What are your thoughts on the Depo-Provera shot?

please keep in mine that everyone's body will react differently to the depo shot. and weight gain is one of the 'standard' side effects of depo, more so than with other forms of birth control.

hehe, now i'm gonna give my one little schpiel (sp??) that i have to give at work. a study (i don't know the name, check webmd) has been conducted and it shows that women who have used depo for extended periods of time, approx. 2 yrs, have started to experience bone thinning which can lead to osteoporosis later in life. The good news being that when they went off depo, the bones did regrow, but the scientists don't know to what extent it has regrown. so what we recommend is upping your calcium intake, take a vitamin d supplement to help with absorbtion, and regular exercise and weight training (i'm sure you have a handle on that one though lol). To sum up, you probably shouldn't be on depo for more than two years unless it is the only birth control option for you.

otherwise, the majority of women i talk to who are on the shot love it. and there are those who hate it. and there are those with adverse side effects.

not sure if someone addressed this already. it is just as easy to get pregnant after the shot as after the pill. the only difference is that the shot lasts three months, so you have to expect a waiting period before it has left your system. most women are able to get pregnant within 9 months of stopping the shot. if you have problems getting pregnant after that, most doctors want couples to be trying to get pregnant for a year at least before seeking medical attention.

hope this was helpful and not overkill! :) good luck in your decision
maddie
 
>>
>
>not sure if someone addressed this already. it is just as easy
>to get pregnant after the shot as after the pill. the only
>difference is that the shot lasts three months, so you have to
>expect a waiting period before it has left your system. most
>women are able to get pregnant within 9 months of stopping the
>shot. if you have problems getting pregnant after that, most
>doctors want couples to be trying to get pregnant for a year
>at least before seeking medical attention.
>
>

I HATE TO BREAK IT TO YOU BUT THIS IS NOT THE MAJORITY!!! You would NOT BELIEVE how many support groups out there are for those ttc after depo - it messes you up badly!!! And it's a MAJOR misconception that it is gone after the 3 months - not true! It could take you a year or longer just to get your period!!! It can take 18 months to a year later to get pregnant! I'm not trying to bash this poster, just this is such a common misconception and a horror to find out it's not true!x(
 
<My last shot was 1/1997 and I FINALLY got pregnant with my first child 11/2000.>

Hmmmm.... I had a baby July 2000... that should read I got pregnant 11/1999. :)

Autumn
 
Oh man!! If I could do over, I would have never done it!!! I took the shot for a year, and after I quit taking the shot, it took about another year for me to get my period back. I gained a total of 40 lbs. that year, and the majority of it was gained within the first few months on it. I also became very depressed and my sex drive went downhill. I generally try to support people with any decisions that they make, but I would try my hardest to talk ANYBODY out of this. But again, just my .02!!

Good luck with your decision.

Kim
 
I finally got off depo after 7 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My skin (acne) has already started to improve :) I loved not getting my cycle though!!!! Now that I hear all these bad things, I am glad I am off -
that is scary losing bone mass! I am only 25 so hopefully i didn't do too much damage! Yikes!!
 
Julie, I question the stats on Depo too, but Maddie is going by the information available on Depo. As many of you know, my job outside the home is a Women's Health NP for a family planning clinic. We provide similar information to clients in addition to the patient labeling (package insert) and company pamphlets. According to the patient labeling, about half of women will become pregnant within 10 months of their last injection; 2/3s in about 12 months; 83% in 15 months; and 93% in about 18 months. I am in the midst of updating my Women's Health lecture for the nursing students and have not found new statistics. Of course, this information is provided by the pharmaceutical company. I would be interested to see stats based on the today's numbers.

You can read the patient labeling here, it also addresses the calcium loss:
http://www.pfizer.com/download/ppi_depo_provera_contraceptive.pdf

Autumn
 
I totally agree with Wendymin. My personality became instant "Bitch from Hell" and it was much worse than my usual pms type symptoms. Also, I wanted to shoot my husband not have sex with him. After about 9 months (3 shots) I decided it wasn't worth it. I got off it and now I'm back to my happy, cheerful, fun to be around self;)

I also agree with Wendymin that everyone is different it just didn't work for me.
 
I was on it for 9 months. The best birth control because I was b!tc#y
that my husband and I didn't have sex the whole time I was on it!! He begged me to go back on the pill. I did and it took me almost a year to get back to being me. I ended up switching pills for one with "happier androgens", as my OB/Gyn put it.

