Any advice re regulating hormones after Depo?

[NellyTheElephant]

I had a Depo injection at the beginning of March. It was a disaster and has caused absolute havoc with my body. I have endured endless bleeding and haven't ovulated since having the injection. My doctor proscribed norethisterone (man made progesterone). It stopped the bleeding while I took the course, but all has gone haywire again since then. I now have a referral to a gynae, but I won't get the appt for a month or so.

Clutching at straws.... can anyone suggest any herbal remedies or anything that might possibly help????

I have been taking Apple Cider Vinegar tablets in desperation to stop my prolonged heavy bleeding (mini pill and three Depos had failed so far). It could be just coincidence but on my 4th Depo, and having started taking Apple Cider Vinegar tablets, I have had 3 and a half weeks so far without bleeding, which is the longest for ages (my longest stretch before this was 10 days).

Worth a try maybe - I looked up the remedy in the internet in desperation, and bought it at Holland and Barrett's. Supposed to help slimming aswell, but I can't say I've noticed any difference.

Did this just stop bleeding or settle things down? I have the other problem that they are doulbe bleeds. both light but twice amonth is driving me mad. doc doesnt think there is anything wrong. transab scan etc done. so wondering it this would settle me down as well?

It's stopped the bleeding for 3 and a half weeks so far. Before then I was bleeding every 2 weeks. Before Depo/mini pill (i.e. with nothing) I was bleeding heavily for 8 days every other week. So this is the longest I've gone for about 2 years without bleeding.

Like you I have had scans, a biopsy, etc. They are doing a repeat Von Willebrand blood test as the results show I need a repeat, which makes me think there could be something in it. Will know after my gynae appointment next month.

Interesting as it states heavy bleeds. which period wise i have never suffered from rediculously light but i do have problems with healing and do tend to scar rediculously easily. interesting stuff.

Very common and often misdiagnosed, too! I have always had heavy bleeding, and was close to having to have a transfusion after having ds.

I had similar with Depo... horrendous contraceptive, it should be banned.

I was given HRT medication which stopped the bleeding immediately. I don't know why they gave you more progesterone as Depo itself is progesterone. Why give you more of the same.

They gave me an oestrogen hormone replacement and told me that it would help balance it out. It did the job immediately.
Worth asking?

Ah - a Depo thread. I had light but continuous bleeding for about 7 weeks. GP said it was body restoring fertility after stopping breastfeeding a couple of months before, but, really???

Haven't gone back for the latest, although the year without periods was pdg.
But, really?

Try taking evening primrose oil. My GP suggested this back in 2000 and it really helped. Have your GP take blood tests. Mine came back with me having low iron due to heavy bleeding for 3 months. To get over this I took iodine and iron for a long time. I suggest you also change doctors. I had the depo injection while I registered with the university medical center. I changed to another GP after I couldn't get an appointment for 3 weeks. The GP I moved to was excellent and insisted I came in as an emergency patient. Said she would never allow a female of childbearing age to have a depo injection. Apparently there are lots of horror stories out there.

Wow - that's really interesting. Have i buggered up my fertility then? Why isn't there more info out there? Thought I was relatively well informed??

There are plenty of horror stories out there. It was banned in Canada at one point as they considered it dangerous.

Thank god I only had two of them: I got sick of the constant bleeding.

It also messes up your bone density: this is on the warning label....

"The data suggest that women who use Depo-Provera may lose significant BMD. Bone loss is greater with increasing duration and may not be completely reversible. It is unknown if use of Depo-Provera during adolescence or early adulthood, a critical period of bone accretion, will reduce peak bone mass and increase the risk of osteoporatic fracture in later life."