Second Depo Shot Vs. Side Effects

I was on Depo for 4 shots. In that time, I lost my libido completely. It has been over 10 years, and it hasn't ever come back like it was. It took an additional year for my period to come back after I stopped taking the shots. I had a great amount of difficulty getting pregnant (several years later). And the worst of all was my VISION loss. By the end of the year, my vision was 20/60 with my glasses ON. I went from about 20/120 to 20/400 in that one year. It says somewhere in the fine print that it could do that. I just glazed over it as one of those-"it will never happen to me" kind of things. Since then, I have had very little vision changes. I cannot even see the speedometer in my car without my glasses, much less the other cars on the road. I wish I had never taken it at all.

Hi Amanda,
I was on the Depo for 7 years before I had my third child. The best thing I can say about it was no periods for 5 of those 7 years. Now, with that said the side effects were not worth it. If I knew then what I know now,I would not have taking it. But please know everyone's body is so different.

My sister-in-law had serious weight gain while I had none. I suffered serious depression that almost destroyed my family and I later ended up on medication. I got off the depo to have my third child 7 years ago. I chose NOT to continue it after I had him and while breastfeeding, just a personal choice. So you have to do what is best for you. If you are done having babies I would have hubby have a vasectomy. If you aren't done then I would look into something else. Just my little opinion.
E.

Amanda,

I had the Depo shot twice and quit after that. I don't remember being depressed but that could be because I didn't have time to focus on it with a 19 mo old and a newborn. ;) However, I definitely experienced my sex drive decreasing along with weight gain. So not what I wanted after having the baby! haha! You could try the mini pill since you're still breastfeeding. I did this with my first son and it worked great. It's progesterone only. Ask your doctor about it before getting the shot. Hope this helps.

M.

i took depo for about a year...before i'd had kids. Let me tell you that i stopped because i felt fragile, like i'd lost bone density and could fall over and break a hip! It was probably not THAT dire and i went back to normal afterwards, and had a child and then opted for Fertility Awareness Method. I am now deficient in progesterone production. Personally, I think it's from pumping my body full of birth control hormones for so long...but i can't really scientifically verify that.
If you are having depression, just find an alternative. It's not worth it. I've known many women who eventually flipped out on the stuff. And who wants to go through life with that. Hormones are powerful stuff, including the synthetics!
My advice is to learn your signs through the fertility awareness method - it's actually harder to get pregnant than it seems...and there's something really great about tracking your cycle and knowing when and why you feel certain ways. It's been almost 4 years and I'm still with only one child ;D
Good Luck and God Bless!

I was always too worried about doing anything that I couldn't stop doing to my body, so I never tried the depo...I was too worried about (is it 2 or 3 months) of hormones I couldn't control.

I really liked the Nuva Ring...only replace it every 30 days (couldn't feel that it was even there)...and if I didn't like the hormone side effects I could remove it at anytime.

I also liked the Patch, but moved on to the ring because I hated having to change it weekly.

I did NOT like the Minera IUD...I bled pretty much the whole time (13 months) I was on it. I had cramps the first 3 months straight. I would have gotten it out much sooner but with a 2 yr old and a baby, who could find time to get back to the doctor.

Hope this helps...

My biggest side effect was weight gain. No matter what diet or exercise plan I tried I couldn't hinder nor lose the weight until after I went off the shot. Also, Depo causes bone calcium loss. If you continue with the shot make sure you are taking calcium supplements as well.

I had some very bad side effects with the Depo shot. Including having my period stop completely and whe I got off of it it still would not start and I had to do hormone therapy the doctor said it was all because of the shot. I would highly recommend finding a different birth control.

I was on the mini pill which is like depo because it is only progestin. I got on it so I could nurse my first child safely. I can totally hear you on the reduced libido. Once I got off it to try and conceive our second, who I am now carrying, it was like red hot again;) I don't ever want to get on any pill or drug again because I was literally amazed at the difference in that area and was able to really enjoy my sex life again. I also had a really hard time with weight gain. So after a year or so on, I never really noticed any side effects go away until I was off it! Best wishes whatever you decide:)

I am on the depo and I think I am doing just fine on it. I do not have a period which I really like. I did try the Merina and I didn't like it. First off it was painful to put in and my body rejected it cause it stared to push it out and that was bothersome too. The doctor had to take it out and not to mention that I bled for the entire month I had it in. Different things work with different people. Hope it all works out for you.

Consider an alternate form of birth control other than the Depo shot. If you are having negative side effects, than there are other options that don't have those type of side effects.

I would consider getting the Merina IUD put in. It last 5 years but can be taking out anytime. I have had zero side effects from it! Also, no periods!! Can't beat that!! Look into it!!