Need Depo Provera advice

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-29-2006
Need Depo Provera advice
7
Sat, 04-29-2006 - 4:09pm
Hi, I am new to your website and I need some advice. 4+ months ago I decided to get the Depo injection. My Dr told me I could gain 2-3 lbs and would have irregular periods the first couple months. I know all women are different, but in the 4+ months I gained over 20lbs. I also bled very heavily every day for the first 4 months which led to low iron and anemia. I have read the depo only increases your appitite, but I have always weighed less than 115lbs and have always been on a diet and exersise program. I watch what eat, I eat healthy, but I keep gaining. I can not loose the weight and keep it off no matter what I try or how hard I try it. I also get depressed easily and have no sex drive, which never was a problem until after I got the shot.
I am due to get my next injection the begining of June. I want to switch to something else. I understand the daily pill has a much lower hormone dose, and was wondering if I should start taking the pill instead.
I hate the depo and need advice on other birth control methods. Also, if I take something else should the obnoxious weight gain stop and my periods become more regular again?
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Sat, 04-29-2006 - 7:55pm

Hi bellanotte525, welcome to the birth control board!


      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-17-2005
Sun, 04-30-2006 - 1:40am
I've been on Depo for 10 months now, during my first 6 months on it i lost about 10lbs (putting my down to 103) then i gained all it back then some. All women are different. My bestfriend is on it and hasnt gained any, then my other friend has gained 50lbs.




iVillage Member
Registered: 08-12-2002
Sun, 04-30-2006 - 9:10am

The weight gain that you have experienced is a common side effect of depo, and I'm sure there are women on here that have had the same problems as you. Doctors will only tell you about the side effects they read in the drug information pamphlets that they get, because that's all they know.

I was lucky enough that this was one side effect I didn't experience. I did, however, completely lose my sex drive, had bad mood swings, constant bleeding, severe cramps and night sweats. It took a change of doctor and a referral to a gynaecologist to finally address why I was having all these problems.

It took 18 months for my system to fully settle down after I stopped taking depo, even though I was on hormone patches for two months after stopping, and had a Mirena IUD inserted six months after stopping it. Many women that experience weight gain find it very slow-going getting rid of the weight again, and I assume it has something to do with the depo hormones still affecting the body.

If you come off the depo, be very patient with trying to lose that extra weight. It probably won't come off as quickly as you would like, and it could be very disheartening. There are many different types of pills that you can take, some with higher hormones than others, and you will need to discuss the best option with your doctor - depo generally has a lot less progesterone than common pills.

 


 


iVillage Member
Registered: 01-21-2005
Mon, 05-01-2006 - 4:27pm

I just wanted to share my depo experience with you, since it sounds very similar.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-06-2005
Tue, 05-02-2006 - 11:17am
I too, am an ex-depo user and am going to just put it on my "never again" list.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-11-2005
Sun, 05-14-2006 - 12:51pm
I highly recommend the patch...Ortho Evra. I have used it for a few years and love it. Previously I used Depo, but I too gained about 15 lbs. As for Nuvaring...to icky for me.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-15-2006
Mon, 05-15-2006 - 6:19pm

The thing people never tell about Depo before you get it is all the horrible side effects. I also had a weight gain, and three months of heavy bleeding. after the first three months i decided i did not want anohther injection, because the whole point of depo for me was to not have a period, because for me they are extremly painful, so the depo had the opposite effect.. afterwards i went on orth-tryicyclin lo, and had the same results, I was then told by my doctor the shot can affect you for at least a year, and more if you take it longer, the bone loss is true, as well as if you are on depo for a long period of time (more than a year and a half) it can cause ovarian cysts, which can rupture cause cancer and make you infertile, it sounded like a good idea, and now that i know all of that, I swear to never use it. It just sucks women dont find out until after they get on depo about its horrible side effects

jEnna