Comments on: Questions About Side Effects of Stopping Contraceptive Injections

By: Joanna

Joanna — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:46:25 +0000

I had gotten my first depo shot in August 2011. I was supposed to go for my second shot in November 2011, but wasn’t able to make it due to being out of town for work training. I never went and got my second shot. Ever since my first shot, I have had my period non-stop. I was told that during the first 3 months, it would be normal to get your period. So i thought nothing of it. We are now in Feburary 2012, and I get my period 2, maybe 3 times a month now. Im not too sure what is going on, but i have had horrible cramps, loss of sleep. Should I seek medical help? I am tired of bleeding all the time, it is interferring with my life Any suggestions?

By: Amy

Amy — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:43:20 +0000

I was on depo for about 10 years, it was one of my favorite things I did for myself. No side effects, my period was just gone! I am now 49yrs old and was told I am going through menapause (great joy, not.) So I decided to give my body a break. My last shot was Oct.2011 and just last month I had one day of spotting. This month I’m having cramps that would drop a man to his knees! Either I have forgetten what cramps feels like or “they” have been saving up their intensity over the years. The pain is so intense, it’s taking my breathe away. I am so happy to find others trying to find answers. The doctor had the nerve to tell me that I would breeze through menapause due to the depo shot. I do not feel breezy in anyway!

By: bethanie

bethanie — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:15:10 +0000

I only had 2 shots of depo and decided to quit after my skin felt like it had goose bumps on my legsand my hair started falling out, I actually lost about 13 pounds in the two and half months which wasn’t good bc my beginning weight was 120. My legs always hurt, I only had one period in 6 months and the worst part was I became a emotional monster. I was mean, rude, didn’t care what I said or who I hurt. I was depressed and tired all the time. My face broke out like never before and I too had trouble sleeping and even focusing. And I was due for my last shot in dec 2011 didn’t get it. I had my first period on time but no period this month, cramps, headaches, depression, I feel sick a lot, always tired, I’ve gained 12 pounds in a month, my legs hurt a lot and I’m a “bitch” according to some people. I will NEVER take this shot again. I hope my periods get regular soon and it won’t take years to have another baby.

By: hailey

hailey — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:54:14 +0000

And now im feeling bloated and like im gaining weight but i stil weigh 125. I have to keep busy or im going to eat everything in the house. Lol. Still having the back aches and the stabbing pain in my abdomen is worse but comes and goes. Constantly bleeding on and off, heavy then light, then suddenly in the middle of something i start really heavy. I hate it. I ate that wveryone ese on here is going through the same thing. But im glad that my body is obviouslytrying to right itself. I just hope its soon bc my husband and i are ttc i wish anyone else trying luck and im praying for everyone on here.

By: AmandaC

AmandaC — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 03:54:34 +0000

Recently I’ve had to take antibiotics which has cancelled out my depo shot…within the past couple months I have had a light period off and on for a couple weeks now, I have gained a few pounds, and I have been experiencing cramping. I don’t sleep well, due to I’m assuming the back pain I have experienced..
After reading the responses, Im glad to hear I’m not the only one..unfortunately this is happening to us. I have had really bad breakouts and bloating, I’m always tired, and somedays I’m extremely hungry, others I could go without food. I have been very emotional and moody. I also have been feeling extremely anxious and depressed..not a good feeling.
If anyone’s knows of any ways to help with the situation..please post.

By: hailey

hailey — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:44:47 +0000

I was supposed to get my last depo on the 11th this month but i had the worst side effect of all which would be the constant period. Besides having deppression, (which was even worse bc i had a stillbirth at full term back in jan. Nearly a year go…) treating my husband like crap bc of severe mood swings ehich i never had before and im not saying im the perfect wife or person lol. I have my moments…we all do… stomach aches every day and nasuea i havent had any others. Now…getting off of it is a horror story. My symptoms are severe stomach aches, backaches stabbing pain in my abdomen, severe migraines (which i have had since a child tll the age of 20- i had them while i was pregnant but they went away after) jittery feelings nasuea to the point that i cant get out of bed bc i am afraid of throwing up. Any smell triggers my nausea and i always have to have a nottle of oust or febreeze on hand.

