The damned depo- anyone else?!?

[AnnaBanana25]

Hi all. I'm a newbie, first-timer, etc. I just wanted to throw a post out there and see how it goes. Me and my husband have been TTC for 15 months now, after I came off the depo provera injections. Has anyone else been on this and how has your experience been?

I got my periods back after 6 months, and they were quite erratic, ranging from 12-16 days. After going through some acupuncture and seriously strange chinese-medicine-prescribed dieting, my last three have been 13, 22, 33. I am now on day 26 and waiting to see what happens.

It was almost easier having 2 week cycles, at least the anticipation and disappointment came and went a lot faster! Lots of ups and downs, but less bloody waiting! I'm just sat here waiting to bleed and cry basically!

Also waiting for my referral to go through to the fertility clinic, so more waiting on that end.

Right now for your experiences......

[freakydeaky]

I had the depo injection (it was a verrry long time ago though, so things may have changed) When I had it, I assumed that when I stopped it, I'd be able to get pregnant pretty much straight away. I'd already had 2 DC with no problems :)

So, once we were ready to start TTC, we expected things to happen quite quickly, as they had before. Unfortunately they didn't, and as I was in my late 30's I went to the Doctor, to be told in quite a matter-of-fact way that fertility can take anything up to 2 years to return after the depo provera, and that they wouldn't even consider any investigations until the 2 years were up.

I was absolutely gobsmacked. With hindsight, I should have asked about returning fertility before I had the wretched thing, but I also feel that my GP should have at least mentioned the timescales involved - he knew my age, and that we did want another baby at some stage.

Happily, I did actually get pregnant about 20 months after, and now have DS, who's 14!

So keep thinking positive (in more ways than one!) Great that they're referring you to the fertility clinic, and it sounds as though you're doing lots of things to help yourself...I hope it all works out well for you.

Sorry for the long post!

[AnnaBanana25]

Thanks freakydeaky! It's nice to have a positive story. I know the depo has caused all this and has done for a lot of people, but you don't often get stories about the good outcomes. I'm so pleased for you that you managed to conceive after 20 months, gives me hope it will happen to me soon too.

I had a similar experience with the nurse/doctor. I had a lot of people ask "but is that right/normal/aren't you supposed to have a period?" and I asked the nurse if it would have any effects. I said that I would want children, but not ASAP- I was 19 when I first went on it. Of course I bloody well wasn't going to want kids just then. Why would you go on a long term contraceptive if you did?!?! So she always said that it would be "slightly delayed" and can take a "little while" to leave your system but otherwise of course I'd be able to go on and have a baby.

3 months before making the decision to come off it, I asked her, should I come off it now? Because she said that there would always be the chance I could catch within those 3 months, I shouldnt unless I wanted it to happen straight away. So I waited another 3 months.

I'm so annoyed that I asked and asked, and got this response! They clearly don't know the effect it can have, and more so, the emotional struggle that you go through while ttc.

Sigh. Rant over. Fingers crossed anyway. The more time goes on, the more chance I have of something happening. :-)