Depo Provera?

[NutMeg]

Any thoughts? Anyone else who's on it now, or has taken it in the past? I'm working my way through various b/c methods in the hopes that there is one out there that works for me. This one sounds good, but I've been on it for about two months and while I know there's supposed to be some spotting.... I have my period all the time!! What is the point of b/c if you can't have sex?? That's what I want to know... As well I know it causes bone mass deterioration, so I'm on calcium supplements. I would feel alot better if I got some opinions from you ladies that have more experience with various methods than I. Thanks!

 

[CrimsonCountess]

I am on it and so far so good. I have not broken out or gained any more weight than I would have by not watching what I eat. Without getting too graphic I used to have super duper heavy cycles; I mean EXTREMELY heavy - to the point of severe anemia and now I don't really have much of one at all. I have experienced minor spotting but I am due for my next shot. It is working much better for me than the pill did.

 

[lara]

(I love these TMI girly topics. Fair warning to you.

)

I was considering Depo, but I had some severe doubts about it's effectiveness when used in conjunction with other medication and about decreased effectiveness at the tail-end of each injection cycle. I've also had a few close friends and my sister suffer some horrendous side-effects from it, but that was before it was reformulated. YMMV.

I lost a fair whack of my immunse defence when I was a kid, so I'm always falling sick and being carted off to the medicos to be jabbed or force-fed pills - one of the reasons that I decided that I wasn't going to take oral birth control (Yasmin) anymore was the chance of decreased effectiveness whilst taking antibiotics. I've since had a Mirena IUD inserted, which is fan-effing-tastic. The progestin has cut my insanely heavy and irregular periods down to two days of light spotting that occur like clockwork. It's also effective whilst on medication, which is A+. What what I've heard, though, American doctors seem to be very against nulliparious and/or women having IUDs inserted, which is a load of twaddle. Doctors here don't seem to carry as much bias against the childfree and/or youthful.

Quote:

I have my period all the time!! What is the point of b/c if you can't have sex??

Since when does having your period mean you can't have sex?

 

[lovejam]

I used to take it, years ago. Made me gain 40lbs., which melted off as soon as I stopped the depo and started the pill.

 

[Janice]

I've been on depo twice, both times for over a year. I gained alot of weight both times (about 40 lbs each time), and my sex drive was pretty much non-existant.

The only "good" thing for me about it was not having a period. at all. sweeeeeeeeeeeeet!

I want an IUD but like Lara mentioned, american doctors won't do them unless you've already had at least one child. My husband and I don't want children so it would be the most effective and relatively harmless method for us. Bah!

 

[lara]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice I want an IUD but like Lara mentioned, american doctors won't do them unless you've already had at least one child. My husband and I don't want children so it would be the most effective and relatively harmless method for us. Bah!

I find that to be such bullshit. I could understand their concern if IUDs were like they were in the 60's and 70's when there were a lot of preforations, side-effects and fertility issues, but they've come leaps and bounds since then. Now it just smacks of laziness and resentfulness towards childfree/childless women and women in general, as there isn't a medical reason as to why IUDs can't be inserted in nulliparious females - the devices are so small now that it's no longer pre-required for a women to have had their cervix stretched via childbirth.
I mentioned to my doc that I wanted one, and she wrote me a script for the Mirena and sent me across the street to the chemist for it. Half an hour later it was in and I was walking home. The whole thing, gyn fees included, was $80 and I got $70 back through Medicare. A world of difference in medical attitudes, isn't it?

Sorry, I get carried away by these things. I've always volunteered for organisations that help women explore their birth control options fully, and it absolutely eats me up inside that in first world countries women are denied effective birth control, made to go on substandard birth control (I'd put Depo into that classification, sorry), have their chemist refuse to fill a prescription for the pill or be ashamed to buy emergency contraception.

RAAAAAAGH. LARA SMASH.

 

[Shimmer]

I've considered an IUD.
Husband is snippety snipped, no more kids for us.
But I haven't fully latched onto the idea yet. :/

 

[IslandGirl77]

I tried Depo after my first child. I had no weight gain, but I had bad mood swings and hot flashes. I've had friends who have been on it for years without any side effects. I have tried Yasmin, which gave me bad migrains. Then after my third child, I had my tubes tied, and after one year it failed. Long story, don't really wanna get into that. But, that sucked. Sooo, now I'm on Ortho Lo which seems to be working pretty good. No weight gain, and no bad side effects. I would just do research. Also, my friend has IUD and says she has bad cramps with her period since she's had it put in.

