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Original poster

Anyone who gets the depo shot - can you give me your experiences?

41 replies

Rstuvwxyz · 17/01/2023 12:50

I don’t do very well with hormone contraceptives that I’ve tried E.g numerous pills that all make me a witch with 0 patience and rather angry all the time. And the implant made me put on so much weight 😔 OH is considering vasectomy if I’m 100% on it, but part of me could see a third a few years. So I’m toying with depo shot or last resort coil. Can anyone give me their experiences with the depo shot?

OP posts:
bridgetjonesmassivepants · 17/01/2023 12:55

Love depo. I don't have any side effects, no PMT and no periods. It's amazing.
Only slight issue is that you have to take it every 12 weeks in a tight window so be careful you aren't away on a 2 week holiday.

Lilliflip · 17/01/2023 13:03

Killed my libido stone dead whilst I took it. Absolutely nothing. So I never felt like having sex.

Original poster
Rstuvwxyz · 17/01/2023 13:16

bridgetjonesmassivepants · 17/01/2023 12:55

Love depo. I don't have any side effects, no PMT and no periods. It's amazing.
Only slight issue is that you have to take it every 12 weeks in a tight window so be careful you aren't away on a 2 week holiday.

I wish 🤣🤣 fat chance of having that

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Women's health
Neena289 · 17/01/2023 13:19

Truly awful! I knew I was being irrational but could have fallen out with my own shadow for 12 weeks. Also bled a lot during the time. Like you, I'm generally a bit crap with hormonal contraception. I also tried the mirena and they was awful too. Given up now on all of them. Migraines, dreadful skin, spotting etc, none of them are worth it.

FindingMeno · 17/01/2023 13:20

Did it once and would never do it again.
It caused low mood for me.

ZZTopGuitarSolo · 17/01/2023 13:22

I was on it for 17 years. No side effects, no periods.

I had a bone density scan every few years to make sure there was no bone density loss.

For me it was the perfect contraceptive.

My daughter is on it because she had such awful periods - it’s working for her too.

dolor · 17/01/2023 13:23

Depo was horrendous for me. Not only did it ruin my skin, gave me nasty headaches and nausea, it made sex extremely uncomfortable and actually caused pain at the point of orgasm. The doctor at the time wouldn't hear of it that it was depo that caused that. Then more women came forward and it's a common side effect now. Happened with noristerat too. I'd stay away because once you've had the injection, it can take a year to leave your system entirely and you're stuck with awful side effects until then.

Original poster
Rstuvwxyz · 19/01/2023 00:43

Neena289 · 17/01/2023 13:19

Truly awful! I knew I was being irrational but could have fallen out with my own shadow for 12 weeks. Also bled a lot during the time. Like you, I'm generally a bit crap with hormonal contraception. I also tried the mirena and they was awful too. Given up now on all of them. Migraines, dreadful skin, spotting etc, none of them are worth it.

Oh 😢 maybe naively I was hoping that even though it’s “one shot” I could potentially deal with it and not have the same fall out as pills etc but looks like it’ll just be a long 12 weeks with the shot?! Christ why is this so difficult. And why am I such a bitch with all the hormonal (easier) contraceptives 😩

OP posts:
Original poster
Rstuvwxyz · 19/01/2023 00:44

dolor · 17/01/2023 13:23

Depo was horrendous for me. Not only did it ruin my skin, gave me nasty headaches and nausea, it made sex extremely uncomfortable and actually caused pain at the point of orgasm. The doctor at the time wouldn't hear of it that it was depo that caused that. Then more women came forward and it's a common side effect now. Happened with noristerat too. I'd stay away because once you've had the injection, it can take a year to leave your system entirely and you're stuck with awful side effects until then.

Oh feck. Mega feck. I shan’t give it another thought then ☠️

sorry you had so many issues with it! If you don’t mind me asking, what did you settle on in the end?

OP posts:
Heyahun · 19/01/2023 00:53

I had the worst experience with this! Anxiety through the roof - I was having such bad mood swings and was so annoyed I think if I’d had a second dose of it it could have ended my relationship I was constantly arguing with my husband about Stupid things - never wanted sex, constant bleeding, weight gain

i just used condoms after that and never looked back tbh

007DoubleOSeven · 19/01/2023 01:02

I loved it and had it for a few years until I was told to come off it because of bone density stuff etc.

Have you tried the implant? If you don't get on with it, they can take it and side effects go with it.

hilariousnamehere · 19/01/2023 01:07

Heading into my 21st year on it and I love it - no periods, only the odd mood swing towards the end of the 12 weeks and no noticeable effect on my sex drive when there's actually someone in my life I want to have sex with 😅

Maybe I just got lucky, but I have no intention of coming off it till they let me have a hysterectomy, my periods were horrific and I don't want children.

