, most are experiencing the opposite effect: excessive weight gain & many of these women are stating that this occurred with no dietary changes. As well, many women are stating that once they stopped getting the shot, they have found it extremely difficult to drop the weight, even after many yrs., even thought they've altered their dietary intake and up-ed the exercise.  It can become incredibly disheartening when you're taking a proactive approach to weight issues and the weight still refuses to budge or when you’re receiving strange looks & responses from doctors despite the fact that suddenly you’ve gone from perfect health to a constant battle with fatigue, illness, mood swings, endless bleeding, etc.... so, I think it's extremely important that women have access to information that can help us understand what's happening and why. By the way, did you know that the same drug used in Depro is given to Cancer & AID's patients to assist them with weight gain? And I must not forget to tell you that some states also administer the drug to sex offenders and child molesters to eliminate their libido. I am not anti doctor or anti medication, but, we need to understand the reality of the situation.

[lalaluv4u]

First off, primarily doctors are able to do two things: 1.) repair and 2.) alleviate symptoms (applying band aids)....in most cases, they are not, however, capable of curing the root of those symptoms. In those cases where they are capable of getting rid of an illness, it is through use of chemicals that reek havoc on your system and leads to other illness (chemo is an ie. of this). If I'm in a car accident and facing a life threatening situation, I want a doctor to sew me up and give me medication to alleviate my pain, if my body gets burned in a fire i want a doctor to administer pain meds and perform skin grafts.....but the reality is, most traditional doctors are not even willing to truly listen to what their patients are saying to them about the side effects they began to experience directly after taking Depro and you can anticipate that your physician will tell you your symptoms could not possibly be due to the shot. Doctors receive financial benefits from manufacturers to promote their drugs...in many cases PROFITS take precedence, NOT the well-being of humanity, particularly when it comes to women (very few research dollars are granted to address women's health issues). http://www.socialism.com/fsarticles/vol20no3/Norplant.htm  (note the dates of these articles ladies….this has been ruining women’s lives for years now!!! We must All step up whether we’re personally being affected by this particular drug or not!!! Just think about it for a moment. If you've spoken to your doctor about the illnesses you began experiencing after receiving Depro there must be other patients who have also spoken to that same doctor about it. Yet, many continually maintain that the illness could not possibly be linked to Depro. In my case, as well as in many other cases, doctors attempt to address the symptoms by putting you on another drug, but, the very reason why your hormones became imbalanced in the first place, which is what's leading to all the illness, is because of synthetic hormones (in all birth control except Paraguard IUD). Synthetic hormones are not the same as natural hormones. They are chemicals designed to trick the body into (hopefully) responding in the same manner as it would if the natural hormone were releasing into your system. Here lies the problem. Often times the body is NOT tricked thus resulting in what we call "side effects". In the 80's when manufacturers tested Depro on animals (Rhesus Monkeys, Beagles, and Rats) the side effects were undeniable, however, they pushed the drug regardless, dismissing the side effects away by saying the animals system was different than humans.....yet they conducted their tests on these particular animals, breeds selected based on criteria which serves to match up which animal will indicate the most likely impact the drug will have on human beings). In a trial where they injected 12 Rhesus Monkeys with Depro, almost all of the monkeys developed tumors, something never seen before in Rhesus Monkeys. Not surprisingly, today many woman are developing cysts (endometriosis), fibromygelia,  and turmors in their liver. My masters work was in Psychological Research and I can share a few things with you. First off, research is easily skewed. Skewed means that a researcher who is looking to present a particular result can alter their methods in order to show results that support their hypothesis. Secondly, researchers give much consideration to the subjects viability prior to conducting trials. Most of you have probably come across ads in your local paper or weekly "Research study on Nicotine Addiction" Criteria: Must be a smoker! I would find it shocking if the manufacturers of Depro told their researches to simply pick an animal and see what happens. I imagine it's much more likely the animals were carefully selected based on very specific criteria. http://www.ru486.org/depo.html

