Depo...good Or Bad?

I worked for an OB-GYN for 5 yrs and moe and moe they re taking women off the shot. Causes bone loss.

I was on depo for 4 1/2 yrs. After 1st shot periods stopped completely. After 4 yrs, I started gaining weight (30 lbs) really quickly. Dr said it was because of the depo and took me off of it. After it wore off, I had a heavy period for 10 months straight. Went to several drs and they said it was just the depo wearing off. It finally straightened out. I was able to get pregnant really easily with both my boys, but had bleeding 1st trimester with both babies, but they were fine. After the second baby's 8 wk checkup, I had the mirena IUD done. I felt good, but had 2 miscarrages in 6 months and had to have it removed. Now, I've been on yaz for a year and like it. Hope this is helpful. I didn't know enough about either of them when I got them.

Hello! I can give you my experience on BOTH. I was on Depo for 7 years. I did experience weight gain but who is to say it was all the depo. I do know that I have no had bleeding for years! But I decided that Depo was making me mean and crazy! My fiance is awesome and I had such a low labido. I would be like don't touch me, get off me, and leave me alone. I was plain evil! So I tried to go to the Mirena IUD. Crazy enough my insurance cover it. I had my son exmergency c section though and I was told that it is easier insertion for woman who have had children. So I thought no problem. Well that meant if woman had their children vaginally! I didn't and it was the worse pain ever during insertion. I almost hurt the doctor! But I went on and over the next couple months was having back pains, some spotting, and my string was getting further and further away. I went back to the obgyn several times and they would do internal unltrasounds to show me it was still there. But I went to my familyl dr several times becuase they thought I had a bladder infection or kidney stones. Well I didn't have either and after months of antibitics they did a CT scan and told me that my IUD had punctured my uterus. So I had to go in and have emergency surgery to remove it. Of course insurance or the OBGYN never help with that $4000 bill. So guess what I am back on Depo! I am moody but I am working on that! I am horrible at remembering to take things. What ever you do just know that they are side effects with everything! I hope I helped a little.

Hi, J.. I was on the short for five years (chronic ovarian cysts) and got off of it in March and got pregnant the following Janaury. However, there are a lot of side effects, the biggest one being bone mass loss: osteoperosis. The other big one: weight gain! Blah!! The pill really is the gentlest on your body. You know what I do? I got one of those daily pill containers and put my vitamins, a calcium supplement and my bc in it. I keep it in the bathroom so that I take it every morning when I got ready. It works for me.
Good luck!!

I was on depo for 13 years. I stopped so we could try to get pregnant, and sixteen months later (and without any fertility drugs) I was pregnant with my twins. I tried to get on the pill after the boys were born, but I kept forgetting them. I thought about the IUD, but my insurance doesn't cover it, so I couldn't really come up with the money, so I am back on the shot. They did a bone density test on me when I came off the shot, and everything was fine. In 13 years I probably gained 30 pounds, but who knows what the cause was? Good luck.

i was on depo for three years after my first child...i got my period back after 10 mos and got pregnant about 6 mos after that. i never had any issues during that time. after my second was born i got on it again for five years. i just got off it last month, just due to the fact that i am 30 now and if we do want another child we'll have to wait at least a year and a half til i could get pregnant. both times i started it i had light bleeding for the first three monts i was on it, but then nothing after that. i have heard some bad stuff about it, but i've never gained weight, had cysts or any emotional issues while on it. my doctor was only concerned about the bone density loss at one point, but said there are so many side effects from so many other forms of birth control that he thinks it is safe to take up to 7 years. currently we are using condoms. we'll see what happens later on, but just wanted to share my experience.

I was on depo for three years, and gained 40 lbs! And when I got off of it, I had my period for three months straight ... I had to get on hormorne therapy just to stop the bleeding. It was really horrible. I am now on the Mirena and I love it. Just my experience, but I know a lot of women who have had a very bad experience with the depo shot, so I would definately do my homework before committing to it.

A.

I have to say it was a bad experience for me. I gained 90lbs in 9months and when I talked to my doctor I was told it was impossible. Later I learned it isn't uncommon to gain major weight when on the Depo. For the first three months I was uncommonly sensitive to cold and had chills so badly I was constantly sore. I was on the Depo for about a year before I said enough is enough. The doctor I kept seeing told me I was imagining it. No longer my doctor by the way! I was on the pill for about another year and stopped taking all forms of birth control so my new husband and I could try to conceive. I had periods every other week for an entire year! I'm not sure if the last was because of the Depo or not but combined, my personal experience wasn't worth the convenience!

J.,
I was also on depo and I did have fertility problems. it took us over 3 years to finally get pregnant with our first child. That was even with the help of fertilty drugs. I also was very moody and depressed while on depo. I took the depo shot for the same reason you did. I can't remember to take pills either. When I got off depo I never went back on any type of birth control, so I'm not able to let you know what would be a good option.

Hello! I was on the depo shot after my daughter was born bc I was told that was the only thing besides the pills you had to take at the exact same time every day that was safe to use while breast feeding. I was on it the entire time I breast fed (a little over 13 months) and I gained 25 pounds! That was with me breast feeding,watching what - ate and exercising. But I have been on the Nuvaring for close to 5 years now and I absolutely love it! It is a little (well not too little-about the size of a half dollar) plasticy ring that is flexible, you just insert it into your vagina and it just stays there until you pull it out. You can either put in a new one every 4 weeks and not have a period or do the 3 weeks in one week out and you'll have a period on the out week. You can use tampons with it in and it doesn't interfere with it at all, although rarely the ring will come out when your changing the tampon. I've never had any problems with it during sex- boyfriend can't feel it and its never fallen out. Hope this helps!

Depo is known to have nasty side effects, one being that it leaches calcium from your bones, so you are at an increased risk for osteoporosis. I just got an IUD implanted aout 2 months ago and I LOVE IT!! It's a little pricey, if your insurance doesn't cover it. I used the paragard not mirena. Mirena has hormones in it and my mother had breast cancer related to hormones so I didn't want any extra in my body. Paragard is copper. I can't feel a thing, my periods are actually lighter and i can keep it in up to 7 years!

Hi J., I heard the Depo shot can take up to a year to get out of your system, so it could take up to a year to get pregnant again. I was on it for a year but switched back to the Pill after I was the rare person who actually lost weight (42 lbs) without trying. I also started losing my thick hair in clumps then I read some research that said Depo is also used to treat Uterine cancers. Anyway, personally, I would switch to something else, but best of luck to you!

A.

I myself never liked the depo shot.. I bled the whole time that I was on it.. not just monthly but months of bleeding! Thought I would try it again several years later.. same thing again. I don't think I had depression on it but I definately had absolutely no sex drive what so ever. I was on the pill and got pregnant...so I don't trust that..I don't know alot about mirena but I have a friend who had an iud and got pregnant, they had to get it out immiedately so that it wouldn't hurt the baby...I know all birth control has it faults though

I have been on the Depo shot since 1994. Went off of it for a year prior to each time my husband and I decided to get pregnant. I did not have any issues with infertility and was able to get pregnant right away each time we tried. I have never had any bleeding or any other side effects. The only thing my doctor was concerned about was my bone density as using the depo over a long period of time can cause osteoporosis. I have had a bone density test and everything is fine at this time after taking the shot for the better part of 15 years. Everyone is different though, but I wanted to share my positive opinion of the Depo Shot...plus, I love not having a period.