| Key to ratings for depo-provera: 5-Very Satisfied: this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal. 4-Satisfied: this medicine helped. 3-Somewhat Satisfied: this medicine helped somewhat. 2-Not Satisfied: this medicine did not work to my satisfaction. 1-Dissatisfied: I would not recommend taking this medicine. |
| Rating | Reason | Side Effects | Comments | Sex | Age | Time Taken | Date Added | |
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| 3 | RASH AFTER 3 YRS OF BEING ON THE SHOT. | I DECIDED TO GET THE SHOT AFTER I TERMINATED A PREGNANCY. I WAS THRILLED TO NOT HAVE A WORRY OF BECOMING PREGNANT. THEN I HAD THE REACTION AND HAVE BEEN OFF OF IT FOR 6 YRS. I CAME ON HERE TO FIND OUT IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD IRREGULAR PERIODS AFTER BEING OFF OF IT TOO. WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS...NO PERIODS AT ALL. SOME MONTHS. EVEN 2 MONTHS IN A ROW..? WHEN I DO HAVE ONE IT IS CLUMPY AND GROSS..NOT FLUID LIKE USUAL. I WENT TO THE GYNO AND THEY EXPLAINED TO ME THAT NOW THEY ARE SAYING THERE IS A TWO YEAR MAXIMUM FOR BEING ON IT... | F | 34 | 3 years | 11/19/2009 | 3 | Birth Control/Avoid Migranes | Nausea, hot flashes, extreme anger (especially with my boyfriend), weird psychological episodes, weight gain (about 15 lbs), fatigue, lack of motivation, some acne episodes, a general overall feeling on 'unwell'. Basically, not feeling like myself. | I cannot express enough how happy I am to have found this website. I was truly beginning to think something about me had suddenly gone wrong and that I was developing a mental disorder! Seriously! I have experienced many of the same side effects that most other women have on here, especially the hot flashes, dizziness, weight gain, fatigue and the psychotic episodes. I am normally a level headed person who is mature enough to handle most any situation. But since being on the shot, I started in May 2008, I have almost lost the ability to keep my cool! Especially when it comes to issues with my boyfriend of two years. It was recommended that I go on the shot because I was suseptible to migraines. The only thing the doctor told me was that I may gain weight as it increases appetite, and I would not have a period...yeah! NOT! I am due for my next shot this week, but I will not be getting it. I am going to go back on the regular 'ol pill. I am so upset with myself for not researching this drug sooner. I had no idea my physiological as well as psychological changes were due to taking this drug, not to mention the possibility of sterility! I feel hopeful about getting off it and getting back to myself again. I will try to update. | F | 27 | 1 years | 11/18/2009 | 1 | Birth Control | 60lbs of weight gain, loss of period completely, achy everything, sex drive was gone, after getting off the shot I boinked like a rabbit. | I'm also concerned that I'm sterile now. I love that 10 years later I get the news that 2 years on the shot is more than enough to make people cringe. | F | 26 | 10 years | 11/17/2009 | 1 | heay periods fibroids | Mood swings, depression, nervousness, lack of motivation, could not sleep | This is the worst ever. I am NEVER getting another shot. My gyn suggested that I take this to prevent heavy periods. This shot has had me scared for my life. I stopped working out and became very angry at times. | F | 30 | 2 months | 11/17/2009 | 1 | irregular bleeding | bleeding for 6 months straight every single day, extreme depression and mood swings,loss of sex drive, weight gain (15 pounds), fatigue, dizziness, heart palpatations, headaches,vision problems,this is just a few of the side effects! | I orginally started birth control at age 15 due to irregular periods. After Yaz gave me extreme migraines, they switched me to a lower estrogen pill which brought be back to two periods a month. My doctor suggessted Depo and said it would cause my periods to STOP so I thought that sounded great and agreed. She didn't inform me that it could also have the REVERSE affect. I have been bleeding non-stop for over 6 months now and have thousands of dollars in medical bills from fainting and MRIs because I've been so dizzy and fatigued all the time. The mood swings are harming my relationships and affecting my work and school work. Complete loss of sex drive, COMPLETE! A new OBGYN informed me that 30% of women experience reverse side effects...I THINK 30% is ENOUGH TO WARN SOMEONE ABOUT BEFORE TAKING IT! There is nothing you can do to help the side effects except wait it out. I've been waiting 3 months, and no change. I am so unhappy with Depo and strongly encourage everyone to do research before taking it. DO NOT TAKE DEPO. It has ruined 6 months of my life and has messed up my body in so many ways. I was completely healthy before taking Depo. I would rather have 2 periods a month again than be bleeding everyday. The mood swings are unbearable. Slight acne has appeared, too. I'd do anything to reverse these side