Depo did nothing for my cramps. I'd get the shot, skip my period for 2 months, and then have massive cramps 2 weeks before my next shot was due, and I'd have a period until a week after my next dose. Imagine, a 3 week period.

It totally sucked and I wouldn't recommend it.
 
The Bitch factor was horrible. I felt like I was possessed.

Sex drive wasn't effected.

Cramps? You don't get a period for 3 months at a time & then you just have spotting.

Weight gain? I gained 15 lbs in 3 months.
 
Wow! I can't count! lol I said I was only on the shot for 3 months? Had to be atleast 9! Sorry! lol Once the med was out of my system I went back to being completely normal and never messed with another shot, pill or patch again!...The good ol' condom came to my rescue and has always treated me right! Just my preference!:)

Have a great work out!

~Wendy~

I smoked my last cigarette on March 17, 2004 at 10:00 pm!

http://lilypie.com/days/050519/1/0/1/-5/.png[/img][/url]

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?WENDYMIN
 
Jeez, I didn't notice any bitch factor. But then again, it probably didn't cause me to stray too far from my natural personality. :) I am not any happier on the pill....sex drive did not improve. I liked Depo, I don't think I had one negative side effect except for bleeding in the beginning months. But then you don't have a period at all lots of times. Maybe a little worse acne, but that is unclear. Clearly, I am not in the majority!!:)


I think if you are willing to go hormone free and won't be terribly upset if you do get pregnant, then natural is the way to go, either FAM or say, diaphragm.
 
I have been on depo for about 2 years now- and with not really making any major changes in my eating or exercising - I have gained about 30 lbs- very depressing- I have made an appt to switch off. Of course I can't be sure that Depo caused it - but it is the only major change in my system and I have never carried weight around my middle like now.

The brighter side is that I havent had a period the entire time and no spotting either. The only way I can tell that it is about my monthly time - is that I get a few pimples. I have enjoyed that aspect.

I want to try the new 4 month cycle pill. Becuase if I switched back to every month periods - that would suck - hehe...

Oh - and no change in the sex drive for sure - just asa frisky as ever.... :)
 
right Autumn, and as the stats on the actual drug say 50% is not a majority to get pregnant w/in 10 months of the injection. And if you are planning to get pregnant and having a 50% chance of being in the 12-18+ months is very frustrating and stressful. So you are right, but the poster said most get pg in 9 months after the pill, just letting the poster who wants to get pg that it's not the majority... as you know. Thanks so much for the real stats for everyone to see :)

also to add, my DH is a medical student, and we were talking about the idea that the drug would be out of the system for every woman after 3 months exactly. Well it doesn't make much sense that a drug dose given the same for every size of woman would be flushed out the system at the same time. The idea that one day the drug is active in your system and the very next day it is doesn't seem overall acurrate. Anyway this is just assumtions that DH and I have made on our own, but really does make sense. The drug is injected at the same dose for every woman, no relation to size and weight.
 
I really don't know anything about this one. I'm kind of "old school" when it comes to birth control. I was on the pill for the greater part of 14 years before we decided to get pregnant. Then I think I did get that shot right after I had my daughter, because I was still nursing. It was OK, and I didn't have any side effects, but it was not covered by my prescription insurance. So I went back on the pill (which was covered). Then when I hit 37, I felt uncomfortable still being on the pill and tried the Nuva-Ring. But I didn't like it because I got an internal bruise from it one month (or something that FELT like a bruise, anyway).

Now I'm using the Mirena IUD and I love, love, love it!!!!! But, since you're planning to get pregnant in the next year, it's not an option for you. It's really for women who don't want to get pregnant in the next 5-6 years.
 
You know, I used the diaphragm for 10 years with no trouble at all. You can get pregnant when you want. It's so easy to use. Men don't hate it. I made it my husband's job to get it ready for me. It sure was the most cost effective method of birth control with a total of zero side effects.

Unless you have disorders you want hormones to help clear up, why not stay away from them so that there's no chance of them screwing up your system and stopping you from geting pregnant?

If you hate having periods, I now use the Nuvaring and it is fabulous. I use 3 or 4 continuously (each for 3 weeks), then insert the new without a break, so no period, no cramps, nothing. My skin is so much better as is my mood for using it and luckily, it's very affordable thanks to my health care. It's a very low dose of hormones, and a consistent level throughout the month, so none of the ups and down that lead to crabbiness.