By now you're probably saying "what to do?" Hopefully you’re feeling inspired to discover the ways in which you can free yourself from being used as a human lab rat!  We all went on birth control in order to achieve a particular purpose, some, to avoid getting pregnant, others to alleviate symptoms of other illness or dysfunction. What traditional doctors will not tell you however is that there are other alternatives available besides drugs. I went on Depro because my husband and I did not want to have any more children at this stage. When I began experiencing illness, after having been told by my doctor that my "side effects" were not linked to the Depro, I hit the internet to investigate for myself...because I knew it was NO coincidence that my health suddenly declined and my weight suddenly escalated. “According to Sathyamala, Depo-Provera is a long-term, systemic, invasive contraceptive, which acts at multiple levels. Its potency and the ease with which it can be used have been cited as reasons for its promotion in sections with high birth rates and low "motivation" levels. By not taking the women's experience seriously, it is more than likely that important morbidities are being left out, she argues. When a woman reports a symptom while being on Depo-Provera, the general tendency seems to be to "rea ssure" her that the reported symptom is not associated with the use of the contraceptive.”
http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1724/17240820.htm

[lalaluv4u]

When I discovered all of the women's testaments that so closely resembled mine I immediately decided not to ever take another shot, which left me back in the same boat I was in before "how can I avoid pregnancy". The Paraguard IUD seemed like a viable option in that it eliminated the synthetic hormones & I subsequently had one inserted. While I do believe this is a better option, even the Paraguard is not w/out side effects. I continued to experience abnormal bleeding (essentially I've been bleeding for a yr. straight...there have only been three wks. in which I have not bled in some form or fashion. My husband, who has grown increasingly concerned, insisted I return to the doctor & we decided I would have the Paraguard removed. When I went to my doctor, I was told my hormones had become unbalanced (the doctor indicated that this hormonal imbalance was most likely an issue that would need to be addressed regardless of whether I left the Paraguard in or had it removed) and I was prescribed Provera, which I was to take for 10 days a month for 3 months then return to the doctor. I had to press the doctor in order to get an admission that the hormonal imbalance was most likely caused by the Depro. I decided to fill the prescription and return home to do research and discuss this w my husband, who quiet adamantly informed me that if I took that route I would be consenting to more experimentation on my body. Sure enough, Provera has similar side effects to Depro....they're both the same hormone! And, there are testimonies from many women who took Provera and had an increase in bleeding or no discontinuation of bleeding at all.
http://www.infertilityworkshop.com/articles/gettingstarted/depoprovera.htm

Needless to say, I've learned my lesson. I scheduled an appointment the very next morning and had the IUD removed. After extensive research, I've discovered a number of things one can do to assist their body in removing the chemicals. Because the steroids get into ones liver, among other parts of the system, cleansing the system with natural products is a start. There are MANY products on the market for this. I have tried a few that I didn't care for and am now using products from a company called Global Healing Center www.ghchealth.com and find their products are working effectively and gently (no cramping). I have also considered the Master Cleanse. It involves fasting, which is not easy, however, it may be necessary to give your body a break from digestion, thus allowing for a more effective detoxification www.thelemonadediet.com. As well, I am considering limiting my dietary intake to raw foods exclusively for a time. I have found a number of women who after becoming seriously ill due to Depro took this route and experienced substantial healing. http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/rawfood2.htm
To address hormonal imbalance (Depro functions to kick the body into a menopausal state) there are natural alternatives. Check into Bio Identical Hormones as well as locating a physician who practices alternative medicine in your area. Serious Health Food stores may be able to provide some recommendations.

http://www.minniepauz.com/bio-identical-hormones.html

http://www.power-surge.com/educate/naturalhormones.htm


An excellent alternative to chemical birth control is the Natural Family Planning Method utilizing Cycle Beads. Despite my hesitation regarding chemical birth control, I didn't believe there was a viable Natural option available to me because the failure rate of the Rhythm Method  has been reported to be rather high. Cycle Beads however, is an entirely different method. If I would have known about it & it's effectiveness rate prior to having sought out chemical birth control I never would have chosen chemicals. Turns out, one of the nurses in my doctors office mentioned this method to me after hearing my story & highly recommended it!

www.cyclebeads.com

Lastly, if you have experienced illness as a result of Depro, please take a moment to sign this petition. This drug needs to be taken off the market & clearly it is up to us to force it's removal. As well, take time to do some research for yourself. Knowledge Empowers!

http://www.petitiononline.com/Depo/petition.html

Also, although this will take another 5 mns. Of your time PLEASE take time out to file a complaint with the FDA. You may do this online.

http://www.fda.gov

This is a copy of the confirmation you will receive once you’ve finished. I’ve enclosed it so that you will feel encouraged to report this to the FDA *you’re given an option to remain anonymous to the Manufacturer if the FDA takes action to contact them.

