pill to shot?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
pill to shot?
2
Tue, 03-02-2004 - 11:27pm
Thinking about switching from the pill to the birth conrol shot... Has anyone done this? What are some side effects to the shot? Just looking for some insight on the shot and whether or not its better than the pill..

Thanks!

Jen

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-12-2004
In reply to: lccutie
Tue, 03-02-2004 - 11:39pm
well...I was on the shot for about 1 1/2 years and then got off of it (I wasn't in a relationship anymore and didn't really need it.) Then I got on it again for about a year. The first time I didn't really have any problems, but I did gain a little weight. But - the second time I had weight gain, abdominal pains (similar to cramping, but like shooting pains which I thought were abnormal), pain during sex, and very very moody. I got off of it for these reasons. I just felt that there was something not right with my body. I spotted every now and then, no big deal. I also got off of it because we were ready for another baby. So that is why I got on the pill. The first time I got off of the shot it took 5-6 months to get my period. The second time I started the pill right away and got my period the next month - 5 months later I am pregnant!! :) I do know other people that had similar problems and they decided to get off of the shot also. It is a very competent form of birth control and I felt very safe on it. I just didn't like the problems I was developing. I can't really say much about the pill because I was only on it for 3 months. I don't trust the pill though - I know many people that have gotten pregnant on it. (I was solely on it to regulate my periods, not to have birth control) The pill is just too easy to screw up on in my opinion. After I have the baby I am going to look into the IUD. I am going to at least try it. Maybe that could be an option for you too. Sorry for the long post, if you have any more questions let me know. Hope I could be of some help.

Amber


Edited 3/2/2004 11:41:06 PM ET by amberz22

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2004
In reply to: lccutie
Wed, 03-03-2004 - 3:39am
i hated the shot. had three of them. was VERY moody after second and third. no sex drive. my boyfriend's favorite saying became, "depo works because you never have sex." he also called it the "abstinence shot." i didn't gain weight on the shot, but gained 30 lbs. after stopping. had some hair loss. everything was all out of whack.

i did some research and my symptoms were fairly common. there are websites devoted to depo use gone bad. there were far worse things that many ladies experienced that i am thankful i didn;t.

for one thing, i know that it can take up to a year and a half to ovulate again after you stop. my periods are still not regular nearly a year after i stopped (and i was perfectly regular before i started). unless you don't mind giving up 2 years instead of just the 3 months that they say the shot lasts for, i would stick with something else...

i use condoms and spermicide now and am perfectly happy with that... at least i know i'm not doing anything to screw up my body chemistry. Hope this helps.

one site that has some useful info is http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/search.html

type in depo.... there are a lot of neat questions and answers.