Clare
 
I have been on Depo since 1991. Before it was approved here for BC, it had been in use in Europe for I think 10 or so years.

I have not gained weight, or had severe acne. Also, I know I do not want to get pregnant ever again. I hate having periods. I would get a tubal ligation but I hate periods! Now I don't have them. My gyno, did recommend I take a calcium supplement because of the risk for osteoporosis. I'm not so good at taking vit. but I do eat right. I'm 33 & my last bone density check, I was doing very well. I think, a healthy diet, & weight training helps out more than you imagine.

Not to mention , I am terrified of blood clots. Hypertension & strokes run in my family. BC pills can increase your risk.

Marla
 
Hi Valerie! I wish I new the number of clients we have using Ortho Evra. All I can tell you is the only side effect resulting in a method change is a skin rash. Other than that, not one client has stopped using the patch because of side effects. The most common reason for discontinuation is the cost even on the clinic's sliding scale. Based on the literature, side effects with the patch are similar to the pill over time. However, BTB (break through bleeding) and breast tenderness are significantly more common during cylces 1 & 2 on the patch than the pill.

Unfortunately, the only way to find out if it is for you is to give it a try.

Good luck!

HTH

Autumn
 
Marla, you reminded me of something... I completely forgot about my lipid profile on Depo. My total cholesterol and LDL increased but my HDL decreased. I can't remember what my triglycerides were on Depo. The pill increased my total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides. The impact of hormonal contraception is questioned by some experts, but I know for a fact it is not good for my lipid profile.

Autumn
 
please please please remember that each woman reacts differently to different methods of birth control. it almost pains me to hear the horror stories about depo. mostly because i know they can be so true for some women, and yet other have never had a single problem. What people hear from their friends is one of the big barriers where i work. it's hard to tell people some facts when they are convinced by what their friend says.

anyway, the bulk of my post is gonna be this:
Where i work, Ortho Evra (the patch) is our biggest seller. like autumn said, the only side effect that is usually reported is a skin rash like prolonged use with a band aid. the patch can be worn in eight spots. left or right upper arm. left or right upper shoulder. left or right lower abdomen. and left or right upper buttock (not the cheek too much for the hormone to pass through). Another complaint i got once, which i thought kinda funny, was that she just didn't like having it "on" her. uh huh...anywhooo..you wear one patch a week for three weeks, then go without for one week for your period.

the nuva ring is also gaining in popularity. it is sooooo easy to use.
the women that don't like it typically say it's because they don't like the thought of something being "in" there for so long, or they don't like putting it in. it is a vaginal ring about the size of a typical ponytail holder, if you twist it in the middle and put your foot up on something it is very easy to insert and remove. You wear one ring for three weeks then take it out for one for your period. You can take it out for up to three hours, such as for intercourse. most men say they cannont feel it. some do. most don't mind, others like it because of the added friction. personally i use this method, and i love it. i was on ortho tricyclin which i didn't realize until i switched, made be a bit of a *&#($.

IUD's are a great choice for women not wanting to get pregnant anywhere in the near future. there are two types, the mirena and the paragard. one is hormonal and is inside for 5 years. the other is nonhormonal and can be in for up to 12 years i believe. the big BIGGIE with IUD's is that it is strongly advised that it be used by women in monogomous relationships....why? because the chances of contracting an STI with multiple partners is greater than with one monogomous partner. the danger is this, IUD's have a string for removal. if you get infected with an STI it will probably take a while to find out since women naturally have discharge and might not notice a difference in it. The STI will move up the strings and progress to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. very bad.

Pills are good for people who can remember to take a pill everyday at the same time. there are sooo many kinds of pills. different levels of different hormones and whatnot. many pills and other methods like the ring, can be used continuously. as in NO PERIODS! plus the benefit that most give to you skin. but once again, side effect of lots of BCMs is weight gain.

another BCM is Lunelle, kinda pointless to talk about since it is no longer made. however, people are really hoping they will make it again. this was the once a month shot. i haven't heard a bad thing on it, but then i've never worked with it. the deal with this shot going bye-bye was that a bad batch was made and some women got pregnant, they then recalled the batch, and then ALL lunelle. they stopped making it.

heh, ok, another lengthy post...i'm going to go ice my wrists now :)

maddie
 
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