What are the side effects of Depo-Provera?

Answer 1

Health Risks

Studies released in 2004 show that Depo Provera is associated with a loss of bone density resulting in an increased risk of osteoporosis. The bone loss appears not to be reversed when the woman goes off Depo Provera.

Side Effects

70% of women using Depo Provera gain weight. Almost half of the women using Depo Provera gain more than 5 pounds after one year of use. Many women gain more than 10 pounds.

Irregular, heavy, or no bleeding are common side effects of Depo Provera. After a year of use, many women stop having periods. Lack of a period becomes increasingly common with longer use.

Other side effects of Depo Provera can include headaches, nervousness, mood changes, bloating, hot flashes, decreased interest in sex, breast tenderness, acne, hair loss, and back ache. After the last shot of Depo Provera, it can take over 6 months for the drug to leave the body. Side effects may linger until the drug is completely gone.

• Abdominal pain or discomfort
• Acne, breakouts
• Allergic reactions
• Asthenia, weakness
• Breast cancer
• Change in color of stool to green
• Depression
• Drowsiness
• Fever
• Hair loss
• Headaches
• Increased appetite
• Increased STD risk
• Infertility
• Nausea
• Nervousness
• Sleeplessness
• Rage, irritability
• Swelling
• For females, menstrual changes. These include lots of bleeding, spotting, pr bleeding between cycles.
• Weakened bones with long-term use. (osteoporosis)
• Weight gain or loss

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Side-Effects of Contraception InjectionWeight gain is more likely about 70% of women experience 10 lbs or more. Loss of bone density is also a factor and calcium supplements should be taken. Mood swings or depression is also common. A decrease in sexual desire can also be a side effect. I actually had hair loss when I was coming off of the drug not while I was on it and I lost the weight. Fertility afterwards is an issue it can be 6-18 months for you to conceive.

In my experience with the shot I lost about 30 lbs and keep it off the whole 5 yrs. I also noticed a loss of hair more than normal and mood swings really bad ones. I also craved foods I never did before. when I went off the shot everything calmed down but I put the 30 lbs back on plus about 15 more.

If you are talking about the depo-provera contraceptive injection the side affects vary with different people. I went on the injection for 7 months and during that time I put on weight, had stomach cramps and heavy bleeding for a majority of the time. The downside to the injection is that even if you get a top up on the injection the effects may not stop. The injection stays in your system for anything up to six months after you stop getting it and the cramps and bleeding can continue long after you had the last injection. Personally i wouldn't recommend it but you should inquire more information at your local GP or contact the Abacus Centre.

I got the depo back in January and it is now may. i had my period for at least 8 weeks, I still have not had them back. I have been told it can take up to one year for them to come back. I put on weight with the injection. I would not recommend to anyone if I'm honest. But if you do need more information contact your local gp or health nurse.

You get side effects like you are pregnant. When I first got on it, I took 2 pregnancy test because I had morning sickness l craving. Turns out I wasn't pregnant just a side effect. You may get your period for a very long time. I've been on mine for a month already and doctors say its normal. You get a lot of mood swings & can gain or loose you appetite. When the shot wears off & you don't get it again you get horrible! Insanely horrible cramps! I have woken up screaming of the pain. & to top it off if you stop taking it its still in your body for 12months so its hard to get pregnant if you're trying. Worse Birth Control ever! Hands down

Answer 2

When you stop hormonal birth control other than Depo Provera, you can expect to have a withdrawal bleed just as you do at the end of each birth control cycle. After that, you'll ovulate in two to four weeks and get a period in four to six weeks. As your body starts ovulating again, you may notice typical symptoms of the menstrual cycle, such as cramping, bloating, breast tenderness, and ovulatory cervical mucus. Your period is likely to be heavier and crampier than it was on hormonal birth control. If your birth control method contained estrogen, you might have an increase in headaches in the first few weeks as the estrogen level drops.

