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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Depo injection

39 replies

bubblebell1 · 29/12/2008 19:08

hi girls,

i just wondered if any of you have used the depo contraceptive injection and if so how long after your last jab did you fall pregnant.

thanks

bubble xxx

OP posts:
Sawyer64 · 29/12/2008 19:13

As a practice nurse my patients tell me it has taken them anything up to a year.It seems to take a while for most peoples periods to return and settle down into a pattern to work out their ovulation times.

However,there are always exceptions to the rule,and some people start their periods preety quick after omitting their next injection,and then can potentially conceive fairly quick after that.

I don't have any personal experience though.

trumpetgirl · 29/12/2008 19:14

I tried the depo injection, but my moods were terrible! I was moody for 2 months, then felt better for a month, then had to have another one!
I don't know how long it would take to get pregnant after the last one (as I was, and still am, trying to avoid that!) but I was on it for 18 months-ish. My periods stopped after the first couple of months and didn't return until 6 months after I'd stopped getting it.
Hope that helps a bit

ButIForgetMyself · 29/12/2008 19:15

I used the Depo for a few. It caused me a lot of problems actually. It made sex very, very painful, so by default was the best contraceptive I could get.

Also, thickened the CM so much that I had to have 5 smear tests in 18 months because they couldn't get the cells needed for testing. In the end I had to have a colposcopy.

Not saying it'll be like that for anyone else, but I don't rate it at all. I stopped it for other reasons long before I started TTC. It may suit you perfectly, but what you've got to remember is you're stuck with it in your system for 3 months, so if you really don't like it, it's too late!

ButIForgetMyself · 29/12/2008 19:16

I used the Depo for a few YEARS. Sorry.

SleighGirl · 29/12/2008 19:17

I had 2 injections in total and I conceived about 4 months after the last one and wasn't using any other protection in that time my dh and I are very very fertile though!

SleighGirl · 29/12/2008 19:18

It made me really fat, and once the weight started dropping off tI fell pregnant so it was def the deepo.

Picante · 29/12/2008 19:18

It's taken me 2 years and 2 miscarriages after my last depo shot to get pg.

It's EVIL.

ButIForgetMyself · 29/12/2008 19:18

Oh, and it took my periods about 6 months to return after I stopped having the injections.

Not saying it was definitely the Depo affecting the smear tests, but it was a huge coincidence that I never had problems with smear tests when I wasn't using Depo.

God, you can't half tell my baby's due tomorrow, my brain's shot to bits.

Oovavu · 29/12/2008 19:24

The nurse at my FPC said she really wouldn't recommend it to anyone even considering try to get pregnant in the forseeable future.

I had it when I was young free and single in my late 20s and it still took me 6 months to get periods back and start feeling human again.

inscotland · 29/12/2008 19:25

4.5 YEARS to conceive DS

EightiesChick · 29/12/2008 19:28

I was on Depo for a long time, around 8 years. Though it caused me some problems, for medical reasons my contraceptive choices are restricted. I came off it in July 06 but didn't TTC straight away; instead I switched to using a Mirena coil. But for your purposes, it was the next April, 07, before I got a period again - so 10 months. However, I then found that my cycle was very regular, 28 days dead on. I had always had light periods and this continued to be the case.

I had the coil in for a while and then it took me 7 months from having it removed to conceiving. I should also say that I expected it to be difficult to conceive, again for medical reasons (including being on the Depo for so long) so I actually feel pretty lucky. So, it took:

  • 1 year 8 months between coming off Depo and conception, but bear in mind I was only actually TTC for 7 months of those.
  • 10 months between stopping Depo and getting periods again.

So it can vary a lot from person to person. HTH.

kormaisforlifenotjustchristmas · 29/12/2008 19:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Oovavu · 29/12/2008 19:58

Actually have just checked my dates and I told a lie. It was a year til I got my periods back after the last depo injection. Then met dh and started trying a year after that. Took 3 months, had a miscarriage than got pregnant with dd1 the month after that

DerbyshireMum · 29/12/2008 20:23

I was on the depo injection for four years. It took me seven months for my periods to start again, then a further nine months to get pregnant - so sixteen months between my last jab and conceiving.

lunavix · 29/12/2008 20:26

I was on depo for a year or two, my last depo was meant to be in a july but i missed it, was pg by november. so four months.

Started again and put on a bushel of weight so off again! lol

jojosmaman · 29/12/2008 20:39

On depo for about three years, took 12 months after last injection for periods to return and then pg 2 cycles later (Ectopic pregnancy) and then successful pg again 5 mths after EP.

Differs for everyone though, my sil was pregnant 6mths after last injection.

jojosmaman · 29/12/2008 20:41

On depo for about three years, took 12 months after last injection for periods to return and then pg 2 cycles later (Ectopic pregnancy) and then successful pg again 5 mths after EP.

Differs for everyone though, my sil was pregnant 6mths after last injection.

nct73 · 29/12/2008 21:10

I used depo for at least 5 years. It really suited me. Was the only thing that sorted me about without any major side effects. I was due to have a shot in the January but didnt (so add 3 months if you want to take from last injection rather than when due to wear off). Periods started weakly in the April. We started trying in the June. We got pregnant the next March. DD born in the december. So that was 14 months. However I was on depo for what they now think was probably endometriosis but not as widely considered then. I had been ill with heavy painful bleeding, fainting & nausea ever since I started (luckily quite late. They tried me allsorts. Often being irregular didnt help. I was actually on waiting list for investigation when became preg. Am now preg with DC2. Would consider going back on depo post DC2 as not intending any more and even though was told having baby might sort it out, my periods are only slightly better but still really crippling.

So dont worry. Some people really quick (so also dont be fooled into thinking safe)and for others it can take a few years. Also is possible to get pregnant before your periods return which is why we didnt start trying until I knew they had come back so at least knew whether or not to be waiting for one to arrive. Good luck.

xxhunnyxx · 29/12/2008 22:11

After I came off the depo I had a period that lasted for about 1 month (stopped and started) and then it was probably about 6 months before my periods settled in to a regular pattern.
Personally, I hated the depo for this reason and doubt I'd have it again.
The average time to concieve is 12 months (this is how long it took me after coming off the pill) so you probably wont be TTC any longer than most couples xx

TheOtherMaryPoppinsDiets · 29/12/2008 22:14

Nearly 3 yrs and counting. I agree, it's EVIL.

wellbalanced · 30/12/2008 10:14

Im not sure on this, i was on depo a few yrs, i loved it, didnt suffer any side effects and seemed to work for me, and when started ttc my periods returned after 6mth and i fell pregnant about 18mth after last inj...

Gook luck if ttc...

ABloke · 30/12/2008 10:17

I like it but yes, it takes way too long for things to sort themselves out after it. iynwim

Google it. You will lots of stories. Actually, perhaps better not Google it.

TsarHumbug · 30/12/2008 10:24

I used it for about 2 years. I put on a lot of weight, made me moody and depressed, no libido.

Every time I mentioned this at doctors they were vague/non committal that it could be that, but stopping it improved things hugely. It took ages to feel ok again and months for periods to return.

It was only reading about others on mn that made me realise Depo could be making me feel dodgy.

I did not wish to try for more dc after it though so have no experience of ttc again afterwards.

The only up-side was no periods.

Original poster
bubblebell1 · 30/12/2008 19:18

thanks girls. keep them coming.

OP posts:
Lotster · 30/12/2008 19:26

Didn't try for babes until a few years later but back in the day when I had Depo it took me three months to get my periods back, and my friend didn't get hers back for 6 months.

I also made me moody, fat and mad! Hated it.