Dear Reporter:

Thank you for submitting your report to MedWatch, The FDA Safety
Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program.  

This acknowledgement confirms that your report was received.  Reports
are added to a postmarketing safety database with similar reports and
reviewed by the FDA?s postmarketing safety staff.  Voluntary reports
are essential for ensuring the continued safety of FDA-regulated
products.  One or two well-documented case reports may provide an early signal of unexpected problems and lead to additional evaluation.  This may result in FDA regulatory actions that improve the safety of the products used in patient care each day.  

You might be contacted by an FDA staff member if additional information
on your report is needed.

Again, thank you for taking the time to submit your report.

Sincerely yours,

MedWatch


As well, here is a link to obtain the number of The Attorney General’s office in your state, where you may also file a complaint. Many of them have email addresses.

http://www.tobacco.org/Misc/ags.html

This is a fantastic site to discover what patients are experiencing upon taking a drug. There is a wealth of information there.

www.askapatient.com  

I know this is rather long, but hopefully enlightening. Personally I feel very angry, but the most constructive thing I can do at this point is to channel my anger into things that will incite change, for myself, for women suffering from Depro, for women collectively, and even for the men who are engaging in these atrocities….educate myself, take matters in my own hands, refuse to be experimented on any longer, contact authorities, take a proactive approach to getting well again and share with others. I have a wonderful husband who has stood by me through all of this and has taken a significant interest in getting me well, but, it has not been without struggle. The constant bleeding has all but destroyed our intimate life and I do battle with depression on a daily basis, but, we must keep hope alive! I want to thank all of you who took the time to share your stories. You're making a difference in the lives of other women! And by the way, it will help things w/in your relationship if you will share information with your spouse or significant other. Send him links or have him read some of the testimonies while you’ve got them pulled up. Knowledge empowers him too.

More Related Links:
http://www.abcinternetmarketing.com/depo-provera/report_depo_provera.html
http://www.pureloveclub.com/chastity/index.php?id=7&entryid=315



Please feel free to email me anytime.

Peace & Blessings,

Lala

***@****

[CVJ]

I was given my first shot of depo last summer and my periods completely stopped, at the time I thought this was great! However it has led to further problems for me. Around christmas time I started to experience intense pain around my lower abdomen and back and started to hemirage uncontrolably! I went to A and E and they referred me to a specialist who took blood tests and scans and found nothing. My bleeding continued and got much worse, preventing me from leaving the house some days. I went to see my GP and he gave me some tablets to take to stop the hemiraging. The bleeding did calm down however I didn't find this normal for my body to bleed this amount and then stop! After seeing many different GP's I was always told different stories "Could be hormonal" Even though I am only 22, "Could be your period that has never come" (What 6 months worth?) Any how after bleeding so much so often I became very badly Enemic, feeling weak and faint all the time it was really starting to take over my life.

A week ago I was sent for another scan, and the radiographer found a cyst on my ovary. She said it looked as if it had been there a while and it was the cause of all my bleeding yet no one had ever found this before! She also said to me that she had screened a lot of women for these ovarian cysts and many of them were on Depo. I never did find this contraseptive treatment normal to my system.

Now I have to wait 6 weeks until my next scan to see if it has reduced in size, also it is being tested for a melignant cyst, cancerous. Which scares me massively!

I would not recommend Depo Provera to anyone, especially if you have not yet started a family as it has caused me all sorts of problems.

Thanks for reading.

And I wish you all well.

