It doesn't always stop periods in everyone as you may still have spotting.
The injection (or Depo-Provera) is given every 12 weeks in your butt-cheek. There are pros and cons; gaining weight is not one of them as putting weight on with a contraceptive is not proven (its down to the actual individual person's eating habits).
Depo is a progesterone only hormone, where as the combined pill has both progesterone and oestrogen hormones which is what your body's natural cycle works on if you were not taking any type of contraception.
It is better to have the combined pill, as the oestrogen hormone is what is needed to best convert the calcium required for your bones. If you have the injection, and want to get pregnant, you also have to wait up to a year, to allow it to get out of your system.
The injection is not recommended for those under 22 years of age (due to the bones still developing) and is also not recommended for women from about 35 upwards to continue using it (again, due to the decrease in bone density as we get older and possible osteoporoses).
The injection was originally invented for use in 3rd world countries, like India, where birth rates were phenomenal and so was introduced as a quick and easy method of birth control. They could just, jab all the women in a village and then move onto the next village, returning the following 12 weeks later, to reinject.
The best thing would be to go to your family planning clinic and speak to the doctor who will best be able to advise. I was on it for over 10 years (right through my twenties) and never had no trouble with it. During this time, I was required to have a blood test so they could check my bone density and t-cell production (as this is recommended should be done every 3-4 years that you are on the injection). When I hit my 30's I was advised that due to the injection lacking the oestrogen hormone, it would be advisable to look at changing back to the combined pill as it contained the oestrogen hormone that helps with calcium and bone renewal etc etc. Before I decided, I went for a bone density scan, just to check that after all this time, my bones were ok. Lucky for me they are (but this also is down to good regular exercise, and calcium supplements taken over the years).
I finally came off the injection 7 months ago to go back on the combined pill, my main reason being due to wanting to protect my bones, as I get older. I must say however that that even after all this time since changing, my body is still trying to find its feet with the periods !!!
But yes, definitely chat to your doctor/family planning clinic doctor who will help. :)
2006-09-03 07:42:27
·
answer #1
·
answered by Anonymous
·
0⤊
0⤋
hello,
I was on the depo shot for four years. I had a period the first month, then nothing. After getting married, i came off the shot, was the same cycle as before and it took 1 1/2 yrs before i got pregnant. My experience was no period, no mood swings, and no craps. However, i have a friend that she bled for 1 1/2 weeks each month for the first 3 months before her period stopped. Upon ending the shot, the first month was an 8 day period before going back to usual cycle. I did have a problem after four years, i couldn't remember what size pads i use to buy. It was a long day for me trying to remember and standing in front of those shelves. I got some looks let me tell you. I'm not familiar with any others so i can only answer about the depo prevara(i think that's how it's spelled) PS the pill only made me gain 60 lbs. It was horrible for me so stopped that route. Good luck and hope some one will have information on other shots for you.
2006-09-03 07:08:21
·
answer #2
·
answered by aggedflame 2
·
0⤊
0⤋
I had depo provera when I was 18 or 19. It stopped my periods when I was having it every 3mths which was quite good and I never had to remember to take my pill. But then I split with my boyfriend so I just stopped having the jab. A couple of months after I stopped having the jab my periods started up again, but seemed to make up for the missed ones. I had a pretty much continuous period for 3mths, which was horrible and made me ill. That eventually stopped and they got back to normal but those 3mths were nasty. There was nothing I could do about it, because the dose of hormones you're given is that big you just have to wait for them to leave your system.
I wouldn't recommend the injection but every woman is different, I can see there are benefits like that you don't have to remember to take your pill and your periods stop which is convenient. I just think there must be a really massive amount of hormones to do that, and when you come off the injection and stop having it I think it must be a bad shock for your body.
2006-09-03 11:02:55
·
answer #3
·
answered by Anonymous
·
0⤊
0⤋
If you want to gain weight then get the shot...I had periods just like you are saying you have and I take Yasmin and now it is lighter and the cramps don't hurt as near as bad as they did before I took the pill. I know 4 friends that got the Depo shot and gained 20-30 pounds but one girl I know lost weight but most people gain a lot of weight from the shot because of how many hormones they put in the stuff.
2006-09-03 06:58:59
·
answer #4
·
answered by Anonymous
·
0⤊
0⤋
When i was on the Depo it did not stop my period completely. I still had a period now and again. In my opinion i would not go on the Injection it becomes difficult later in life for you wanted to try for a baby. Ive been off the injection now for a year trying to conceive and nothing. Also ive had the worse pain with my periods now im off it.
Hope this helps
2006-09-04 02:56:17
·
answer #5
·
answered by BLUE 2
·
0⤊
0⤋
It does stop them completely but the injection is still not a definate for not getting pregnant. My mate has the IUD and she is fine on it. I'm on the pill and have been for the past 3 years and its great - I wouldn't change it only negative thing is that you have to remember to take it every day and you still get periods but they are lighter and less painful.
2006-09-03 07:05:32
·
answer #6
·
answered by renaultfi69 2
·
0⤊
0⤋
Try getting an IUD. They last for 5 or 10 years. You dont have periods and you dont have to worry about going to the doctor to recieve a shot every three months nor having to pay for it everytime you go. I had really bad periods too but ever since I got my IUD 3 years ago I never had a problem.
2006-09-03 06:59:44
·
answer #7
·
answered by He_Knows_Me 4
·
0⤊
0⤋
DON'T do it!!! It turns you into a crazy woman, you'll shout and scream constantly. You will bleed every day bar maybe two days a month. Avoid it at all costs. It's the worst thing I ever did and I never ever took anything like that again, not even the Pill.
2006-09-03 11:09:27
·
answer #8
·
answered by Princess415 4
·
0⤊
0⤋
i have heard that they stop your periods all together and then when you actually do want to conceive it takes ages for them to return also heard you can put on loads of weight. this is from a couple of friends that had it, but if you have really painful periods then maybe its worth that. what about the coil, i have always had that, and its worked for me without no horrible side effects.
2006-09-03 07:02:50
·
answer #9
·
answered by charlie 3
·
0⤊
0⤋
i got it and i had really bad heavy periods and a few weeks after getting it my periods stopped and i thought this was great but 18mths after stopping the jag i still hadnt had a period and found out i was pregnant,also my friend got the jag and she bled for 2yrs constant so it works different on everyone its just your luck
2006-09-03 10:16:49
·
answer #10
·
answered by carlyxx 2
·
0⤊
0⤋