Periods after depo injection

[cookie2006]

I first started having depo injection in June 2002 with my last being in August 2005.  Since the end of January I have been having a very heavy period every 2 weeks.  My breasts have been very very tender to the point I can't sleep for about a week before my period.  Is this normal?  Should i go to my doctor?

[wenjipig07]

Unfortunatley, we've all been conned into the "advantages" of depo and no-one bothered to tell us what to expect if and when we decided to stop having the injections. I was due my 2nd injection about 3 months ago but decided against it because I hated the fact that I had no period at all (crazy you might think!). I thought, surely our bodies need to get rid of our monthly stuff for a reason so I found it really unnatural. Anyway, about 2 days after I was due the 2nd one, the biggest period I've ever experienced arrived! Heavy, painful and lasted 3 weeks. Since then I've had a non-stop period which on the odd day, stops for about 24hours but then starts up again with a vengeance. I've also had huge horrible clots to the point where I though I might actually be misscarrying due to the heavy nature of these. It varies day to day from bright red, to dark brown. I have seen doctors and family planning advisors who insist these are all "perfectly normal after effects" and to "ride it out" until the bleeding returns to normal. Just to let all you ladies know, this could take up to 12 MONTHS!!!!! My only advice would be to avoid taking the pill just to stop the bleeding because all this does is cover up the depo after effects and if you ever decide to come back off the pill, the depo effects tend to kick back in. You've got to let your system recover and completely flush out the evil that is depo before fiddling around with more ridiculous time wasting hormones! I thought the pill was the answer and went back on it for a month, but as soon as I came off it, the depo nastiness returned and I've been on a non stop period since. I used to think that people that used condoms as their only source of contraception were utterly mad but now, there is no way I'm ever going near a hormone again and love how un-obtrusive condoms are! Plus, If you want to conceive a baby, you have no worry of hormones getting in the way for up to a year afterwards. I love you durex! Another bit of advice would be to eat spinach, greens, red meat and pulses if you are suffering with heavy bleeding all the time as you could potentially be at risk of anaemia from blood loss which results in low iron levels in your body. It's unlikely but just bear it in mind. Symptoms are tiredness and lethargy etc so if you feel a bit drained, ask your doctor for a blood test.I hope this has helped someone. Its horrible, but sit tight and never go near anything with the name depo in it again! Oh, and just as an after thought, I've also had the implant in my arm which did exactly the same as the flipping injection so avoid that aswell if you've had problems with the depo injection.

[vitoriaaaaa]

Hi I've only had 1 shot of the depo injection I was ment to go for my 2nd jab on 31st of july 09 but I never went for it I've neva had a period since... I have spotting spells nearly everyday but no proper period I also bleed after sex is this normal after being on the depo only once?? I'm really worried

[PRETTI1]

OMG!! I HAVE BEEN ON DEPO SINCE AUGUST 09. THAT WAS MY LAST NORMAL PERIOD.OCTOBER 26 CAME AND I GOT MY PERIOD. ITS NOW JAN.2010 AND IAM STILL BLEEDING. WHEN IS THIS MADNESS GOING TO END. THANKS A LOT DEPO U REALLY BEEN A BIG HELP!! NOT!!!!!!

[star3107]

I only had 2 shots of depo and was due for my third in Nov but decided against it. I have had a constant bleeding ever since. Sex is very difficult as its constant blood and litterally floods out after which is begining to ruin my sex life. I see above that it can take up to 12 months, but is that from your last shot or from when you were due for your shot. PLEASE HELP!!
Thank youu

[ammers350]

i didnt go for my 3rd shot which was due at the end of october, as it was already messing up my periods while i was on it.
its now mid january. and ive had a continous period for 3 months :( its awful and reall inconvieniant.
im never going using this form of contreception again.
and if the person above is correct, and this can last for 12 months! and the doctor is just going to tell me to "ride it out". dear god. i hope not. and there is something they/i can do.

[lavenderinscence]

wow i keep reading different things about that horrible shot that also happened to me. I only had one shot ... I was only 16 years old and my mother made me (i was a virgin still) i'm an adult now but it still scarred me beyond ever wanting to do it again.

I swear i had a mental breakdown. I had horrible dreams, night sweats, just absolutely terrible fight or flight anxiety over nothing, I couldn't sleep ... I didn't get my period for 13 months! after ONE shot! when I DID get it, it was HORRIBLE! I hurt like crazy in my lower belly for like 3 days before it came, and when it did, it was so heavy i had to change my pad every 45 minutes or so. I had it for 11 days ... it never let up. it hurt so bad I could barely get up and move around. I had to sleep on sheet protectors. I will never use any kind of birth control that uses hormones. i'm scared to death of them. I have 2 beautiful children with one on the way and i have my tubal ligation scheduled. it's not worth the agony!!!!