CJ

[vansmama]

I started the shot in high school when i lost my virginity. I was on it for 9 months with no periods when I decided I wasn't going to be sexually active so I got off of it. I didn't have a period again for over a year and then bled heavily for 17 days straight! I haven't been "regular" since. I even started taking the pill after my son was born to try and be more regular, but I'm still having problems. I do not recommend the shot to anyone!

[brigman316]

I took the shot one time, in March of this year.  I have been without a period for 7 months now and it is like having pms around the clock with no relief in sight.  My body feels so toxic.  My feet burn, joints ache, excessive tension, very bloated, and feel as if I need to be locked away from people until I get my period.  It takes twice the effort to perform daily tasks.  I've just recently began to have hot flashes. It takes a whole lot of prayer to keep on going.  I'm cramping some now and maybe I'm almost there.  I guess this stuff just isn't for everyone.  I have started drinking some herbal teas that are supposed to be helpful with  starting a menstrual flow and balancing hormones.  I've only been on them about 5 days, but I can't tell that they help take the edge off my temptation to be very moody.  I pray that it gets better for you real soon.

[stellar0613]

i too only took the shot one time, they scheduled me wrong and after that decided not to get it again after reading all the horrible stories. i did have some spotting while on it and then nothing. now that i didn't got get the shot, i have had some spotting, but weird cuz i just wipe and thats it, its gone. i've had that happend like once a month should i consider that a period?

[frgrjenn]

I have been on the depo shot ever since my son was born in 2000. I missed a shot a few years back and they gave me pills to start my period but I never did, eventually they gave me the shot as a precaution so I continued on with it. I stopped officially taking it Nov 2007 and it is now March 08 and I have still yet to get a period on my own. I have severe abdominal pain when having intercourse and I still really don't have much of a sex drive at all. Its been alittle better since being off of the shot but still hardly any desire for sex at all. Should I consult a doctor? I am alittle worried about it at this point I have heard that you should get your period fairly soon after stopping the depo because it only stays in your system for 3 months. Also they couldn't make me start my period a few years back.

Thanks to any responses

[rhorose]

  I was a sexually active happy forty year old until I took the depo shot.  I used condoms for birth control.  My fibroid tumors were not large and my doctor said do not worry about them as long as they do not bother me.  He left and a new doctor came and my nightmare began.

  The new "doctor recommended I take depo to stop my periods (which were heavy but normal compared to what is happening to me now).  Initially, after taking the shot, I had a light period.  Weeks later, I had very larg clots and hemorraging.  I am still bleeding to this day and that is three months later.  My doctor gave me some pills to stop it, they made it worse. I am thinking about having surgery soon to remove the fibroid tumors and get a dnc.  Hopefully, this will stop the bleeding.  LADIES, DO NOT TAKE THE DEPO SHOT.  HAVE YOUR NORMAL PERIODS... A doctor telling you that your period will not come is too good to be true....

[rhorose]

  I was a sexually active happy forty year old until I took the depo shot.  I used condoms for birth control.  My fibroid tumors were not large and my doctor said do not worry about them as long as they do not bother me.  He left and a new doctor came and my nightmare began.

  The new "doctor recommended I take depo to stop my periods (which were heavy but normal compared to what is happening to me now).  Initially, after taking the shot, I had a light period.  Weeks later, I had very larg clots and hemorraging.  I am still bleeding to this day and that is three months later.  My doctor gave me some pills to stop it, they made it worse. I am thinking about having surgery soon to remove the fibroid tumors and get a dnc.  Hopefully, this will stop the bleeding.  LADIES, DO NOT TAKE THE DEPO SHOT.  HAVE YOUR NORMAL PERIODS... A doctor telling you that your period will not come is too good to be true....

