What was your experience with the Depo-Provera?

[Fluffycookie]

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?

To be fair, it was many moons ('scuse the pun) ago and I've forgotten the exacts. Your explanation sounds about right, I think it was more about what I'd worn, say if it was a dress and tights etc. Not the most dignified always!

I also loved it was on it for years, no periods either

Had it about 2 months ago and was told light spotting could be a side effect. I have been medium/heavy bleeding since a week after the injection. Have to wait another month for it to leave my system and won't be going back on it.

Stopped having periods and I liked that I didn't have to worry about remembering to take a pill (because I'm awful at that!)

But I did gain weight and it killed my sex drive, both things that made it just not worth it (to me), so have no plans to go back on it.

Worked really well for me, no problems.

Worked well for me. No periods. No noticeable weight gain. Came off it to try for a baby, conceived in 8 weeks.
Back on it postnatally and bled intermittently for 3 months but settled afterwards.

Same, and I was my very worst pmdd version of myself the whole time too. Horrific.

Killed my libido, I put on loads of weight. Took me 3 years to make the connection that it was the depo and by that point I was cynical and confused. It was 20 years ago. Don't do it.

Loved it. Have it to the day every 13 weeks, no side effects or periods. What's not to love

Constant bleeding. "Just keep trying, have the next injection, these side effects wear off". Nope. No they don't.

I used it for a few years and I loved having no periods, plus I had no weight gain. I stopped as it was killing my sex drive, went onto the pill which was awful and then had a copper coil before and between pregnancies.

After DS2 (final baby) I had mirena for ten years but at the last change over they couldn't get another one in and I couldn't face trying again for another three times. So I had a depo shot there and then so I could decide what to do next. I had no side effects at all, periods didn't return, my weight actually dropped.

I've chosen to go onto the implant now rather than have to make appointments every 12 weeks but if I'd decided not to have the implant then I probably would have stuck with depo.

I had it for years - had basically no periods, and when I did get bleeding it tended to be on wiping, so no leaks or ruining my pants! I did put on a little weight with it - but only a few kg.

I chose to switch to the coil for year or so ahead of TTC because I didn't want to deal with having to wait 6-12 months for fertility. Also got on really well with coil - insertion was ok, regular(ish) light periods and I loved not having to think about it for 5 years!

I bled for nearly 4 months. It wasn't just spotting, it was a 4 month period that left me anaemic. They tried to tell me the next injection (at 12 weeks) would help but I refused to have it. I was so relieved when it finally stopped.

One of the worst things I've ever done. I was either bleeding heavy continuously for weeks, nothing for weeks or nothing except one off flash bleeds at random times like when wearing white trousers doing the food shop. I bloated up and put on loads of weight, despite exercising daily and eating well. My emotions were all over the place constantly. Worst of all when I stopped it, it took 10 years to conceive my second child with miscarriages along the way.

Depo has been my god send!

I suffer the worsttttt periods. Ive tried the pill, and the implant in the arm. Both messed me up badly.

Depo is the only thing thst has stopped my periods and prevented pregnancy.

My boobs hurt badly towards the end of the 3 months but i will take that over a 12 day period or a baby! Everyone is different though, have friends that swear by the pill or implant and i think they're mad and vice versa!

Within 6 months it took me from feeling perfectly normal to suicidal.

My GP but me on the mini pill for a few weeks until I could have the implant fitted but I bled continuously so they recommended Depo for 6 months to see if the bleeding subsided. It did and I’ve now been on it for over 2 years with no side effects. I had a few periods in the first year though not as regular or as heavy as previously then none for over a year. I have mine in my arm now but at my last appointment the nurse said I should only have it until I’m 50.

Was on it for years, no issues, no periods.

Felt nauseous after it. By the third injection I was SO ill after, I had to take a half a week off work. Was very shakey for perhaps a month after, so vowed to stop. Took almost a year for periods to return.

I got pregnant on it so I would not recommend!

(that aside, DD17 is lovely so no regrets) 🤣

@Eselch wow that's unusual! It's meant to be pretty fool proof for pregnancy 😯

The responses and advice to my question have been so diametrically opposed that I am more puzzled than ever. Anyway, thanks for all of your suggestions and for sharing your experiences; I'll keep everything in mind.

Put nearly two stone on and was so depressed I used to sit and write lists of ways to die. It was horrific and I wouldn't touch it again. It also took over two years for my periods to be normal again.

It's perfect for me. I had to switch to the mini pill during covid and I had bleeding every week and I gained weight. As soon as I went back to depo, that all stopped. The combined pill seems to make me depressed which hasn't been an issue with the in