Have any other women had problems coming off depot injections?

Question

I had taken the injection for 12 years since having my youngest daughter, during this time we decided we wanted no more children and my husband had the snip, i had my last injection in january and was due to have another in April but despite having probs getting my husbands results, numerous phone calls they seemed to have lost/misplaced his results, i have really bad period pains roughly every 4 weeks accompanied by back pain but no bleeding. A friend who had been taking depot for only a year took months before she had a proper period, i'm seeing the nurse on Friday. Just wondered if anyone else had had probs, had to come off it due to large weight gain over the 12 years, cried when new doc said that the injection was one thats given to anorexics to help them gain weight

Answer 1

I have been off depo for almost 6 months and have not gotten my period back yet. not that i'm complaining :) of course. the doc said it was normal to take awhile, which is also why they tell women who plan on getting pregnant to stop depo a year before they want to get pregnant. And the weight gain? i don't know anyone on depo that didn't have weight problems. I gained a lot of weight, but I eventually figured out how to lose it. just by eating healthy and balanced, not drinking soda, and excercising for 10 to 30 minutes a day (depending on how much time I have). And of course, once I went off depo, the last of the extra weight just fell right off.

Answer 2

I didn't pile on weight when I went on the depo. I was on it for 5 years, but came off it as me & partner felt it was time to start trying for a baby, but 9 months later, I am still waiting for my periods to come back, and I have been told it could take up to 2 years!
I wish I'd been told this when I went onto the injection, because it would have influenced my decision at the time.

Answer 3

I only had one shot a few years ago and it was the last one I ever will have. It took me roughly a year to get back to a normal cycle. I had really heavy painfull periods, breakthrough bleeding and even bled for nearly 3 months straight after I came off it. I also had to have 2 pap smears and an internal examination to see if anything else was causing it but alas no it was the depot. I hope things improve for you :)

Answer 4

I was on depo for 7 years but came off due to very low oestrogen levels following a routine blood test,plus I was'nt feeling too good during the 6 months before I came off it, but to be honest since I stopped having it i've felt alot better and glad I don't take it anymore, Ive lost some weight and don't seem to get as emotional as I did. Hope you feel better soon.

Answer 5

yeah u r right the injection does make you pile on weight lots of it. i am doing a hysterectomy test at the minute which includes taking that injection and hrt. it is supposed to shut my ovaries down and stop all the pain i have had 3 injections so far and to be honest i am in more pain than ever. apparently when you get a hysterectomy you still get period pains and weight gain. i understand what you mean

Answer 6

i used to have it, the last time i had it i had periods more than i should of, when i was on it a few years ago, i got to admit i lost 20lb over a good few weeks with weight watchers,
if i thought for one min that my weight would go p i would never had tried it again, i think any contraceptive affects us women in all different ways what works for one may not work for another, as for the depot worked for me once but not now i have the marina coil now that's not right at moment either,
PS: i also use to get symptoms of periods with it but no period, same as the pills you take when you need to have a period stopped eg as if you went on holidays at due date

Answer 7

i put a lot of weight on with the injection and it took me 2 yrs to get a period back you seem like you could be on the way to having 1 the Dr can bring it on by giving you something to help

Answer 8

It took over a year for my periods to come back. I came off mine under the advice of the doctor as they think it was a contributor to depression that I was diagnosed with. I have lost lots of weight since coming off it too.