By: Latiya

Latiya — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:30:51 +0000

Im so happy that i just found this blog. It helps to know your not alone. I had been on depo for about 7 years with a small break of about 4 months around my 5th year. I got my last injection april of 2011 and didnt have any bleeding untill november and it just stopped about the first week into january of 2012. I bleed on and off for about the first couple of weeks….literally one day spotting red the next brown then red again. once into the second month my flow began to increase and become heavy and there was no breaks just a constant flow then it stopped. During this time i experienced very very painful sore breast and nipples, sleepless nights, anxiety, and nausea had gotten so bad i had to go to the hospital they didnt know exactly what was wrong but decided it was irregular periods. Ive been doin research in the best advice i got was to be patient with your body and it will come back into balance, it has to establish a natural hormonal balance. As of now my breast are still sore and i still have nausea im just takin one day at a time and i have faith that my body will come back into balance. I hope it does for all of us

By: Alison

Alison — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:53:11 +0000

I had been on depot for 2 years and just got off of it a couple months ago. however, my breasts are EXTREMELY tender and im gaining weight in my mid-section w/o changing any of my daily activities or diet. i thought it was pregnancy but after taking 4 tests on different days, the outcome is negative. my breasts hurt so bad that i cant lay on my stomach. (sigh)

By: Raean

Raean — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 19:46:25 +0000

PS, If anyone else is going through similar problems after depo and wants someone to talk to, give support and take support, please feel free to email me raean7@hotmail.com. I’m more than willing to share the many things I’ve learned about this. In my case, the burning skin sensation has been perplexing, and googling things on the internet has led me to believe I have everything from Lyme disease to mercury poisoning (in other words, if you’ve used depo provera, look to that first because of all the stories you have to believe that’s the problem if everything else tests fine). I noticed something else too, regular doctors say as long you’re having a period you’re fine (which if you’re having symptoms now, after depo, is not true!) and that saliva tests are not reliable (but they are! the blood tests, not so much. Google that and you’ll see why). AND on the other side, natural doctors tend to go through “fads” and the current fad is being low on Vitamin D and hashimoto’s disease (I saw 2 and they both were on this kick), as well as Candida. I am not saying these things don’t exist, I am simply saying we know we have used depo, we know we are now having problems, and that’s where the problem started and must be addressed. Understand that if the hormones are messed up post depo, the vit d and thyroid are messed up to, and our guts might be a mess, but look to the source first and don’t just treat the symptoms but start with treating the root of the problem or you’ll find yourself on supplements and meds for life!

By: Raean

Raean — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 19:39:15 +0000

I was on depo from 2002 to 2005, off for 8 months until I got a period again, and because of the painful cramps returning (reason I went on it) I got another shot in 2006. The whole time I was on the depo I didn’t gain any weight, and the only thing I think may have been a side effect was more addictive tendencies coupled with mild depression (but overall life was good). I DID gain over 60 pounds in 2006 when I was OFF the depo. Once I went back on it, I maybe gained another 10 pounds but not much more. I decided to completely go off in 2009 because I wanted to lose the weight (wasn’t coming off easy while on the shot). I didn’t get my shot in Sept 2009, and my period didn’t come back until April 2011. I had NO problems until my period returned, then started with little swings of anxiety, light periods, and dizziness at times. Then in November 2011 I suddenly developed this burning sensation under my skin. I wouldn’t say it was itchy, but just burning! Anxiety came on full force, and started to have trouble sleeping, as well as having trouble eating (I lost 20 pounds in 3 weeks!). I’ve tested everything and all is normal except saliva shows progesterone is on the low end, estradiol is low, and prog/estr ratio is off (estrogen is higher than progesterone, and considering they are both low no wonder!). Also morning cortisol was high! Have tried many different things, feeling somewhat better but the burning feeling has turned into a feeling of having glass shards under my skin. Also, now my eyes just burn like crazy and I get terrible headaches and some dizziness! What I’ve tried: change in diet (no wheat or sugar), I’ve tried some supplements, but I’m not real patient and if I happen to have an anxiety attack after starting something new I blame it on the new thing (which I know is dumb, but that’s what anxiety does to you Progesterone cream (Emerita brand I’m using) is starting to help some. I had to ignore the directions and just use a packet (20mg) when I feel symptoms coming on, because I think the depo just screws up our systems and hormones.. and I also think it’s stored in fat, so maybe my rapid weight loss is causing some liver overload as the fat and toxins make their way out! I’ve been considering getting another shot to get rid of this, as it makes every day a chore versus loving life like I used to, but I’m going to press on with the progesterone cream for a while. A big part of this is to know it’s not going to kill me, and I will get through it through faith and perseverance. Please God, help all of us post depo users, please!