If you're stopping an IUD, you may have spotting for a day or so at the time of removal. If you were on Paragard, you can expect your period at the usual time without interruption, and it may be a little lighter and less crampy than when you were on Paragard. The side effects of stopping Mirena are more like those of stopping other hormonal birth control methods.

After stopping Depo Provera, your next period will come between one and eighteen months, with an average wait of eleven months. When your body starts to cycle again, you may note the side effects noted above for other hormonal birth control methods.
In terms of your overall health, it makes little difference when you stop taking the pill. When you finally do stop the pill, you can expect some bleeding, which may change the rhythm of your menstrual cycle.

Years ago, it was thought that prolonged use of birth control pills would interfere with a woman's subsequent ability to conceive a pregnancy after stopping the pill. But this has been shown to be false. Women who had regular menstrual cycles before starting the pill return to having regular menstrual cycles when they stop the pill. Women who had irregular menstrual cycles before starting the pill usually return to having irregular menstrual cycles. Some evidence suggests that prolonged use of birth control pills increases your risk of certain cancers, such as Cervical cancer and liver cancer. But it also decreases your risk of other types of cancer, including ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer. If you have concerns about your cancer risk from birth control pills, discuss them with your doctor.

FAQ: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/birth-control-pill/WO00098 There are ALOT of side effects...headaches, nausea, cramps, fatigue, alot! Similar to pregnancy symptoms...alot of mood swings as well. Its supposed to get better within time...but im goin nuts! Was on it for 5 years and got off over a month ago....on the plus side, my sex drive is through the roof!!
Your periods will be very irregular and different in color. This will accure for a while, just how long depends on your physical and chemical makeup.

Answer 3

This is a really good question. I am about to be 37 and I have been on the Depo Provera shot for for 18 1/2 years. I suffered from depression and was put on Zoloft, I gained a lot of weight over the years, I was very, very tired, cried a lot, I also had headaches, muscle and joint aches, cyst like pimples, and most recently I have chipped teeth ( this was the final thing that made me decide to get off of the shot ). I have been off of the shot for one month now and this is what I have noticed. My headaches have gone down a lot, I am still tired, and I noticed that I am not crying as much, also my hunger is tapering off, I have also had nausea and cramping. Keep in mind everyone is different, but I am hoping that the other things will go away after time. I know that it will a while for me to get this out of my system because I've been on the shot for so long, but I figure it can't get any worse. As far as weight loss, I have not had any yet, but I am working on it and I am hopeful now that I am off of the medication.

pretty much go back to have a normal period and pms

I am going off depo, and having the same symptoms I had when I started it - nausea, exhaustion, mood swings.

Most women stop having their menses while on Depo. After discontinued, it is unpredictable when the periods will resume. Some women my take 6-12 months before they begin to ovulate again.

Extreme change in sex drive - or lack thereof :)

Moodiness definently but that comes mostly with all birth contraceptives. What I mostly experienced and hated was bleeding. This was for the first 6 months. I had my period way less and it wasnt regular but whenever I got it it would be heavy and last two weeks. Not fun. It hasn't been occurring recently and ive been on it for almost 9 months.

I found this site looking for more s after having only one treatment of the depo shot and having many severe side effects decided not to get the second shot and what I have went through so far is ......

I received my first shot in July of 2007 , bled for the first month after, then my period stopped and even after NOT getting the second shot I did not get my period until this month (march of 2008) now it won't stop. I bled for a normal 6 days and it quit and i thought I was finally back on track only to start cramping severely again and bleeding a few days later with no sight of an end. I came here looking for s on how long I can expect this to go on for. maybe this will help those not yet to this point.

If there is anyone past this point , please post so I know what or how much longer I have to endure this.

For me this makes 13 months after my one and only Depo shot (08-08) which caused 16 pounds weight gain in 6 weeks (Tell me that's from appetite-not!) A 20 point increase in bp and nearly 2 pt increase in my normal body temp!

The best advice I have is do a good body cleanse and wait 18 mos. Fertility sites say it can take up to 18 mos after the shot to get pregnant so I'm thinking that is when most effects should end.