I do think there's a longish time between coming off it and full fertility returning though so maybe not ideal if you are considering a third. Might be worth looking at the self injection one whose name I can't remember or the implant?

Original poster
Rstuvwxyz · 19/01/2023 10:07

007DoubleOSeven · 19/01/2023 01:02

I loved it and had it for a few years until I was told to come off it because of bone density stuff etc.

Have you tried the implant? If you don't get on with it, they can take it and side effects go with it.

Yeah, the implant is something I tried but after a year or 2, can’t remember how long, I think it was 2? I had it out as I was just gaining weight like no man’s business 😢 and this was a few years ago when my metabolism was twice as good as it is now.

aghhh, it’s such a pain. I just wanna live my best naked cowgirl life without a condom dampening my passion 😂😂

OP posts:
Original poster
Rstuvwxyz · 19/01/2023 10:08

hilariousnamehere · 19/01/2023 01:07

Heading into my 21st year on it and I love it - no periods, only the odd mood swing towards the end of the 12 weeks and no noticeable effect on my sex drive when there's actually someone in my life I want to have sex with 😅

Maybe I just got lucky, but I have no intention of coming off it till they let me have a hysterectomy, my periods were horrific and I don't want children.

I do think there's a longish time between coming off it and full fertility returning though so maybe not ideal if you are considering a third. Might be worth looking at the self injection one whose name I can't remember or the implant?

Interesting 🤔 I’m so glad you’ve got on well with it. Have you tried the pill etc? Do you usually get on well with hormonal contraception? My only concern is I’ve never been able to find a happy medium with any of the pills I’ve tried nor the implant so I don’t know if my body just isn’t built to cohabit with the hormones. I’m even a massive dick in the first trimester of pregnancy 🫠

OP posts:
Annewithan · 19/01/2023 10:09

Lilliflip · 17/01/2023 13:03

Killed my libido stone dead whilst I took it. Absolutely nothing. So I never felt like having sex.

Same experience

Branleuse · 19/01/2023 10:10

3 months worth of progesterone in one go made me feel suicidal. I think if youre sensitive to hormones already then its a bad idea to have something that you cant stop taking or have taken out. 3 months of feeling that low feels like an eternity and is very disabling while waiting for it to wear off

hilariousnamehere · 19/01/2023 10:12

@Rstuvwxyz I haven't tried any other type, couldn't take pill due to family history so they started me on depo to see how it would go!

I do often wish there was a hormonal contraceptive widely available for men.

Yarrawonga · 19/01/2023 10:16

I loved it and had it for a few years until I was told to come off it because of bone density stuff etc.

Same here. I’m back on it now. It suits me.

007DoubleOSeven · 19/01/2023 10:45

Rstuvwxyz · 19/01/2023 10:08

Interesting 🤔 I’m so glad you’ve got on well with it. Have you tried the pill etc? Do you usually get on well with hormonal contraception? My only concern is I’ve never been able to find a happy medium with any of the pills I’ve tried nor the implant so I don’t know if my body just isn’t built to cohabit with the hormones. I’m even a massive dick in the first trimester of pregnancy 🫠

Show quote history

I can't take the combined pill due to migraines giving me a higher risk of stroke and I don't bother with the mini - would never remember to take it the same time every day.

I'd give the implant a go if you're concerned, the benefit is as soon as they remove it any side effects go with it so if you don't get on with it they can just take it out.

dementedpixie · 19/01/2023 10:48

I bled with it and put on loads of weight. Gave up after my 2nd injection. Had no periods with cerazette mini pill or the mirena coil

Ormally · 19/01/2023 11:23

There is another version that you can inject at home, I think it is called Sayana Press. It is not depo but as someone who was also a depo fan in the past, with all other contraception causing horrible effects, this has been suggested to me (25 yrs on). It sounds a bit difficult to get hold of, but perhaps worth investigating through a women's health clinic etc.

Ormally · 19/01/2023 11:24

And in terms of the comment on a long time to regain fertility...after 9 years, I was unexpectedly pregnant within 2 months of stopping, so I suppose it is different for everyone.

serenghetti2011 · 19/01/2023 11:30

Never had an issue and been on it years and I give myself it at home every 12 weeks. Problem is if it gives you side effects 3 months is a long time to wait for it to wear off.

NashvilleQueen · 19/01/2023 11:34

I used to say it's incredibly effective as a contraceptive because you never feel like having sex when on it.

exhaustedsenta · 19/01/2023 11:40

I had it for a year & I wish I hadn't bothered.

I had bleeding during sex, still had periods and pain, went for a smear which was agony & the nurse actually said I resembled a woman in menopause...I'm only 30.

I've come off and I'm having 4 week long periods, agonising cramps where I feel like I'm in labour...it's been horrific.