Irregular bleeding on Depo

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-09-2004
Irregular bleeding on Depo
1
Wed, 06-09-2004 - 5:17pm
I just went onto Depo,im 18 years old and everything was fine, until i got my period, i thought it was normal because on every site it says "irregular bleeding" but my doctor also warned me that it may not work, in which case i may bleed for 3 months straight!!! I have had this period for a week now, and its not just light, its like normal flow, im scared it will continue for 3 months!! Is this weird or what. It also seems that this period started after i started taking antibiotics for my sore throat, im so scared it will stay, someone please tell me it will go away and this is normal!!!!!!!!!!! :S
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Thu, 06-10-2004 - 8:19am
Well, your doctor is correct. In a lot of women, because Depo stops ovulation, it also stops periods (unlike the pill, there is no inactive week to allow for regular bleeding but also no estrogen to make the lining of the uterus grow). But in some women's bodies, the lack of estrogen causes the lining of the uterus to be unstable and the blood vessels leak. Sometimes it's periodic spotting, but sometimes it lasts for months. It's still effective birth control, but it's really annoying to have daily bleeding!

If this persists, your doctor may consider prescribing oral estrogen, that might help to stabilize the lining of your uterus. Unlike the pill, antibiotics do not affect the contraceptive effectiveness of Depo, so that shouldn't be a worry.

Stay in touch with your doctor, this bleeding may or may not stop, only time will tell. If you haven't read it already, here's a link to the prescribing information for Depo: http://www.depo-provera.com/pi.asp

Good luck!

Judie

Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control