Women? The shot?

Question

Hello. I am on birth control pills and I am thinking about getting the depo shot. I have heard that it makes some women infertile and that it takes them years to have a baby. Is this true? I want protection, but I want to be able to have a child when I want one. What is your opinion?

Answer 1

I was on the shot for one year only and it took me a year and half to get prego. It takes anywhere from 12 months to 16 months for the drug to get completely out of your system. It can cause weight gain, headaches, and terrible mood swings! I hated it with a passion. I had to take it for my endometriosis though. Good luck in your decision!

Answer 2

Being on the pill is best if you plan to have kids in the next couple years. Having the depo shot you are being given a very high dose of hormones. Enough to last 3 months. Some women are very sensative to this. Some women complain of "going crazy" from the hormones. A common compliant regarding constant - simular or more intense then normal PMS emotional symptoms.

Also, If you are more than a week late for your shot, use a backup method of birth control for the next two weeks. If you are more than a week late and you have had unprotected sex since your last shot, consider taking a pregnancy test before receiving the next dose.
After a year of Depo Provera injections, 57 percent of women are not menstruating.
After two years of taking Depo Provera, 68 percent of women are not menstruating.
If you stop getting Depo Provera injections, your period usually returns within 3 to 10 months.
After the last injection of Depo Provera, a significant side effect is that it takes an average of 9 to 12 months to become pregnant.

Answer 3

I was on Depo Provera for a year. It took a full year after I stopped getting the shots to get a normal period back. It can take even longer for some women. I would assume that as long as you aren't getting your regular period, the Depo is still keeping you from being able to get pregnant.

I didn't have a lot of problems when I was on it, my biggest complaint was that I gained 10 lbs. When I was coming off of it, though, I was pretty unhappy with it. My hormones were all out of whack for that entire year, and I would have periods of time where I felt really depressed (it didn't help that my husband was in Iraq that whole year). I just didn't feel like myself for a long time, and I blame all the hormones that were left in my body from the Depo Provera. The weight also didn't come off very easily, and my face broke out pretty bad when I stopped taking it.

If you think you may want to get pregnant anytime in the next few years, I'd stay away from Depo Provera. Many, many women have trouble getting pregnant when the want to after using it. I was lucky and got pregnant exactly a year after I stopped taking it, when my husband got home. I really don't think I could have gotten pregnant any earlier than that though.

Also, search it online. You will find a lot of websites set up by women who have serious, lasting problems that they blame on Depo Provera.

Answer 4

After my first I got on it for a couple of years and then went on the pill and bad reaction so I went back to the shot and was on it for the next 6-7 years...I decided to have another baby and it took a year before I got pregnant and I ended up having a m/c..I got pregnant 2 months later and had another m/c. Did some research on the computer and found alot of women have problems with getting pregnant or staying pregnant after being on it...I did get pregnant right after the second m/c and went on to have a healthy baby boy..and I`m 19 weeks pregnant and everything is fine...I do believe it was the shot that caused my problems..Not to mention my hair was falling out like crazy and the weight gain...I didn`t notice either one right away but over time it got worse and worse..I would not recommend it to anyone..Good Luck..

Answer 5

I am in the same situation as you im scared about the shot and not able to have a baby when I want to . If your not planning on getting pregnant anytime soon then the shot is perfect I think planned parenthood told me that it takes up to three months once you are off the shot to become pregnant. The pill you can get pregnant if you miss a couple of pills . Why don't you look at the planned parenthood website I know they have alot of good information on different forms of control.

Answer 6

i got the shot in my @ss for about 2 years, i got preg. about 6 months later, i wasn't trying it just happened, and i was single for about 4 of those months. so it didn't make me infertile. but i like the shot b/c you don't have to think about taking something everyday, it only took about 15 mins to walk in the docs office and walk out, and you don't need an appointment. im considering doing that after the baby, or maybe those "T" shaped birth control implants.
oh now i remember, while on the depo i had a period EVERYDAY! it was not a normal period though, it was like light spotting, i didn't need a pad or tampon, just a panty liner sometimes. I got use to it. after i got off my period came back normal, sort of, it only lasted 3 days, that was great!

Answer 7

I've been on depo for three years. I don't have any depo horror stories it's done me good. As far as being infertaile i think it would just take some time for your body to regulate itself going back to having a mestral cycle and thats why it may take a little while longer to get pregnant. Talk to your docotor. And as with all birth controls your body's going to have a differant reaction to differant birth controls. But the best thing to do would be to talk to your doctor about the pro's and the con's of depo. Good luck

Answer 8

It all depends....but one of my very close friends has 2 kids right now, and both were conceived when she was on depo!!! So if you do decide to get depo, still use a condom for double protection from being pregnant and stds - since you're taking measures, you are obviously not ready for an instant family, so definitely use a condom regardless. Do what you can to stay healthy, so that when you are ready to have kids, you will least likely have complications.

Answer 9

I was on the shot off and on for 5 years. I had only went off of it when we were trying for our children. It only took me about 6 mos each time to get preggo. Three mos to clear out and resume regular periods, and three mos worth of trying. I will warn you though, as I hadn't realized it at the time, but it can cause SERIOUS depression. My doctors finally took me off Depo because the heaviest of doses of antidepressants were not working for me. ( I am much better now that I am off). I never gained any weight, and I never had any period, or spotting while I was on it. One other thing, Depo is a pretty strong birth control method... if you switch to pills later on they may not be effective... I also found that out the hard way as I am 33 weeks with number 4! Hope this will help you weigh out the pro's and cons.... Overall I would not recommend it... most people I have known on it do have some problems with it in one way or another. Nuva ring is supposed to be very good, as well other methods. Talk to your doctor and he can help you figure out the best method for you! Good luck!

Answer 10

I have heard some Depo horror stories. A relative of mine tried Depo after her 5th child was born. When they wanted to get pg again, it took over 2 years (when she had previously been a fertile myrtle).