Side Effects to Depo-Provera??

I had the Depo shot once, right after my daughter was born. I gained 35lbs with her, and now 11years later I have NEVER been able to lose any of that weight. The semi-good news was when I got pregnant with my son, I had already gained the "weight" and I only put on 10 lbs. I don't remember any other side effect except the weight gain.

Hi, My name is L.. The depo shot can work it will actually stop all of your hormones from being produce. The other opotion is to try regular birth control. I have been on progestin, depo and normal birth control, all with very little luck. If you don't want kids the progesting worked the best with the least side effects. Also try warm towels or a heating pad on the side of the cyst that always helped the pain for me. Hope all is well soon. :)

I haven't had a cyst but I have been on the Depo shot now for almost 3years and I never have periods. I think I only had spotting a couple of time and was towards the time I was needing my next shot but it wasn't even enough to wear a pad I only noticed it when I would use the bathroom and there was no cramping. I am sure this depends on what kind of periods you had before the shot also I don't know that I had aweful periods like I have heard others have. You may want to think about also if you have or even have occasionally have migranes. When I first began the shots I had migranes a few days or so after the shot the more shots I recieved though it quit happening but it may affect you after the first one. It has been so long since I haven't been pregnant or on the shot I can't tell you about the mood swings whether they are me or the shot so I can't answer that question. good luck

interested in responses

T.,
I had an unusual round of Depo shots, (1 a month for 3 months, then 1 more 3 months later) So I can't tell you about the typical from my own experience, but I have talked to a LOT of others who had the shots the normal way.

The mood swings are there, but those who love you and know you will definitely understand! The spotting/bleeding was not painful, just like an irregular period. What you didn't write, but you need to be prepared for is gaining weight, no matter what you do. That is not something they usually tell you, but is something EVERYONE I talked to experienced. As far as regular cycle, it is just like getting off a strong dose of "the pill". It can take you 1 - 6 months to regulate.

I don't know about the Progesterone IUD, so I can't answer those questions.

If they want to do to you what they did to me, just say NO! I was put into chemical menopause, which is not a bad thing, but the way they did it was harsh, and I was not told of mood swings, weight gain, spotting, ..... I firmly believe I had no choice, since I didn't want a hysterectomy at the time (newly wed and no kids by then).

Good Luck,
P.

i gained 20 lbs and had major mood swings. it all also killed my sex-drive. i did like not having a period when i was fat,frigid and crabby :)

I started the shot last May. I bled everyday for several months straight. It wasn't very much but it was very anoying. I finally don't have bleeding anymore except for the occsional spotting. But even that doesn't happen very much. I like it because I finally don't have to worry about my period. I always have such heavy periods and bad cramps. Now I don't have that. If you are just doing it for 3 months to get rid of your cyst you might think twice. You'd probably be bleeding the whole time. My doctor always had me on the pill for cysts. That seems a whole lot easier.

It may work differently for you, but I spotted almost every day I was on Depo-Provera. It was horrible. Talk about not feeling sexy! It was a three month period for me... Good luck with whatever you try. It sounds like a hard decision.

I have gotten two shots since Feb. The first shot caused me not to have a period for 3 months and no spotting whatsoever. When it was time for the second shot (1st wearing off) a little spotting occurred, but so minimal it's not worth mentioning really. The second shot is the same, except this time I have had very little spotting, but I haven't noticed any other side effects. It's been great not having a period for almost 4 months and the spotting is too small to even be an issue. Good luck!

I did. I didn't like not having a period. And I didn't like the mood swings. I had it three or four times after my five-year old was born but didn't get it again after my three-year old was born.

K.

Hi! I have had the depo shot...and it was horrible. I have been on tons of different birth control and this one is the next to worse (The patch is the worse. I gained 20 lbs, bleed ALL the time. It took months to get where I didn't bleed. And I got pregnant with my first daughter! That was the best part of it though! I am so happy I did. But, the side effects of the shot are not fun. Hope this helps!

