Going for Depo-Provera injection tomorrow

[TrillianAstra]

And I had to look up how to spell it.

Good stories and bad stories welcome, I want to know how much ridiculous behaviour I can blame on intitial side-effects after all!

Btw - the posted article is dated Monday 12 December 1983! I can promise you it was subsequently approved for contraceptive purposes in the US and has since been used by thousands of women there, including myself. I loved Depo! Had my first round of it at 17 and was on it for the better part of 12 years. My horrid pmt went away because I stopped menstruating - absolutely wonderful for me! No weight gain to speak of, no mood swings - if anything I think it evened me out and calmed my natural anxiety. The longest wait I had for the return of my period was 8 months - after being on it for 2 years. When I went off it the last time - after being on it 3 years, it only took 4 months to return and I conceived the 6 month after stopping. It is not evil - it's great! Further - it's the same chemical used in the pill - it's simply progesterone rather than progesterone and oestrogen - same as the mini-pill.

Enjoy it & good luck!

Nice catch rocking - I was more sceptical that it would be a problem that it's used for chemical castration of men. Well, yes, sex hormones do different things to men and women.

I'm really impressed that Time have their archived content online back to 1983!

i didn't notice the date.

is 2007 in the guardian recent enough for you?

I'm with Goddess and Rocking....I had the depo for years (well over 10) and never had any issues with it at all. My periods returned three months after stopping and I was pg a few months after that.

Bamboo they're giving a sex hormone to men to do one thing, and to women to do another. How is this inconsistent or worrying? That's how it works in nature, testosterone and oestrogen and progesterone do different things to men and women.

Well it stopped me conceiving for two years after I had the jab. It increases your risk of osteoporosis. It completely messes with your hormones and if you ever want any more children I hope you reconsider getting future jabs.

Sorry this is something I feel so strongly about and wish someone had told it to me straight before I had it.

Goes to show how just how much horomes affect us all in such different ways. Hope you end up in the 'love it' camp Trillian!

Kitty - I just wanted to say that I really like the idea of 'chronic pissed-off face' being on the list of potential effects

Well you have your proof here in this thread now, should you need it

hmmmm...I have had 2 injections of depo and whilst I need contracpetion and LOVE the idea of no periods (mine have been a nightmare since I started aged 10!) I am considering not having mine again next month.

I have spotted constantly and have felt incredibly irritable since I started having the jabs and seem to shout for no reason...could it be the depo? Just thought I was turning into a crazy old ranty woman

If I took the oral pill (POP) instead, would the side effects be the same or are they worse with the jab?

women have testosterone in their bodies too, trillian!

if it reduces it in men enough to suppress their sexual urges what do think it will do to the small amount women have?

i am amazed that anyone who did their research would put this in their body.

Was on depo for 8 years, no periods, no pmt nothing it was brill

Last injection was 7 months ago and im now pregnant

No need to patronise me bamboo, I am aware that women have testosterone.

If you want to talk about 'anyone who did their research' I would advise you to not start out by claiming that something is banned in the US by quoting a magazine article from 1983.

obviously if i had noticed the date of that article i wouldn't have made that statement.
i did extensive research on this 6 odd years ago and never came across that article then. i was very glad to think the FDA was doing something to get this poison off the market and i am disappointed that what was considered dangerous back in '83 is now considered safe. i'll bet the massive drug companies in the US are behind the u-turn.

like i said earlier i hope you are fine on the injection and that you don't turn into the fat, miserable, monk-like screeching harpie i was on the jab.

My moods were fine in that I was no more of a gobby cow than usual, but I did gain weight that was hard to shift. I put it down to turning 30