bleeding almost every day while on depo

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-08-2004
bleeding almost every day while on depo
5
Sun, 05-09-2004 - 12:02am
i wanted to know if anyone could answer my questions? after i get my injections i don't bleed for about two weeks and once those weeks are over i bleed almost every day unless i'm lucky that it will stop for a couple of days. but than it seems to come around when the time comes for me to go see my boyfriend. i dont want to go off depo because i don't have to worry about a pill every day and i'm not sure if i want to take anything else.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-01-2003
Sun, 05-09-2004 - 5:16pm
I just started depo, I got my first shot about 3 weeks ago, and so far I have had no break through bleeding at all. I think it all really just depends on your body chemistry, and they say that breakthrough bleeding can be an issue with depo. I know that if breakthrough bleeding has really been an issue for you, you can talk to your doctor and they can give a dose of bcp which can halt the bleeding. Honestly, I think the reason I haven't had much breakthrough bleeding is that I was on the pill for a year previous to getting the shot, and my body was already adjusted to having hormones in it. I have a friend who just got the shot first, and she had breakthrough bleeding for several weeks!

Anyway, just talk to your doctor, I am sure they can recommend something! Otherwise, just hang in there!! =)

P.S. If you don't have any other problems on depo, you might want to consider staying on it. The btb is supposed to go away after a few months!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 05-11-2004 - 8:15am
Some women do have pretty persistent bleeding on Depo. One theory is that it's because it's a very strong dose of progestin with no estrogen at all--the progestin effectively shuts down the ovaries so that they're not producing much in the way of estrogen either, and estrogen is needed to keep the lining of the uterus stable. Some women will naturally produce more estrogen, some will produce less, but a little bit of estrogen may help to stop the bleeding. It doesn't mean that you're not protected against pregnancy, it's just a pain in the neck to deal with!

Other very effective non-pill options are the patch (Ortho Evra) and the ring (Nuvaring). Both are as effective as the pill, but don't require daily attention. The patch is weekly--one patch is applied to the skin each week for three weeks, and you'd get your period in the patch-free week. The hormones in it are similar to those in Ortho Cyclen, both in type and dose (less estrogen, though). The ring is monthly--a flexible plastic ring is inserted in the vagina and released hormones continuously for three weeks, when it's removed for one week to allow a period. The hormones in the ring are similar to those in Desogen. Both options are a lot easier than taking the pill! I've been using the ring for almost a year and a half and I'd recommend it.

Good luck! I hope you can either find a new solution or find a way to deal with the bleeding, it's no fun!

Judie

Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-06-2004
Tue, 05-11-2004 - 9:11am
Im new to this board and I can't tell you how excited I was to hear someone else has this problem. I had a baby about 7 months ago, and they gave me the shot after she was three months old. EVERY SINGLE DAY for three months I bled. Enough that I had to change pads/tampons. I went back to the dr and she told me exactly what Judie said. Its not very common- but it does happen. She told me that i could stay on the shot and take a pill the shot being the birth control, and the pill would be for the bleeding. I personally chose not to because after doing some research on the depo shot I realized that it can take up to 18 months to get pregnant again after you get off the shot, and i don't want to have to plan that far ahead for our next baby. However this idea might work for you- talk to your dr about it...

Stacey
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-07-2004
Tue, 05-11-2004 - 10:08pm
About 6 years ago I was on Depo. 6weeks after the birth of my 1st child. I had the same bleeding problems for a couple of months then after about 6 months my perids just stoped all together. I was trying to loose the baby weight and could not. No matter how much I exercised or starved my self! My Dr had told me it would not make me gain any more than the pill. WATCH OUT GIRLS! I know over 7 people personaly that put on 20-45 pounds because of the shot! I put on 35 and was very moody. Once I got off the depo shot the pounds litterly Fell Off! (eating whatever I want! ) AND it took me 2 years of not being on the shot to get pregnant. It is not worth it and I don't care what any one says ...it is not good for your body not to have a period for years on end. When I could not concieve i got on some other message boards and found out all kinds of horrible things that this shot was doing to women ...that the Dr's never tell you. (Miscarriage, Total Infertility, hemmoraging and even death!) I am now on the Ortho-Evra Patch and LOVE it. The patches really don't come off unless you are really big into massage oils. If you are okay with the regular pill but just cant remember to take it every day...then the patch might be for you.

Good luck!

And take my 2 cents and get away from Depo!

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-12-2004
Wed, 05-12-2004 - 12:10pm
How long have you been on the depo?