Depo Provera and Hypothyroid Symptoms

[beachmom915]

I was on Depo Provera for BC for 8 years with no side effects but headaches, which were manageable. Also had no periods, which was great! However, I became ill when I stopped having the injections at age 45. I experienced fatigue, joint pain and swelling, and depression. I was tested for everything from Lyme disease and Lupus, to thyroid conditons - all negative. My Dr. finally gave up and diagnosed me with Chronic Fatigue syndrome. My OBGYN ran a bone scan and diagnosed me with osteopenia, and declared me menopausal, since my periods have also not resumed. Now nearly 4 years later I am still miserable - fatigue, depression, headaches, cold all the time, and I suspect hypothyroidism. I also have learned that Depo causes bone density loss so maybe I am not menopausal. I don't mean to sound whiny and pitiful, but I can hardly remember the energetic, optimistic person that I used to be. I am sick and tired of being sick and tired! I have been searching the net and find lots of women with lots of side effects from taking Depo Provera, but I am trying to find other women who have experienced problems after QUITTING the injections.

[stella5349]

I believe the FDA has cautions on this BC method and how it relates to the thyroid lowering its function.

All forms of BC can cause a rise of estrogen dominance which in turn - will deplete the thyroid function of an individual. Unfortunately many young people - and older are not informed of all these side effects when starting BC medication.

Looking back these new forms of BC were not on the market when I took them and only "the pill" was used.  

Weight gain is common in any form of taking BC and I too remember gaining 10 pounds or so while I was on them in my 20's, If I had only knew what it was doing to me and my metobolism gland - thyroid...

[zoospore]

I took depo provera for about 6 years, starting in 2000.  Just over three months after I stopped taking the shots I developed a nodule in my neck which was eventually diagnosed as thyroid cancer.  I have absolutely no history of thyroid problems of any kind in family and I had had no problems before the depo.  I'm also always tired, get muscle ramps frequently and a host of other issues since then, which of course get attributed to the thyroid issues, even though I'm supposedly on a good dosage of thyroid replacements.  The warnings for this poison weren't even out when I started taking it and when they did finally come out, my doctor never told me.  Taking this stuff was easily the worst mistake I ever made.

[sciencebird]

I was Depo for 3 years and I began to loose hair and become very tired easily, cold all the time and not healing well.  My doctor did blood work and found I have Hashimoto's which does run in my family.  The doctor made me stop Depo because she thinks it is adding to the systems.  My thyroid is still functioning (barely), but my antibodies are sky high.  I have been off Depo for about two months and nothing has changed except the hair loss is not as much but I am on 10000 units of Biotion, 1200 units B12 as well as other vitamins and a prenatal pill. My symptoms haven't gotten worse, but they really haven't gotten better either.

[gimel]

Have you had thyroid related tests done?  If so, please post results and reference ranges shown on the lab report.  Also, if tested for Vitamin D and ferritin, please post those results as well.  Any symptoms other than hair loss?

[gimel]

I meant symptoms other than hair loss, fatigue and being cold.

[jbred69]

I thought I was alone!  I wish I did this research BEFORE I started taking Depo.   I took Depo for about 3 years but I stopped the shots a little over 2 years ago.  When I stopped the injections, I started having muscle cramps and joint pain and swelling.  I was constantly cold and exhausted for no reason.  I would get dizzy and light headed and started passing out.  This was not normal for me as  I was use to physical labor for 6 to 8 hours a day.   I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroid disease.  I asked my doctor if the Depo could have caused this but he couldn't give me an answer.  I checked into the possibility of Chantix causing these symptoms, but it seems like the Depo is the culprit.  I take 200mcg of Synthroid daily but the other symptoms still remain, today was very painful to walk due to the muscle and joint pain in my legs and feet.  I would like to know how many other women were diagnosed Hypothyroid or Hashimotos auto immune thyroid disease after stopping their injections.  All the best to you and hopefully you feel better soon!

[Zaza2016]

I only took one dose of the shot, that's all it took to mess with my health. I never had problems with my thyroid and now I have a cyst that needs to be checked out by an ent. My blood was checked in December 2015 due to a gallbladder problem and I was fine, now after the shot I'm considered prediabetic. I'm always dizzy, body asked, tired, my hair thinned,lack of sex crave,  hormonal, depressed, get anxiety attacks, everything irritates me, when before I was the most calmest person. I was to take the second shot this august and I'm still spotting. My doctor only said that the only side effects were spotting and weight gain.

[Kitten401]

I was on the DEPO shot for 10 years. Then I got really sick with a heart infection and pneumonia, and I was septic, all unrelated to DEPO, but I was on all kinds of crazy and very serious antibiotics. After I finally healed from those illnesses, I began gaining weight like crazy, sweating profusely, all the symptoms of hypothyroidism. I also didn't get my period for almost 2 years which was NOT normal for me even on the DEPO shot. I still always got a light period every 6 months or so. So I went off the DEPO shot, and I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism after that. But I started showing symptoms before I went off the shot so I assumed it was caused by the crazy antibiotics I had been on. I still have hypothyroidism, which causes fatigue and what not. I'm on thyroid meds which have finally started to work, but I'm not a fan of the meds. I haven't gone back on the DEPO and after reading all this I don't think I will. I also have realized recently that when I decided to cut bad carbs and gluten out of my diet, my entire life has been better! The thyroid symptoms have settled drastically, I'm not as fatigued, my stomach doesn't hurt and feel bloated all the time, the sweating is not as bad, I've started to lose weight. I hope some of this is helpful to somebody. I appreciate everybody's stories on here, it's definitely given me some things to consider.