I got the depo shot twice after my daughter was born because it was the safest birth control for breastfeeding. My husband said if I went for the third shot he was going to leave me! He was kidding of course, but the mood swings were absolutely horrible! I will give you an example: I went to wal-mart on a saturday afternoon. Because it was so busy, I had to park in the back of the parking lot. I lost it! I sat in my car and cried like a baby for 5 minutes because I didn't want to walk! I cried at the drop of a hat, for no apparent reason. I also bleed for a few months straight. Once I stopped breastfeeding when my daughter was 8 months old, I went on the patch. I love the patch! 3 years later it still works great! Don't know if this will help your situation or not, but the mood swings are definetly real! Good luck

Actually, not to alarm you, but when I had the shot, my period started and would not quit! I wound up having to go on birth control pills to get my deluge of a period to stop. It was five weeks straight (7/24). My experience was not what I expected at all.

Good luck!

If it's just the one shot you'll probably be fine. I was on depo for 4 years and had weight gain, acne, depression, sore breasts, NO periods and terrible mood swings with irribility. Went off of depo 6 months ago, side effects all gone and it took almost 4 months for periods to return.

I was on Depo for a year. I don't remember many side effects except the bad weight gain & no periods or spotting, but when I got off of it I bled for 3 months! For a week or more at a time, then a few days off, then more bleeding for 3 MONTHS!!!! It was horrable!!!!

I hope you can find something that will work for you without the bad side effects that I have read about!

God Bless!

Depo turned me into a psychotic freak. The mood swings were outrageous. Ugh. It was truly horrible!

Before you take the Depo shot you have to sign a waver to the side affects. These side affects HAPPEN regularly. They don't have you sign this for fun. I became infertil from 1 shot. And I know other women that have experienced other side effects. I cann't believe your doctor would recommend you having the shot especially considering you have a cyst, I would find another doctor that cared more for you. And everyone is different about returning to a normal cycle. Please read the possible side affect carefully. I had to go to an Edicrinologist to fix the side effects of the Depo.

I did the Depo at one point in time without any side effects that I can remember but I wasn't on it for very long. I have heard lots of people who have had problems with it however. The question should be why is your doctor only giving you the one option of birth control? With all the choice that there are out there, if you are not comfortable with the possible side effects, then you should do something else. Has you doctor talked to you at all about why the cyst is there? There are lots of things that can cause cysts but you could have a treatable condition that makes you more suseptible to them. If your doctor hasn't discussed this kind of stuff with you, then I would agree that it might be time to get a second oppinion at the very least.

I have been on Depo shot for almost 14 years continuously now. I have loved all of it!!!! I have never had a period the entire time, unless I was late on the next shot.

You do have to go in for your regular appointment every year or you will not get the shot.

I have had none of the side effects. No weight gain (only recently because I am now 44!!!) Yuk!!

Good luck and I hope it all works out for you. I will be going tomorrow for my yearly appointment.

Any birth control can help control cysts. Cysts usually go away on their own... if he's worried that it won't, or that it's too large, why doesn't he just remove it surgically or prescribe a birth control pill that isn't so strong? I wouldn't go the Depo route, but that's just me, I don't know your medical history. I've had friends who have taken years to get regular cycles again after stopping depo... I definitely wouldn't do it if you want to try conceiving again any time soon.

Hi T. S,

I tried the Depo-Provera shot and had spotting and light periods the entire three months of the only shot I took of it. I now have Mirena I am not sure if this is the IUD you are talking about but as far as I know it is the only hormonal IUD. I love it, I have had it for 3 1/2 years and not had a single period since the Doctor put it in. I can't say enough good things about it, but it is expensive so if you aren't planning on leaving it in very long you may want to go with the shot for cost options. Good luck, hope what ever you and your Doctor decide on gets rid of the cyst, that can be very painful.

M.

I have been on the depo shot several times, the longest being 3 years. It is not recommended for longer than 3 yrs at a time due to possible calcium loss. I only spotted about a week before it was time for a new shot, except for the first injection. That is usually given during your cycle, and it stretches your cycle to about 2 weeks on average. The only other side effects that i am aware of are possible weight gain, although the shot makes me lose weight. Hope it helps.