My bp is back to normal, my period came back after 6 mos and normalized after 9 if I remember correctly. Temp STILL running 99.4 (10-09)when my normal was in the 97's.

Poison!

what side effects can you expect from after stopping depo provera shot

Well there is the obvious side effect of not having a period for a good while after you come off it but the other problem that you can have is, once your periods start back then you could be getting them every 2nd week instead of once a month. I don't know if this is normal though.

New reply-

I took my last injection in Feb 2010 and was due for the next in May 2010. It is now July and no sign of a period. I decided to get off the shot because I took it for 10 years and am now almost 32 years old. I went to a doctor and he told me that some women gain 15lbs a year on depo and that it was notorious for weight gain. I am 100 lbs over weight and believe this has something to do with it since i have been walking 3-5 days a week for most of the last 10 years but have still put on weight that was almost impossible to lose. This month, I've noticed that my hair is falling out. I have researched this on the net and found that this is a common side effect of going off the shot. I feel like I might have a nervous break down when i see the amounts of hair i am losing! It's super scary. However, I guess it means that my body might be going through some changes? My question is, when will i stop losing hair?!!! I dont care about getting a period, but that would be nice to get over with too.

I have been using Depo for 4 years. I am 20 years old now. I stopped my shots in Jan, 2011. It is now Jan 2012. I just recently as of two months started my period for the first time since 16. I am now having my periods every other week. Doctors when giving Depo seem to leave a lot of details out. I've had a few doctors in the last four years, and none of them ever told me the possible effects. Does anyone know why I would be having my menstrual cycle two a month? And know when this crap will stop?

I had one shot of Depo in May of 2009. It made me so sick that I never got the 2nd shot. I was supposed to get the 2nd shot in August. Well, I have been bleeding ever since. Some days light, other days heavy. I have stomach cramping, have gained at least 10 lbs. am tired. This shot is the worst thing I have ever taken and do not recommend it to anyone.

Your body slowly goes back to normal.. If your one of the people like me who didnt get your period while on it, it will return.. prob. heavy and browinsh colored.. Per what the Doc. told me it takes about a year for your body to be completely rid of the depo.. that is why it usually takes about that long before you can get pregnant.. but everyone is different.. so if you dont want a baby.. be careful!!!

Answer 4

I've been on different types of BC for 8 yrs. (tried the pill 2x, each for a month or so, did the ring for a few days, and got an IUD for a yr which gave me a blood clot but I always went back to the Depo). * Major breast tenderness - my dr said that the reason why my breasts were sore all the time is b/c of the hormones. Which is fine by me since my breasts increased in size from an A cup to a B. :D * a little over 30 days later I had my 1st period in over a yr. but it seemed fairly normal. 30 days later I didn't have one. But it eventually started & still seemed normal. * Not long after that episode 14 days later I had another period and it lasted 14 days !!! 14 days of off time & then I had another one that lasted 14 days!!! * In Aug, I am no longer on the 14 days on & off trend. Oh no, I'm now on the 7 days on, 7 days off CURSE! * I've also gotten acne * I sweat a lot at night despite being 1/2 naked & having the a/c on 63 degrees

Answer 5

Return of fertility after Depo Provera may occur immediately, or may take up to 18 months. The average return to fertility after the last Depo Provera shot is 11 months. Your period may take that long to become regular after Depo. For this reason, you should change to a different method a year before you want to get pregnant.

During use of Depo Provera, you may have a decrease in bone density. This decrease is similar to that which can happen while a woman is breastfeeding. As with breastfeeding-related decrease in bone density, decrease during Depo Provera use resolves with time after stopping.

Answer 6

depo is only considered harmful if used as a form of birth control for more than two years. The only thing weird to your body it might do is screw up your cycle for a few months.

Answer 7

Usually about anywhere from 2 months to 24 months.

Answer 8

Other than my period coming back.. I didnt have any..