 

[midgetfury74]

I was on depo for almost twp years and i had really good results. Minimal weight gain, just maintained a good/healthy diet and no period. AWSM! i had really bad craps before depo and it actually helped i didnt have any thing worse than the normal discomfort. What ever your decision ends up being i think its awesome that your getting various perspectives, not enough people take the time to find out more info on bc.

 

[NutMeg]

Haha, that's a good point Lara, but unless I tease the bf like mad he's not up for it. And thanks to everybody... I did a fair amount of research but it's always nice to hear from real people. And I'm not really sure about an IUD. Maybe it's just the cultural bias, but I'm only seventeen.

 

[Janice]

Meg, I wouldn't recc an IUD for you either. I got on depo for the first time when I was 17. It was convienent, only having to get a shot every three months and no worries. After 2 months of spotting I think anyone would be going crazy!

What does your OBGYN have to say?

 

[MissMarley]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NutMeg Any thoughts? Anyone else who's on it now, or has taken it in the past? I'm working my way through various b/c methods in the hopes that there is one out there that works for me. This one sounds good, but I've been on it for about two months and while I know there's supposed to be some spotting.... I have my period all the time!! What is the point of b/c if you can't have sex?? That's what I want to know... As well I know it causes bone mass deterioration, so I'm on calcium supplements. I would feel alot better if I got some opinions from you ladies that have more experience with various methods than I. Thanks!

Hiya,

I had that problem (continuous period) with every hormonal birth control I tried- until my doctor recommended the Nuva Ring. It's AMAZING. I had constant mood swings, gained and/or lost weight, had a constant period, and my breasts always hurt with every birth control until Nuva Ring. I've been on it for over a year now, and have never had a side effect- it's so easy to use (it's just a ring inserted into the vagina- it kind of "pops" into place over your pelvic bone and you can't feel it at all-and it won't fall out!) and soooo convienient- just have to think about it once a month. So you might check that out too...

 

[stacey]

I'm assuming (cause I've forgotten) that DEPO is the shot... not the patch am I right? It wouldn't really matter though cause I've taken both.

The Shot: Made me a lot drier... in the "area" when I had sex. No me gusta.

The Patch: I loved it cause I forget all the time if I had to take a pill once a day at the same time.

 

[NutMeg]

Thanks guys!

 

[mzcelaneous]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice I've been on depo twice, both times for over a year. I gained alot of weight both times (about 40 lbs each time), and my sex drive was pretty much non-existant.

Me too!!! Plus, I had horrible mood swings.

 

[serendipityii]

I've heard bad things about the Patch since I've been off it. It made me gain ~15 lbs... and the NuvaRing slips out during sex (terribly inconvenient). Back to a pill I go.

 

[mans_x_ruin]

I've been on the shot for about 2 years or so...I love the fact that it's an easy birth control method, as I'm no good at taking pills, etc....Also, the no period thing is great because I had *horrible* periods..I've probably gained about 5 lbs or so, not too much..

BUT...I feel like Depo is *so* effective because it does lower the sex drive...I *do not* have a sex drive in the least bit, and this has caused a bit of a problem in my relationship...it has also affected certain aspects of sex, etc..(ie personal lubrication..)

Also, my mood swings are really bad when the shot is wearing off...about a week before I get it...and when I finally get it...due to hormones being all out of whack...I'm due for my shot any day, all I have to do is go get it, and I've been battling bouts of feeling depressed, going off the hinge at any little thing, and also, everything dealing with my body is hypersensitive...(my tastebuds, my feet, which I'm on for 8 hrs a day, etc.)...Stuff that normally wouldn't hurt or bother me, does when the shot starts to wear off...

 

[user79]

I hate hormonal birth control, period. I've been on 3 different kinds of Pills, and the Patch, and they all didn't work out for me in various ways. I don't know, I've been off any kind of oral contraceptive for over a year now and I feel much better that way. I have no plans to go back on the Pill, they just sucked for me. My b/f and I use condoms and are very careful, I've had to take the morning after pill (Plan B) twice because the condom broke. No pregnancy scares yet!!

 

[xbrookecorex]

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[user79]

I also had 0 sex drive on the Patch after about a year of using it. But just so you know, theres been way more health risks associated with Depo Provera than the patch.