Good Morning T, I have never used depo. Years ago when first married well maybe 2 yrs after. I woke up with terrible pain and cramps so bad I was crying very loud. Hubby rushed me to the hospital where they decided I either had cystic ovaries, appendicitis, or a tubal pregnancy. I opted for cystic Ov.
In the mean time they started IV's and the pain immediately subsided after an hour and I was able to go home the next day. The cysts had started to dissolve.
We had been had been wanting to start our family and I was very scared I wouldn't be able to if I had a tubal preg.
My periods were horrible until I went on the pill. They would put me in bed for at least 2 days when they started.

We got preggers about 3 months later, he is 33 now and his bro is 31.

I do not know how depo works, will it dissolve the cyst? Is it just to regulate your periods?

God Bless you and I sincerely will pray all goes well for you.
K.

Oh my. I would never EVER EVER recommend anyone getting on Depo. It ruined my body. My doctor gave the shot to me 2x after I had my son. First let me say this...while I was preggers, I only gained 26 lbs. Upon leaving the hospital after I gave birth, I was 3 lbs shy of my original weight, so I was in great shape at 117 lbs. My doctor gave me the first shot and within 3 months, I gained 30 lbs. He gave me a second shot when it was due and I gained another 13 lbs. and didn't have a period for 18 months. I was 160 lbs. at 5'0"! My ex said he thought I was crazy because my usual laid back attitude was gone. I am normally not an emotional person but I would cry over the most stupid things and I was always tired!

When I described the symptoms to my doctor, he ordered bloodwork for my thyroid. It turned out that the Depo shot killed my thyroid gland and now I have to take synthroid every day for the rest of my life. It is for this reason I implore you to run kicking and screaming from the Depo shot. If for nothing else than for the sake of your wasteline! Everyone I know who has taken the shot gained at least 30 lbs.

HORRIBLE TERRIBLE AWFUL BAD REGRETFUL MISERABLE & MOODY are just a few adjectives that hint at describing my experience. I had no period, which sounds like a blessing (I thought hey, no hassle and saves money each month), but I was on an emotional roller coaster (angry one minute - crying the next) and after several months, I know this sounds strange, but I started feeling like less of a woman (I didn't feel womanly, sexy, or desirable and I typically have higher esteem and sex drive than I ever did on the shot). We women NEED to menstruate - it's God's plan. After I stopped getting the shots, things went back to normal about three months later when my regular cycle returned. I wouldn't wish that experience on anyone.

I took this shot many years ago, but I have never been comfortable with birth control methods. I got off of it, and was concerned about what to use next, after deciding we were not ready to have another child I decided to go on the pill after my next period.
Needless to say, I was pregnant! But I miscarried and I will always blame the remains of the Depo-Provera in my system. But that was like 13 years ago, and that's just my 2 cents worth.
I'm sure they've improved it, and it may not have caused the miscarriage, but I will always believe it did, and I was told that by doctor that there was a slight chance I was right, but we would never know.

I just recently went on Depo. I just had a baby (15 weeks ago) and due to a blood clotting disorder I can no longer take the pill at all. I tried an IUD, but believe it or not...after three weeks it dislodged and had to be removed. My doctor recommended Depo. I am on my first shot of it for about 5 weeks now and love it. No side effects, nothing. I haven't had a period at all. The doctor said that sometimes your period will just stop and you may not have one at all while on depo. I did spot one time...and when I say spot...that's exactly what it was...just a small spot (no need for a panty liner or anything) and then nothing after that. I love it. My hormones are normal and I feel great. I was very worried and skeptical of going on depo, but now I am so glad I did...it's great!!

I was on the shot for 5 years (from 1996-2001). After the first few months of regular periods, they stopped completely without any spotting. I really enjoyed not having one. I didn't notice any mood swings, but my libido almost disappeared and I gained weight that I couldn't lose. I was also told that the shot made you more prone to cysts, so was always asking my doc at my yearlys about them. I never got one, thankfully.

I finally quit getting the shot because of some information I was reading about major complications caused by the shot that I was seeing in myself. After another year of not having the shot and not having a period, I went to my OB/GYN and he put me on the pill which started them again and regulated them.

Since then I've had many health issues that I feel that if they are not directly related are a spin off from it. I have had insulin and thyroid problems and am still working with my doctor to figure out why I can't lose the weight I gain.

I'm not sure how much this will help. Things probably have changed in the past 5-10 years since I used it and I was on it for a long time, whereas you may not have any problems with just one dose.

Good Luck