The Depo Shot

[angela-ann.livejournal.com]

Ahhhhhhhh, the Depo-Shot... practically 0 risk of preganancy....

But OH! the weight gain!!

Anyone else relate?

I've also experienced the side effect of losing my period completely-- is this more common than I think it is? I've heard that one's monthly is less intense when one is on the shot, but never of losing it all together.... anyone?

Comments

[ex-hamster536.livejournal.com]

I have answered this a lot in this community.

1) You are supposed to lose you period completely and CAN maybe have spotting. But for the duration of usage, you don't get your period. And After you stop, you don't get it for up to 18 months after that.

2) Weight gain doesn't always happen. I didn't gain weight and I was on it for 2 years.

/Heather

[ponypants.livejournal.com]

I hadn't heard about not getting your period again for up to 18 months later. I just got off of it back in October after being on it for over 2 years. I have yet to get my period and was getting worried.

[freyjasgydhia.livejournal.com]

I took it to lose my period(I have Endometriosis)and it messed me up!!! I've been going through 1-2 tampons a day for 2 months plus had my normal cycles on top of it. Scary shot!! But of course there was something wrong with me to begin with..

[heidilynne.livejournal.com]

my experience was this:

i gained weight.

my depression came back, after a year's absence.

i didn't have any periods.

the weight gain depends on the person. i have a propensity for gaining weight, so i wasn't surprised that i did. i also gain weight on certain bc pills. then again, i gain weight when i look sideways at a cheesecake, so don't take my gain with anything more than a grain of salt. :)

one of the side effects of depo is depression, which my doctor never told me. since depression runs in my family (and i've had to deal with it in the past), it came on FULL FORCE when i was on depo. it took me several cycles of being on it/being off it to determine that the depo was indeed causing the depression (something to do with the hormone levels).

the absence of your period is entirely normal on depo. and it's nothing to be concerned about, it won't harm you (based on all the info i've read on the subject). one of the reasons i preferred depo was because i didn't have to deal with my period every month (not to mention pms, bloating, and all the other lovelies that come with it). however, after i got off depo, i had periods from hell for the first few months. not overly painful, but LONG and unpredictable.

if you're concerned about the shot, my advice would be to educate yourself on possible side effects and correct dosage and usage of the injection. here's a good website, developed by the company who produces depo: http://www.depoprovera.com/

[gliterybuterfly.livejournal.com]

I gained 70 pounds over 3 years while on Depo. I was heavy a year before I got on it, lost 70 pounds and gained it back when I got onto Depo. Bleck. I've been off it for 5 months now and have lost 25 pounds (I'm now on BC pills).

I did lose my period for the 3 years I was on it. I never had one cycle unless I missed a shot.

Good luck with it.

[ex-nathanr.livejournal.com]

I hope you don't mind a post from me, seein' how I'm not a girl and all but I feel I can relate to the subject..

My fiancee has been on Depo since December.

Periods: Nada, none, zip.
Weight gain: From 160lbs to 200 lbs in a matter of 5 months.

There is usually some degree of weight gain with Depo. We (Jill & I) can't really think of a way arond that unless anyone out there has a secret or two they'd like to share..

Nathan