i am thinking of switching to the shot... how is that? how are the side effects? do i still get a period?

Answer 1

The shot as Depo Provera is a hormone injection that lasts for 3 months to prevent pregnancy by making the cervical mucus to thicken and changes the uterine lining, making it harder for sperm to enter or survive in the uterus. It is effective birth control for 13 weeks and if you wish to remain using it it will be useful to schedule your next shot slightly earlier than that. If you will be more than a week late for your next shot, backup method of birth control for the next two weeks should be used.
Some of the side effects are weight gain,having no or irregular periods, headaches, nervousness, mood changes, bloating, hot flashes, decreased interest in sex, breast tenderness, acne, hair loss, and back ache.
Many women stop having periods after a year of use. Lack of a period is common with longer use. Its effectivity rate is 97-99%. One study found that it causes loss of bone density resulting in an increased risk of osteoporosis.Please read on the link for further details:http://www.fwhc.org/birth-control/bcdepo.htm

Answer 2

I just got the shot and I love it. I have had some spotting but other than that its no inconvenience. The shot is effective immediately after it is administered.
The medication lasts three months, and it prevents pregnancy by hindering ovulation and making the lining of the uterus too thin for the egg to implant itself. Other than IUDs and permanent sterilization (tubal ligation or hysterectomy), Depo Provera is the only contraceptive that works with only periodic use.

Depo Provera is particularly useful for women who have difficulty remembering to take pills on a daily basis. And it's more effective than barrier methods such as the diaphragm or condom.

Side Effects:

The main side effect reported with Depo Provera is bleeding. Many women experience unpredictable, periodic flow during the first three to nine months of use. This occurs because the uterine lining becomes too thin in some women, and blood breaks through. Almost all women stop bleeding by the ninth month, provided that they receive regular injections every three months.

Other common side effects are depression, weight gain, and bloating. Unfortunately Depo Provera can't be reversed once it's injected, so women who experience these symptoms can only wait until the injection wears off in three months. Women who want to "test the water" before receiving a shot of Depo Provera can try taking oral, progesterone-only birth control pills for a while. If a woman doesn't experience side effects from these, she probably won't from Depo Provera either.

Most women return to their normal periods and normal fertility four to six months after the last Depo Provera injection. Insurance coverage for all birth control, including Depo Provera, varies by plan, so check with your doctor and insurer regarding costs.

Answer 3

The shot like everything else, has its pros and cons. If you are a person that usually forgets everything the pills are not your choice, unless you find something that would remind you. (i.e, if you need to put the alarm to wake you up for school and/or work everyday place the pills next to it). The shot will help you with this, the problem is that you will gain weight. What the shot does is send a message to your brain to make it believe you are pregnant (that is why you don't ovulate) and this is why you gain weight. My co-worker did it after I told her the same thing I am telling you, and she is regreting it. She gained weight CRAZILY. Talk to your doctor, There are a lot of other methods you can use.
Good luck!

Answer 4

I took the shot for years! It was heaven!! I had almost complete and immediate cessation (stoppage) of my period, and then only had one about every 15 months of so! The weight gain was non-existent, as were the mood swings (because I didn't have huge hormone fluxes).

My only pieces of advice are that if you DO decide to go on the shot, get it put in your shoulder (the butt HURTS!!), and get it toward the beginning of your "window of opportunity" (you'll be given a week in which to get the "booster") rather than the end - it will help to avoid a period/spotting, if you do eventually stop.

As a nice health benefit, you're less likely to get ovarian cancer because you'll be ovluating less often than a person who doesn't use a chemical control method! ;-)

Answer 5

The Depo Provera Shot? Stay away from it! Yes it will stop your period (Might have some spotting here & there though) Over 60% of ppl that have tooken this shot, there periods took
0-3 years to come back to normal (myself included) also there's been reports done that this shot will either stop you from ovulating or you'll produce smaller numbers of eggs (This is after your OFF the shot) If you don't believe me, that's ok...just please check into it more before you decide. Trying to spare you what me and 2 of my other friends have been through.

Answer 6

It mostly depends on your body 1 time I was on it and the only side effect was no period yay but the 2nd time I got on the shot I gainind 30 lbs

Answer 7

I love it. You get it every 3 months. I don't have a period anymore. If you have it, it's very light for only a day or two. The side effect I don't like is weight gain.

Answer 8

The shot isn't bad. I got it for a year after my first child was born. I gained some weight from it and I didn't get a period. I got off of it because I wanted to get pregnant agin and was told that sometimes it takes up to a year for it to get out of your system and get pregnant. I was lucky I got pregnant 3 months after I stopped it.

Answer 9

bad idea there are tons of side effects and no you will usualy stop haveing a period but that is hard on your body please talk to a doctor for a full list of pro's and con's and think of all the weight that is gained on the shot

Answer 10

You will get VERY different thoughts on Depo shoots. Some people swear by them, others really hated them. I for one had a very bad experience with them. I would say do some real research and talk to your dr. about the side effects.

http://www.pfizer.com/pfizer/are/news_releases/2004pr/mn_2004_1118.jsp a news release from the maker