depo provera

[singingmum]

Know this to be a strange subject but felt it neccesarry to tell what I have discovered about this injection.
I have been researching this subject since my son who is 9 was a baby and I had the injection.Firstly side effects I have suffered since:-
Massive weight gain we are talking stone not pounds and that was after only one injection in the three mnths in my system followed by more as time went on.
Panic attacks
Depression
Agrophobia
Almost became infertile(thank goodness for st johns wort)
Hormone imbalences to the point where at 27 I am suffering signs of menopause.

These were my side effects.
Since looked into this have found that the side effects are anything from headaches to paralysis.(This was documented on the orig depo website but they have now re vamped and made the drug look safe).
Have also recently been told although have to speak to doc about this, that the drug deepo provera was origionally created to MEDICALLY CASTRATE SEX OFFENDERS!!!!! You can imagine my reaction to this.How in the hell do you take a drug made for this and use it as a contraception.This drug is also reccomended by docs to teenagers I myself had it at 17.This drug was apparently never tested on teenagers so how can it be recommended to them when it is not known what effect it will have on a still developing reproductive system.
I know that some people on here swear by this drug but please realise that the full extent of damage is not noticable until after coming off the drug.I only had one injection and am still paying for it and have only managed to find one doc who will state that it is my prob and him only off record as he is worried for his own career.
The drug tricks the body into beleiving that it has gone through menopause( we all know that menopause effects many areas of our bodies especially our bone density levels and therefore can cause weakness in them)this cannot be healthy but does explain the tendency for periods to stop.Please research this subject thourghly before going near this injection.I believe you may be shocked at what you find if you put the name of the drug into a search engine.Some people are trying to get it band.I hope they succeed.

Thomcat it's as I said most people do not feel the side effects while taking depo,it's after they stop that the probs happen.I have found however that st johns wort has been excellent.It reversed my hormones twice now,first my testosterone levels were high and it put them back and I had my dd,then recently it has re stabilised my oestrogen levels.I now swear by trhe stuff.Don't know if it will have the same effects for others but well worth considering.

Hi. I thought I'd resurrect this thread as I have a question! I have been on depo since DS2 was born 2 and a half years ago and am thinking of stopping. I don't really need the contraception at the moment (not had sex for 6 months now and looking unlikely in the future until and if things get resolved with DH) and am getting a bit worried about the side effects. I had my last injection just before Xmas and ended up putting on half a stone which just won't shift. Also, I am on Prozac and am thinking I could switch to St John's Wort at the end of my six months (end of Feb)and I know you can't do that on depo/the pill etc. I was wondering what you all thought? I like depo for the lack of periods but on the other hand feel like I am taking something I don't need and am worried about the weight issue too. Any thoughts/comments/suggestions anyone? Thanks. Luchar xx

I'm on the mini-pill and we use condoms too. But if you are not sexually active right now and just want a break, you could simply use condoms if things changed. Depro takes around 18 months sometimes to get out of your system anyway.

If you are sure there won't be any accidents, I would go for a break and take St Johns Wort (the injection can also cause depression you know).

As a Depo fan, thought I would give it some support. I have been on it for 5 years now. No problems whatsoever as far as I am aware. At the beginning I bled for 17 days non stop but have not bled at all since.

Hello again. Thanks for your comments (and 'hi' Rhubarb ). I'm OK on depo I think apart from the weight thing but don't like the idea of having something I don't need in my body. Also, I'm a bit worried about the problems it can cause when you stop taking it. I also wonder if it makes my tendancy to be prone to depression worse.

My GP says I should come off the ADs soon so I think I will stop the depo and try the St John's Wort. Also I feel much better now the sun is shining - such a difference. Thanks again, I've made my mind up now.

Oh well done for breathing life back into this.
I wanted to let you know that after this thread I came off depo and now just using condoms. I suddenly decided that i didn't want any chemicals inside me at all and want to be free of them until i decide that I've had all the children I'm going to have.
Keep meaning to buy St Johns Wort, will try and do that this weekend.

Wine helps too!

Wine helps too!

ADVICE NEEDED

I've been on the depo for 9 months now, and have suffered severly from panic attacks, mood swings and depression. This although not unheard of was extreme. In my depressed, mind everywhere state I began taking St Johns Wort as I had previously. Assuming it was just the usual rearing its ugly head.

Only today have I realised that it effects the effectiveness of the injection.

I'm no longer taking the St Johns Wort and I now have the Implanon implant( in your arm thingy) but I am now so scared that I might be pregnant!!!!

I cycled home from the clinic in tears. I cannot deal with another child. I'm barely holding things together for the one I have.HELP!