Conceiving after depo injection

[hopefulmamaofone]

Hi all, just looking for some advice or personal experience.

I'm currently on the depo injection, I was offered it after having my implant removed (I had tried it for almost a year and a half) it had unfortunately caused constant, heavy bleeding. I accepted the injection with, much to my shame, doing no research. After having issues for years with different birth control, I was desperate to have one which would help with my awful bleeding and cramping which seems to happen on all birth control I try (without birth control I have very irregular periods, as in no period for months and then weeks of heavy bleeding with horrendous pains).

I've only had one dose of the depo injection, and am really worrying about the affects to my fertility. I have one DD(23 months) and would love another. We plan to start trying in June (will be using condoms until then but not bothered if we do fall pregnant sooner), my injection runs out on the last week of April but knowing that it could be six months to two years(!) for my fertility to return to normal is terrifying me. I technically have plenty of 'time' I am 28. However I would love a small ish age gap between my children and have always worried about my fertility anyway due to my irregular periods. We were very lucky with DD and somehow managed to conceive on the second cycle which I was so grateful for, but have always thought it must have been a fluke!

Sorry for rambling! I suppose what I'm asking is if anyone here has had experience of conceiving post depo injection and how long it took for your cycles to go back to normal? Thank you in advance.

Hi @hopefulmamaofone

I went on the depo injection after the birth of my DS. (He's now 9, so my memory is a little hazzy, but, I didn't want to read and run 😊).

I fell pregnant with him while on the pill, so after he was born I wanted to try a different form of birth control, like you I didn't give the depo much research.
When DS was 13 months old, DH and I decided to TTC again, like you we wanted a close age gap.
I let my depo run out. At this point I had been on the depo injection for around a year, and during this time it had stopped my period completely.

I can't remember how quickly my cycle returned unfortunately, but it did take us just short of 11 months to conceive DD.

It felt like a lifetime. BUT I had been on the depo for a lot longer than you have been.

Everybody has a different story to tell. Try not to let the worst case scenarios get you down. (Easier said than done I know - I'm currently 1 months into TTC DC#3).

Sending you lots of baby dust and positive thoughts.

Hi @deethra thank you so much for your response ☺️

I read somewhere (in the depths of google during my worries) that it doesn't make a difference whether you've had one dose of the depo or loads, it can have the same affect on your fertility! Kicking myself for not having done more research. The depo is the first birth control I've been on which has stopped my periods completely, I'll definitely go back on it after having baby number 2 as that will be my last child if all goes to plan, but really worrying that it'll take ages to be able to conceive. 11 months does seem like so long! Though I know so many have to try for so long that I don't want to seem insensitive by complaining!

Thank you so much for your well wishes and sending so much baby dust back to you for baby #3!!

I was on depo for years, before and in-between my children. If I remember correctly it took about three months for my periods to return to some kind of normal, and another couple of months to fall pregnant. I was definitely pregnant within 6 months of coming off the injection with all babies.

@Gnashaloulou thank you for responding!

That's really encouraging to hear, hoping for the same. I'm already driving myself crazy and this injection hasn't even run out yet!