Should I quit taking birth control since it has affected my sex drive?

Question

I'm on depo provera. It's the one where you take a shot every 3 months.

I'm a month late on taking the shot and I'm already enjoying sex again. During the times that I have taken this (on and off for the past 3 years), my sex drive has disappeared as a side effect. My fiance is ecstatic that I'm back to normal, but what should I do?

Any advice?

Answer 1

Unless you want a child, you need to be on some type birth control. Talk to your doctor. Maybe he can find a type that won't decrease your sex drive, and still prevent an unwanted pregnancy.

Answer 2

Honestly, the television ads for birth control are pretty scary nowadays. It seems like the side effects outweigh the benefits of the birth control altogether. Do some research on your gf's bcp's and see if a decrease in sexual appetite is a side effect...that would pretty much defeat the purpose of birth control. If she's willing to stop using any pills and you agree to faithfully use condoms for awhile, you can see if her appetite increases. Maybe it's just psychological? Does she have a lot on her mind recently? Anything happen recently at school/work/family? Maybe your sexual routine is....a little routine? Have you tried changing it up a little? How about role-playing? Or being completely spontaneous. I hope you figure out what it is. Maybe it's nothing and she just has a lower sex drive than you do. Don't say that you'll be with her forever. If you guys are not compatible sexually, this could be a deal breaker for the relationship. You'll have your needs and if sex with her is not satisfying, you'll only be cheating yourself out of a fulfilling sex life. You will not be happy in the long run. I know it's not everything but it is a big part of a relationship.

Answer 3

I completely understand your situation. I was on birth control for years and I think I never realized that it was suppressing my sex drive. Then I went off it for a few years and - wow - life went crazy! Not only did I have a sex drive again, I also was more 'sensitive' everywhere, but in a great way. I felt more normal than I had in so long. I would suggest using a form of birth control that doesn't pump hormones into your body. Try an IUD or have him use a condom. I think if his alternative is not having sex, he won't mind condom use just to have it on a regular basis with a very enthusiastic partner. Like others said, you still have to be careful about not getting pregnant when you're not ready, but hey, sex is awesome and not enjoying it to the fullest is also wrong. Good luck! I'm off the pill and I feel feisty.

Answer 4

Go to the doctor like a responsible woman and discuss this with her. There are other hormonal birth control options that may not effect your sex drive like the Depo has.

You are an adult, you need to act like one and take care of yourself. Unless of course you will still fit in your dress while pregnant and you and your fiance like the idea of having a child soon.

I was on Depo of three months (one shot) and I hated it as well. It made me an emotional wreck. But you have to remember that not all hormonal birth controls are the same and you have many many many other options. I have been on Mercett for over 4 years and have had little to no side effects.

Good Luck

Answer 5

There are other methods of birth control that may affect you differently, even the Pill has different types, and your and your doctor can try to find the right Pill for your. There's also the Patch or the ring, so look into that. Don't bring a baby into this world all for the fun of sex if that's not what you want.

Answer 6

Wow, get off that stuff. I took it for 2 years, my body started going thru menopause. I hated it. I had hot flashes, cranky and then 6 month after I got off of it I did not have a period at all. My doctor said some people have odd side effects from it. I went back to the pill for a while and finally my husband and I decied I should just get off the stuff all together. I think you should try a pill or something different.

Answer 7

I have never heard of the pill affecting any women sex drive. There are other options of birth control. There are pills where you control your cycle for 4 times a year and other pills. My advise is to talk to your doctor and get on another birth control method before an unexpect pregancy occurs which your fiance may not be ready for.

Answer 8

Look into alternate forms of birth control. IUDs are a great form of BC. They even have one made from copper that has very little side effects. Talk to your doctor about what may be right for you. Unless you want to get pregnant, then you at least need to use a condom.

Answer 9

There are so many things to consider for us women to have a good sex...well making love or having sex depends on the mood of a woman..if we set our mood on great condition then for sure sex would be great then..and also before on having sex it starts with a foreplay of which your partner must do in order for you to increase your sex drive..it plays an important role in having sex..and besides let us consider things for our self before having sex...try to figure out if we are mind busy,exhausted from work,no aura at all...i mean girls should also prepare there self for that in order for us also to be fully satisfied of sex...sex is healthy! sex without satisfaction is not healthy! with the use of birth control pills it helps a lot of bringing unwanted babies...let us think and consider that "are we going to gamble on the fact raising unwanted children due to a very good sex we share or consider myself first, where in i can have a good sex if i will do something beforehand and without worrying about some babies because I'm safe with the birth control I'm using" .

Answer 10

A month late on your Depo? Trying to seal the deal by getting pregnant before the big day?

There's plenty of other options for birth control. I suggest you figure this out ASAP.