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Original poster

What was your experience with the Depo-Provera?

49 replies

Fluffycookie · 26/11/2022 20:22

I've never been one to religiously take a pill at the same time every day, so I really like the concept of having to worry about the shot only once every 3 months. Also, it's 99.7% effective and eventually takes away your period. But I'm not a fan of constant spotting or the possibility of infertility!

So, does anyone have any suggestions? Is there any positive feedback on the shot?

OP posts:
Nettie787 · 26/11/2022 20:38

Loved it. Stayed on it longer than I should hsve as it increases risk of osteoporosis. It was so easy. Though now when I think to getting my bum ourtfor the injection every few months, bit weird!

cheshirecatssmile · 26/11/2022 20:43

Been having the depo for years. Recently had a bone density scan and their happy for me to keep taking it. I do it myself at home , get given a years supply , so 3 injection every 12 weeks.
Downside and you are warned, at home you give it in the thigh. This causes dimples in the skin, as in 50p sized dimples.

zurala · 26/11/2022 20:45

I had it for years, and also regularly had depression for years. It took me far too long to realise that it was the depo making me cyclically depressed. I came off it and of my goodness the difference! I'd never have it again.

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Women's health
bloodywhitecat · 26/11/2022 20:47

My experience was fucking awful, I bled every day for the year I was on it, it really didn't suit me at all.

dementedpixie · 26/11/2022 20:48

Bled all the time and put on loads of weight with it

Can delay return of fertility for up to a year if that's important to you

mnahmnah · 26/11/2022 20:48

I loved it as it stopped my periods. However, I started getting ovulation type pains a lot and the doctor suspected I was developing cysts, so I stopped having it and was fine after.

A friend of mine came off it and it took her two years to get pregnant. May not have been that, but the doctors thought so as there were no other factors when they got tested

Rosie22xx · 26/11/2022 20:50

Worst experience ever!!!

Took my first shot and was constantly bleeding for 13 weeks straight, medium to heavy flow also. No help for it either, I just had to wait for it to leave my system.

Never again and would never recommend.

Funnyfive · 26/11/2022 20:51

do you want more kids? I had it and thought it was great, until I came off it to try for another baby only to find it had buggered up my fertility and it took me 3 years plus treatment to get pregnant again. Was later told by a Dr they don’t recommend it between children 😡
if you don’t want more kids then it was great, no periods for over 18 months!

DipmeinChoc · 26/11/2022 20:53

I had it at 16. Loved not having periods and the reliability of contraception. I had 3 shots and gave it up. It took 10 years and having a baby to get regular periods again, up until then they were anywhere from 40 days and 3 months with no rhyme or reason when of when it would arrive.

Funnily enough I was also depressed at that time, never even clicked that it could have been the depo. I thought it was teen stress and ALevels.

TigerRag · 26/11/2022 20:53

It worked well for a few months. But the spotting gave me migraine.

NimrodNimroy · 26/11/2022 20:53

Killed my libido - so it was pointless being on it as I never wanted sex. Same with the implant.

daisydoods · 26/11/2022 20:55

I've been on it just over 2 years without any periods at all and have just started spotting these last 2 months, and last month had period-style cramping one evening. Spotting is not enough to use a pad, literally just once or twice when I wipe, so I'm going to make an appointment with my GP next week to discuss other options.

rusholmeruffians · 26/11/2022 20:55

Worked great for me as it killed my libido absolutely dead so there was 100% no chance of pregnancy! (Also put on weight)

ColinRobinsonsfamiliar · 26/11/2022 20:57

Horrendous.
Took me too long to add up the dots.
Awful awful depression and intrusive thoughts. ( never had this before, never had it since stopping).
Took exactly one year for periods to come back after the last dose.
Years of infertility followed by multiple miscarriages.
3 stone weight gain.

If you do some research, I think it’s banned in the USA.

Mumoftwo2021 · 26/11/2022 21:06

I’ve had it on & off for 19 years, stops my periods, which suits me. I also have 3 DC who were all conceived within 3 months of coming off of not before.
Everyone’s body reacts differently to contraception so it’s a case of deciding if you would like to try it.
It works great for me so I continue to use it. X

IWantToBeACat · 26/11/2022 21:11

I had it in my late 20's. Absolutely fabulous. No periods, no mood swings, nothing. Came off it to TTC expecting it to take a while. Two months later I was pregnant. Went on it again a few years later. Bloody awful. Bled heavily for pretty much six months straight and the mood swings and depression genuinely nearly tipped me over the edge. It's great if it suits you, not so much otherwise! And I realise that that is no help at all... 😂

DrMadelineMaxwell · 26/11/2022 21:13

Constant spotting here. Didn't stick with it.

Twilightstarbright · 26/11/2022 21:23

I love it. 36 and not allowed oestrogen due to migraines with aura. No periods which I love. I’ve actually lost weight on it.

Snugglemonkey · 26/11/2022 21:51

I did a lot of bleeding, put on a pile of weight, got very depressed. Came off it but struggled with the weight and depression for a long time. Never again.

MyLoveIsYourLove0xO · 26/11/2022 21:54

Wouldn't recommend it.
Bled constantly, horrific weight gain and awful mood swings!
I had 1 shot and it took me years to conceive after.

missbunnyrabbit · 26/11/2022 22:10

I'm 27 and been having it for nearly two years. I LOVE it. No periods, no side effects that I am aware of. I hate the injection bit, but it's only once every three months.

bakewellbride · 26/11/2022 22:23

Got my first shot booked for 3 weeks time. Some of the responses on this thread are making me doubt my decision to be honest!

Original poster
Fluffycookie · 26/11/2022 22:29

bakewellbride · 26/11/2022 22:23

Got my first shot booked for 3 weeks time. Some of the responses on this thread are making me doubt my decision to be honest!

So do I 😧

OP posts:
JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 26/11/2022 22:30

Nettie787 · 26/11/2022 20:38

Loved it. Stayed on it longer than I should hsve as it increases risk of osteoporosis. It was so easy. Though now when I think to getting my bum ourtfor the injection every few months, bit weird!

You don't need to get your bum out, just lower your trousers and pants a vitt

ouchyoubiteybugger · 26/11/2022 22:31

Dd1! In fairness I think it was antibiotics I was given but the dentist that stopped it working. Before that I was on it happily for 6 years