Contraceptive injection - what are your experiences ?

[sparkle1977]

I am currently using the combined pill but may need to have anti-biotics for rosacea which the Doc has said may mean re-addressing the whole contraception issue - urgh.

The pill is really good for me in that it has taken away more or less all period pain, lightens my flow and I like it best because there is a set window in which I know my period will fall, I can tell to the exact 1/2 day normally which is really handy.

I am considering switching to the injection maybe but would like to hear people's experiences who are getting it ?

I don't really like the idea of the implant or the coil. I feel I am too young at the moment to consider sterilisation or a vasectomy for DH. That leaves pretty much the male condom which we might also opt for but its just less convenient.

i found that i had no periods whilst i was having it, it was so much easier than the pill. i did still get my monthly symptoms but nothing came. i stopped having it at the beginning of last year and it "ran out" in about the end of February. the downside is that my periods are still not regular now - over a year on!

I had it for about 5 years, had constant bleeding initially then a short course of the pill and no more periods. Was fine TBH but I was advised to come off it for osteoporosis issues. I never really looked into it as I wasn't too bothered (student and didn't care) but it was good as far as I remember.

Oh and I was shocked the first time I had it when I expected it to go into my arm.......not my butt cheek!

I had constant spotting and put on tons of weight. Only had 2 injections and then stopped having them and switched to the mini-pill

Really wouldn't recommend it. Bleeding... then spotting.... also mild depression. Took a long time to get everything back to normal.

Hi sparkle, I was on depo for around 10 years. I bled lightly for the first few weeks but nothing after that. I also received bone scans to ensure my bones were not thinning due to it. Once I decided to come off, I took a pill straight away (as no period to figure out when to start pill). In that time I put on around 2 stone, but not sure I can blame the depo. After my period started with the pill (a few months) then I stopped this and my real cycle came back pretty quickly, within the space of a few months I would say. It is very convenient, however as others have pointed out the side effects can vary between people.