Experiences of coming off the depo injection after 15 years

[Flamingbanana214]

Looking for some advice. Mid 30's and have been on the depo injection contraceptive for 15 years. No periods at all in this time. I'm considering coming off it.

Pros:
No periods
No pregnancy scares

Cons:
Possibly the reason for low libido
Possibly the reason for slight weight gain
Feeling quite flat and like my hormones are suppressed

I'd be looking at the pill or the coil as an alternative.

No intention of ever getting pregnant again. If I was single I'd absolutely come off all contraceptive and let my body adjust back to it's normal rhythm. But ultimately I will need to be on some form of contraceptive.

Another part of me thinks I shouldn't rock the hormonal boat after so long, who knows what I'd be like with a cycle after so long 😂

Just posting if anyone has any experience coming off the depo after so long, and pros and cons of the coil and pill. Or tell me not to be so silly and I have it pretty good. Thanks

Can't your husband have a vaesectomy?

I replaced the depo with a mirena coil. No changes, no side effects, nothing. It was fine.

Good to know, thanks

Can I ask if you noticed any change in your libido?

My GP told me when I’d been on it for many years that I shouldn’t have been on it for so long without a break because it depletes your calcium levels.
I stopped taking it and had an implant. I now have to take calcium supplements.

I was told this years ago, then told by the same GP that the study had been shown to be unreliable and it was fine.. if other types of contraceptive don't have the same risks then that's another reason to change.

To be fair, this was years ago for me. I took depo for about 25 years without a break before I stopped and am now of an age where contraception isn’t required so possibly outdated advice.
I found the implant afterwards be really good with no issues but know that not everyone is fine with it.

I'd forgotten about the implant though so that's another option.

I recently came off it due to worries about osteoperatic health and brain tumour, I'd been on it about 20 years.
On mini pill now and it's grand, except having to remember to take the bugger.

If you're married/in a long-term relationship and done with having babies, the option I would recommend is to come off all contraception once your husband/partner has had a vaesectomy and got the all-clear.
Obviously no hormonal contraception is without risk or side-efffects.

I came off briefly in my mid 30s, it made no difference to weight gain so I went right back on and I’m mid 40s now. I suspect the stress of life and work was going cause to gain weight regardless so I did diets and eventually WLI. I’d rather have no periods!

Best to come off it - ideally you wouldn't be on it for more than 2 years due to bone density issues. Fine to switch straight to the pill or implant both of which will suppress ovulation, or to the coil.

I was on the depo for several years but was told that I had to come off it. I switched to the Mirena coil but I really didn’t get on with it. It made me feel awful, plus it hurt DH.

I now use the implant. It only needs replacing every five years so a lot more convenient than the depo and way more convenient than pills. The only downside over the depo has been that I get very light periods every now and then with no particular pattern so difficult to plan for.

I was on the Depo for 12 years and came off last Christmas after husband had a vasectomy. My periods have only just returned (although I suspect that is due to WLI) they are very short, around 3 days and a light flow so manageable after going so long without.

I didn’t notice a change to weight loss hence the WLI and haven’t really noticed a change to labido annoyingly.

I was worried about still being on it and reaching menopause age. Also sexual activity was pretty sparse and couldn’t see the point in me pumping my body with hormones.

I had to come off it due to osteoporosis and I have the implant. DH refuses to get a vasectomy.

@Twilightstarbright I hear this so much unfortunately. Luckily my husband didn't say no and he knew if he did there would be no action!
What were his excuses?

@FunPartyIdeas I’m not able to have more children for medical reasons but if I were to die/our relationship fails DH would want to have more children in a future relationship and is of an age where that’s realistic so doesn’t want to take a long term decision to reduce his fertility.

TBH I feel that since I’m the one who needs to ensure I don’t fall pregnant I would always want to take contraception or be sterilised myself.

I was on the depo for two years . I put on about three stones despite going to the gym and having a strict , but healthy diet at the time
Also, it definitely reduced my libido which defeats the object of taking it in the first place

My husband didn’t say no either. He actually suggested it. However, I decided it wasn’t worth it the risks. The implant for me is no big deal and there are benefits.

I'm going to do some more reading on the coil and implant.

@User55335533 What risks do you mean?

Admitting you’d be willing to coercively control and blackmail your husband had he not agreed to a vasectomy isn’t a bragging point.

@Whitewhisker Luckily he isn't selfish and didn't want my cancer risks increasing and side-effects ongoing for me so booked himself in happily after we had our daughter together.
Had he said no then I wouldn't have been willing to risk pregnancy so any chance of conceiving would have been taken off the table at that point.
My choice entirely.

@Twilightstarbright I get that to a point, although it wasn't applicable to us as husband was already 45 when his first (and last!) was born. He would never have wanted another and of course neither did I at that point (39 when she was born).

The most worrying one being ongoing pain or PVPS. Which apparently affects 1% to 2% of men who have a vasectomy.