[Juniper23]

I am 23 years old and i have been taking the Depo shot for almost 7 years now.  I started it in high school when my periods were so painful and heavy i couldn't walk out of the bathroom.  My doctor recomended the Pill first but after not being able to remember to take it due to my active schedule he told me about Depo Provera.  I started it and immediately loved it because i had no period at all after 3 months.  Very rarely over the last 7 years i would spot but never enough to do anything about it and just figured it due to stress.  It high school i was very active, track, basketball, volleyball anything.  Now all of my friends call me old lady beause i am the oldest 23 year old you will ever meet!  My lower back hurts constantly, with pain shooting into my legs and butt. It hurts to stand up and i have growths on my knee caps that the doctor says he doesn't know what they are.  I know...it is bone.  They hurt like heck when i bump them and my general health is horrible.  I never got sick when i was a kid(besides for ear infections due to tiny ear canals) but now it is as if I have no immune system.  I have IBS and have never been normal since I started the shot.  And just recently i have had hot flashes!  This is what is really concerning me.  I used to get a little flushed if I had a glass of wine or two but now I get beat red on my chest, neck, face, and ears anytime and oh do i get hot!  Not when I have been drinking either!  Just recently I have been experiencing redness on my hands and arms.  It looks like a rash but doesn't feel like one and does not itch but it is so warm.  Right now it is 36 outside and this morning I had to open the window because I got so warm!  My boyfriend is concerned since we looked up possible side effects and the ones about osteoperosis and infertility.  They don't say infertility but they say after two years of being off the shot 89% of women became pregnant...what bout the other 11%???  I am also since he doesn't know about my low sex drive either.  Well, i should say what sex drive...anyways, if anyone has had any of these experiences please let me know.  I am not going to get the shot again which i am due for in just a month but i need to know what is a good alternative for birth control and what is going on with me.  PLEASE HELP!

[Treena92770]

Hello all! I am going to be 38 in September 2008. I have been on the depo shot since 2004. I don't have any periods and I don't miss them at all and the first couple of years I didn't have any side effects at all from the shot except for no period. This year 2008, I started experience less libido (sex drive), very intense hot flashes, irritability and name it I have it. I have tried taking the pill even the mildest pill and I was sick constantly and I have migraine headaches. I also have breast cancer history on my mother's mother (my grandmother) had breast cancer in 1977 one of the most aggressive types. Her oldest sister died from breast cancer spreading all over her body and my grandmother's youngest sister has breast cancer too. I was 10 when I started my first period and I was always regular but I had very painful periods for years. I inherit the migraine headaches from my dad's side. I am even afraid to even try hormone replacement since I have such a strong breast cancer history. I have no complaints about the shot except for the hot flashes and loss of sex drive and no lubrication. I do have a very supportive partner for nearly 5 years. I tend to get very emotional at times and I have lost jobs due to having bad panic attacks. I also have gained more than 50 lbs. I am trying very hard to lose weight and I go up and down and then I get frustrated and turn to emotional eating. I want to lose the weight due to such a heavy family history of diabetes and stroke and also congestive heart failure. I have gone through alot of emotional things as well. I lost my grandmother in 2005 which is my mother's mother due to her having advanced parkinsons. She also had a blood clot in her left leg. I found out recently my mother's father (grandfather) has a blood clot in the thigh of his left leg and he wouldn't live through a surgery to help the blood clot be filtered. He also has been on a blood thinner for years since he has a leakage in the upper chamber of his heart and he also has congestive heart failure. My fiance's brother passed away due to complications of a liver transplant Christmas Eve 2007. I lost a great uncle Christmas Day 2007. I have lost jobs due to the emotional feelings that I have. I went through a divorce as well and left a abusive spouse which he hit me one time. He did the mental and verbal abuse to me. I felt alot happier since I left him though. The nurse at Planned Parenthood who gives me the shot, I told her the symptoms that I am experiencing. She told me about some natural remedies that I could try. The implant is very expensive and also the female sterilization. Since I have sensitive skin I can't do the ortho evra so that only leaves the shot.  I have read everyone's experiences and I wish everyone the very best. I just wanted to vent and tell about my story.

~Treena

[txgurl]

All it took was one shot to ruin my health. First I started going through a depression and I was always treating my husband horribly and of course the weight gain. The weight gain is what drove me crazy the most after having three children I always managed to maintain a healthy weight and be happy with my body image but within the past year I have gained 25 pound which I cant seem to loose I starting getting stretch marks on my legs and arms its horrible everyday I am upset about  my weight I eat healthy and am somewhat of an active person and the weight keeps  piling on...What I do???Does anybody know???

[porschia]

i have been off the depo for since march i havent gotten preganant me and my husband keep trying i dont know wats the ploblem.