Ladies ~ Depo & other Birth Control questions

[Starbrite]

At the suggestion of my doctor, I will be going off the Depo shot. I was on for 4 years, then off about 1 year (missed 1 shot & had a baby 9 mos later), then on again for 7 years.

Over the last 3 years I've gained 45+ lbs, I have migraines & sometimes get a little cranky . Oh, and I've got a new acne problem the past year or so....I didn't think it was related, he said it could be.

I've had my thyroid & other hormone levels checked a few times. Apparently, I'm as healthy as a horse. Anyways, my PCP really attributes all this to the Depo & wants me to take a break a while & see if it all clears up . Since I'm not in any sort of relationship right now.....I agree it would be a good time.


My questions are...
What can I expect going off it after such a long time?

When the time comes. .. What other birth control methods do you reccommend. (I plan to discuss my options with my OB/GYN....just looking for real life experiences as well).

I don't forsee any more children in the near future, if ever.

Oh, and I haven't had my period or any spotting in over 7 years. Seems to be the big benefit of the depo! Which other birth control can I get that from? Doesn't one of the pills adverstise 4 periods per year? I'm not really a "pill" person though, I don't think I'll do well on them.

TIA

 

[locolala]

I too HATED the Depo. It's very rough on your body, and I would never tell someone to go on it. I would highly recommend the ring, I've been on it off and on for 4 years now. It's my fave BC and I've been on a few. It's simple (3 weeks in, 1 week out.. sometimes I don't even wait a whole week if I'm trying to not get my period). Fertility comes back fairly quickly. It's just as effective as other BCs and the side effects are minimal. I really haven't noticed any the whole time, and I gained weight like crazy on the shot. Best of luck to you!

 

[LisaZee]

I have a Mirena IUD. It lasts up to 5 years, woo hoo! And, now after about 6 months of having it, my periods are considerably lighter.

 

[ontariomonkey]

I would say to expect irregular periods.

An IUD does sound like a good option for you since it is reliable, lasts a long time and has the potential to decrease menstruation (sometimes the opposite though). They are expensive up-front but last I think 3-5 years.

As for wanting to get rid of your periods, I think that Seasonal type, 3 months on, one month off birth control pill might be the best. But consider the benefit of having normal cycles for a while.

 

[Pomlover2586]

Irregular periods, wight gain.....or loss varied from individual to individual, mood swings can occur too.

When you go back on something I'd recommend the good old fashioned pill......

 

[maelstrom]

I always seem to be the odd one who loves depo and hasn't had any trouble with it.

 

[TaraLee4]

I always seem to be the odd one who loves depo and hasn't had any trouble with it.

No, i love it too. LOL. However, I did have some weight gain. But i will take the 20 pounds in exchange for not having 10 day periods anymore. Truly, PMS for a week, a period for 10 days...i was AWFUL 17 days a month!!!

 

[orlandothebeagle]

I hate it, made me feel yuk, wt gain +++++I thought the no period thing was great but I like to know whats going on with my body now,even with the severe pain I get every month,my friend who was also on it with no periods was ill,it turned out to be an abcess on her ovary which burst,if she had not been on the depo they would probably have noticed something up with periods long before that stage.
But I do think it suits some folks. DEFINATLY not me.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

Irregular periods, wight gain.....or loss varied from individual to individual, mood swings can occur too.

When you go back on something I'd recommend the good old fashioned pill......

I recommend good old fashioned condoms, I will never put hormones into my body again unless medically I have to.

 

[disfan07]

I am only 20, BUT i have tried 4 different type of birth control in the past 5 years. I have severe PCOS and after 5 years and 6 surgeries we finally found one that at least makes the cysts smaller and the pain bearable.

I take seasonique. This is the one where you only get your period 4 times a year. I love it. Especially since you have a little wiggle room and can decide whether or not to get your period (as long as your doctor is on board with it)

Ex: Last august, the time when i was supposed to get my period feel exactly when i was going to be in WDW with my friend. I talked to my doctor and she agreed that it was okay for me to go another 3 months if i wanted without my period.

