Ladies Question about Deprovera

[Disney-Kim]

Because of possible high blood pressure I may have to go off the pill after many years. So as an alternative....my dr suggested deprovera. I am interested to see if anyone here has anything to say positive about it. I have read such nightmares on the internet. I want to hear negatives too.

I have been on the pill for 15+ years so I think I should adapt well to deprovera. I have not had any kids and don't know if we are ready for permanent solutions yet.
thanks everyone

 

[BedKnobbery2]

I've been on Depo for over two years, and love it! No negative side effects, but one great one....no periods! I'm very happy with it.

 

[LauraC]

I used Depo for 9 months. I received 3 shots during that time span and gained about 25 pounds. I didn't go back for my 4th shot. A girl that I worked with gained about 40 pounds while using Depo.

Other than the weight gain, I didn't have any other problems.

 

[Lisa L from MI]

I was on the depo shot for a total of about 2 years before DD#2 and about 5-6 years after. I had no problem at all!! No weight gain either. I loved it actually......no periods!!! But, then again, everyone is different.

 

[Alice28]

I struggled with weight gain and low-low-low sex drive....I quit after one year of it....the no periods was very nice though!

We are now oh-so-careful with birth control!

 

[Pin Wizard]

You have to keep a close eye on your blood pressure if you use it.

 

[Disney-Kim]

Thanks for the info. I will ask about the blood pressure because that is what is bringing this all about. I also think no periods would be great. I am concerned about the weight gain and low sex drive. those are 2 things I don't want.

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

I've been on it for several years now. I haven't had any problems, I just love it.

I will say that I know when I should get my period, I get all the symptoms but the blood.

My ob/gyn put me on it b/c my blood pressure was elevated due to b/c pills as well. I haven't had any problems with this med.

I hadn't heard about the low sex drive as a side effect

 

[ZachnElli]

I know alot of women that depro-provera became permenant b.c. I have suffered from some, let's say fertility problems and have been on many boards on the internet and it was considered a very evil shot. Just something to think about.

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

well....I just did some internet searches and i think I shall be talking with my dr. There are a few things that now make sense.

 

[FreshTressa]

I had two shots and gained 60 pounds in those 6 months. I was not overweight prior to this and have not gained a pound since. But I am still carrying around some of that I gained that six months.

I also lost my sex drive and had frequent breakthrough bleeding. I would not recommend this to anyone, because, although it is a great solution for some, you never know how your body will react, and you have to live with the side effects for 3 months. I have heard of some women who vomitted every day from it.

 

[Disney-Kim]

Poohgirl 71...do you mind if I ask your age group? I am 37. so just wondering if that might make any difference. thanks for the thoughts everyone.
I have read so many bad things on the internet, but I will say that this is not the first time I have read so many bad things about a drug I or someone I know is taking.

 

[goofygirl]

I have questions about Depo too- about the "no period" thing- I thought you get your period maybe twice or 3X a year on Depo? Is that wrong? Maybe someone gave me wrong info.

While the "no period" thing sounds tempting, I also think that it really does not sound normal to never get a period. But on the other hand, maybe its ok.


You never know til you try..everyone's body is different. Some women get nauseated even on the Pill and have various bad side effects, but others (like me) have none. So Depo, like the Pill , is trial and error for your body.

 

[Lisa L from MI]

I guess it is just a trial and error thing with the shot as well as anything else. I just LOVED being on the shot instead of the pill after I had my first (in 1993)/ The only reason I actually stopped the shot (quite a few years after my second....probably 2002) was because I felt I needed to give my body a break....I was on the pill since about 1982.....so I figured almost 20 years of having this in your body was long enough....time for a break.........I have been trying to talk DH into a vasectomy....but to no avail........he is too chicken.....eventhough we are done having kids.....we have just been extra cautious for the last few years....

I never had a problem with the shot as far as weight gain or anything......but to tell you the truth.....as many mentioned...the sex drive thing....really improved AFTER I was off the shot....although it could have been due to my low carb diet and losing a bunch of weight....LOL!!

Also, they say that it could take up to 18 months to get pregnant after the shot is stopped....My last shot was in Jan and I ended up finding out I was pregnant with DD#2 in June!!!! That was pretty quick......

And again, I think, everyone is different......good luck!!!!!

 

[Alice28]

I wouldn't say I had NO periods----it was like very mild spotting, enough to need a panty liner for a day or two, but not heavy bleeding.

And my OB said that the low-sex drive thing was indeed a side effect of this drug; along with dryness down there, which certainly contributed to not being interested in sex...

 

[Tiggerlover91]

I was only on Depo for about 6 months. I started losing my hair....rather quickly as a matter of fact and I bled for 4 weeks while on it. I have fibroids and bleeding is a sympton of the kind I have, but I thought Depo would help with that. I never gained weight thank goodness, but I think the change in my eating habits might have helped with that.
I'm on the pill again, and my fibrocystic bleeding is under control now! I have a "normal" period now and I know the exact date it will arrive. I love that....never a surprise anymore....I can ALWAYS be ready.
I would never do Depo again, I'm just one of those women whose body doesn't like it. Did it lacken my sex drive, not at all, but I have noticed a slight change on the good side since I've been back on the pill!!

 

[ebaynut31]

I've been on depo since June 1993. Yup 1993! No periods, no wt gain, no periods, no spotting, no high blood pressure. Love it. I am 33 now and will not have any more kids. I have just the 1. I know of others, though, that did have quite a hard time on it. I have been very lucky. I do my own injections also. I am not a nurse.

 

[Kimickey]

I'm one who had negative side affects from it. I cannot take birth control pills because of migraine headaches. So after having my DD six years ago I decide to try the shot. Well, after four months I had gained 20 pounds,I'm a thin person who works out all of the time and eats healthy and I could not keep the weight off. Second, I was on my period for the entire four months. I hate when Aunt Flow visits so, needless to say for four months I was not a happy niece. I just had my second baby in December and asked my doctor about Ortho Evra "the birth control patch". I have not tried them yet because you have to wait six weeks after delivery to apply the first patch and it's only been four. So I'm anxious to see how the patch works.

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

No, I don't mind telling, I'm 32 yrs old. I've been on depo since 96 I beleive. Anyway, I called my ob/gyn and she said I must have read the study that came out b/c everyone was calling about the shot. I have an appt Thurs.

 

[Ellester]

I was on Depo for about two years after the birth of my first dd. I had no periods either, but I was also nursing most of that time. I didnot experience weight gain or loss of sex drive. I was not told, however, when I went on it that it can take a while to become fertile again. After going off, it took 18 months for me to get PG again (I then had a miscarriage, but don't think the Depo had anything to do with it). We did get PG shortly after the miscarriage with dd#2. I attribute the lack of fertility totally to the Depo since with dd#1 and this pregnancy we got pregnant on the first time. The only other problem I had was with the dr's office giving me the right day to come back in. Twice, I had to take a pregnancy test before I got the shot since they said I had waited too long. Both times, the date I came in was the one the office told me to come it. Frustrating. My stepsister can't take the pill because of the side effects and is VERY happy with her IUD. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

~Ellen