switching back to the pill from depo

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-27-2004
switching back to the pill from depo
5
Mon, 09-27-2004 - 5:38pm
ok I was due for my depo injection last Thursday, insted of getting another shot, I've decided to switch back to the pill cause I had less problems with bleeding when on ortho. My question is my dr. didn't say what to do in terms of switching, if I should wait till I get my peroid again to start the pills or just start them now? Has anyone made the switch before? Possibly give me some pointers seeing that its hard for me to get a hold of my Dr on the phone?? Thanks! ~Amber
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Mon, 09-27-2004 - 8:57pm
Hi amber99ga, welcome!

You can not rely on Depo to protect you after the date for your next shot has passed. You need to be on another effective form of contraception. Some women get their periods right away when coming off Depo, others can take months. If I were you and wanted to go on the pill, and was sure I wasn't pg, I'd choose a start day start right away. What did the doctor say who gave you the Rx for your pills? If you can't get to him or her, I'd ask the nurse. Let us know what you decide, ok?

Good luck,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-27-2004
Wed, 09-29-2004 - 7:28am
Tomorrow is supposed to be my last 'safe' day for depo, I'm going to pick up my precription for OTC today, So unless the pharmacist tells me differently I'm just going to start taking them tomorrow. I didnt get to talk to the Dr. about the switch cause I called there to ask about switching my prescription and I talked to the receptionist who talked to the Dr. then called me back and left a message saying that I had a prescription waiting for me at the pharmacy.

So heres to hoping that making the switch back to my origional birth control OTC from Depo goes the way I'm hoping! 2 years ago planned parenthood switched me to OTC-lo because they stopped carrying OTC. The Dr. there told me if anything it would make my peroids lighter...WRONG! I started getting heavy peroids 2 times a month...About8 months later I was sick of dealing with it so I decided to make the switch to Depo, sounded more convienent, and I know for a lot of people it stops their peroids. After the first shot I got my peroid once after 2 months and it lasted for probably 2 weeks, same with the 2nd shot and 3rd shot, now after the 4th shot I have constant bleeding problems on and off thru all 3 months. I never had a problem with anything while I was on OTC for years so I decided to try and switch back and hope it helps. I just don't want to have to keep on making changes with birth control!

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-25-2004
Wed, 09-29-2004 - 10:10am
I switched from depo to the pill last March, and my Dr had me start my pills the same day, but you could ask your pharmacist just to be sure. ?? I too had problems with depo, and now I'm using the nuva ring.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2004
Wed, 09-29-2004 - 11:49am
Hi! I made the switch from Depo to the pill back in May after being on Depo for 8 years. I started my pill pack the Sunday after the I went to the Dr.'s (got my script on a Thursday), so there was almost no wait time. I was one of those lucky enough to have my period stopped by the depo and now I take my pill so that I won't get it back. I think you have made a very smart move in stopping the depo- I never had bleeding but gained 50 lbs in the 8 yrs I was on it and had terrible cystic acne the last 4 years I was on it. My face was completely clear within 3 weeks of stopping the depo and I have now lost 17 of the 50 lbs I gained. Good luck with your switch!
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-27-2004
Thu, 09-30-2004 - 5:29pm
They told me to go ahead and start them now. So thats what I'll be doing. I think the reason that I may have had problems with bleeding is that in my family all the women have probems with insanly heavy peroids. For example my aunt had problems with bleeding so bad one month that she had to get a blood transfusion because she lost so much blood, they have switched her to many different types of pills to try and help control it, even though they say she is too old to be safely taking birth control. My mom just went and had some kind of surgery to cauterize all the tissue in her uterus, which is either supposed to stop her periods all together or at least make them very light. so far she says they are pretty much non-existant. Only problem is when they went to do the surgery they found that she has a cyst in her uterus the size of a grapefruit, they said that might have an effect on her results for the surgery but she says shes happy with it. So maybe my genetics have a impact on the way Depo worked for me I don't really know.

I hadn't heard much about weight gain on Depo before just recently and I dont know if I can say that depo caused it but while on depo I think I've gained at least 10 maybe 15 lbs. I have nasty strechmarks that I never had before in my life on the insides of my thighs..pretty embarassing. I wonder if that was brough on by depo or if I just plain got fatter... Either way, I'm off it and doubt I'll ever try that again!