I have not had weight gain or headaches that i had with other BC pills. The best thing for me though is that I started this one 10 months ago which means It's been about 1 year since ive had to have a cyst removed....I still get them but not dangerously big.

 

[Starbrite]

Thanks All! I am definately done with the depo. I was in denial that it was behind all my issues....I guess we'll see for sure now.

I always seem to be the odd one who loves depo and hasn't had any trouble with it.

No, i love it too. LOL. However, I did have some weight gain. But i will take the 20 pounds in exchange for not having 10 day periods anymore. Truly, PMS for a week, a period for 10 days...i was AWFUL 17 days a month!!!

Oh, I loved it too. It worked great for me for soo many years.....just not anymore.

I can't say I wouldn't reccommend it to anyone - I might still. I would probably just tell them to watch for weight gain, headaches, fatigue, etc. Things they might not attribute to the shot. Things their Dr might not mention.

 

[luvmy3]

I always seem to be the odd one who loves depo and hasn't had any trouble with it.

No, i love it too. LOL. However, I did have some weight gain. But i will take the 20 pounds in exchange for not having 10 day periods anymore. Truly, PMS for a week, a period for 10 days...i was AWFUL 17 days a month!!!

Another Depo lover here I have been off it for about a year and was planning on using the Mirena but decided to go back on the Depo. I love that I don't get my period on Depo and that isn't a guarantee for me with Mirena.
OP, when I went off it, it took a few months for my period to return but unfortunately it is exactly how it was before the Depo (extremely heavy and long). I have been on it considerably less time than you (4 years total) and obviously every woman is different so I don't know what you can expect when you go off.

 

[kacaju]

I too HATED the Depo. It's very rough on your body, and I would never tell someone to go on it. I would highly recommend the ring, I've been on it off and on for 4 years now. It's my fave BC and I've been on a few. It's simple (3 weeks in, 1 week out.. sometimes I don't even wait a whole week if I'm trying to not get my period). Fertility comes back fairly quickly. It's just as effective as other BCs and the side effects are minimal. I really haven't noticed any the whole time, and I gained weight like crazy on the shot. Best of luck to you!

Another nuvaring user here. I LOVE it. My periods are at the most spotting for 2 days.

 

[MScott1851]

Over the last 3 years I've gained 45+ lbs, I have migraines & sometimes get a little cranky . Oh, and I've got a new acne problem the past year or so....I didn't think it was related, he said it could be.


My questions are...
What can I expect going off it after such a long time?

When the time comes. .. What other birth control methods do you reccommend. (I plan to discuss my options with my OB/GYN....just looking for real life experiences as well).

I had similar symptoms after being on Depo for four years straight. My husband actually put his foot down and said, 'NO MORE DEPO!!!" because I was so cranky around the time of the shot, not to mention the migraines I was getting every three months. I thought it was great and the side effects totally worth the efficacy and ease of the Depo and no periods, but he hated it, and I knew I wanted to get pregnant sometime in the next few years, so I gave in and stopped it.

I didn't take a break from birth control, however, because I didn't want to deal with the issue... I was married at the time, but even if I weren't, I wouldn't want to have to worry about it if I started a relationship. Not to mention, if you're on a form of hormonal birth control, you usually have lighter, regular periods and can manipulate them around vacations, etc. I've been on some kind of birth control since I was 16...pill, patch, shot, ring...so I've got a little insight.

I went straight to the Ortho Evra patch and did very well with it for a year, but I hated that it looked like a dirty bandaid..so I changed to the NuvaRing. I LOVED IT!!! My OB/Gyn said to wear it for FOUR weeks (it has enough medicine to be effective that long) then take it out for one, you have a period, then you start over. My cycles were short, light, and like clockwork. I will NEVER take the pill again.

Right now, I'm pregnant and due very soon. I'm still debating about my options after the baby is born. I want a Mirena, but I've had an ectopic, so my doctor is not so sure. If I can't have that, I'll definitely go back to the NuvaRing.

Since you have a child, the IUD sounds like the best option, followed by the NuvaRing.