effects. WE SHOULD GET DEPO BANNED!!!!! All of this doesn't even begin to describe what it has done to me. | F | 19 | 6 months | 11/16/2009 | 1 | Birth Control Method / Avoid pregna | Well I wanted to get on birth control and decided to talk to my doctor and I talked to my doctor and asked her what was her decision on the best alternative for birth control and she said depo provera so without doing research first I just went on ahead and decided to go along with what my doctor said because i thought she knew what she was talking about because she was s doctor. And so then she gave me the first dose around may 09 and ii took it and i was due in for my second shot around august 09 and i never did take the second dose thou because i noticed on and off weird periods, spotting, nausea, heavy heavy cramping which i am still getting almost every day now and also no period, and weight gain, I just bought like two or three brand new pair of jeans and now i can't fit any of them because of my weight and also it's been 3 months since i had a period. because before taking the medication i had regular periods then after taking the shot i had very little periods or spotting and t | F | 23 | 3 months | 11/16/2009 | 1 | Birth Control | Mood Swings, Depression, Anxiety, Stomach and Back Pains. | Before starting Depo, my periods were like clock work. After starting Depo i didnt have a period at all. Then I decided to not take it again because all the horror stories i heard about it. Now i have a horrible period every two weeks. Im emotional. I have developed horrible anxiety and hate to leave the house. And have become depressed. I have horrible stomach and back pains. I always feel nauseous, like im going to throw up. Im always exhausted and all i do is sleep. The only side effects the doctor said i would have was weight gain. I only took it once and i feel for people who took it for years. This drug is awful and should not be given as a birth control. | F | 18 | 1 times | 11/15/2009 | 1 | Birth control | ACNE! | Dislike this form of birth control, I have never broke out in my life and ever since I got the shot in October of 08, I've had non stop acne, last shot was March 19th 09 and I still have not had a period and I still am breaking out BAD. I feel like this shot has ruined my face. I'm so unhappy in life right now because of what it did. Other than that it is okay. The bad thing it can stay in your system up to 15 mths, so don't take if you are thinking about getting pregnant in the near future. | F | 19 | 6 months | 11/14/2009 | 3 | Birth control | Decreased appetite, mood swings, Bloatedness | F | 19 | 9 months | 11/10/2009 | 2 | birth control | Weight gain, no sex drive, and no feeling during sex. | I need some help and this is the most useful forum I've seen. I put on some weight when I started it, but not too much. What's disturbing me more is that after my last shot I really started to feel different; before this last shot I had a lowered sex drive, but now I have really no sex drive and I have vitually no sensitivity or feeling during sex. I talked to my doctor and she said the side effects from it vary, but couldn't give me diffinitive answers. I'm happy that it's so effective in preventing conception, but I'm worried that all my sensitivity has disappeared. Is this normal and will it come back? | F | 26 | 9 months | 11/9/2009 | 1 | to not get pregnant | since being on the depo i have been spotting and bleeding for nearly five months ,i`ve also had bad back pain no sex drive and been depressed i was fine before taking this . i seriously do not recommend the depo injection to anybody i think it should be banned | F | 32 | 5 months | 11/9/2009 | 1 | Bith Control | I actually lost weight..too much if you ask me. I lost 60 lbs. Most would say that was great however I was only 158 lbs when I started taking the shot. I was 18 years old. Sore breasts is an understatement. Now almost 10 years later, I still have no children. Talk about your sterility. | At first it seemed like a great invention to not have the monthly curse. When you are 18, "sowing wild oats" it seems like a God send..now after going thru all that I have to get pregnant, Depo seems to have been a HUGE mistake. I took the shot for about 2 years and didnt have a period for an additonal 2 1/2 years after I stopped taking it. | F | 28 | 2 years | 11/9/2009 | 3 | Dr. recommended. | 75lb. weight gain, mood swings, depression, lack of sex drive, achy joints and muscles, severe headaches, lack of appitite, loss of interest in almost everything. | My Doc suggested Depo, when I was 24, since I had been having terrible periods for over 10years. It was GREAT!!!! NO MORE PERIODS! No pain, mood swings, living around a period.... Until I started to knowtice continuing weight gain. I even got a personal trainer. I gained even more (approx 15lbs.) Oh something else, Did you know there's some kind of steriod in the shot?! Then I started with the achne... No matter what I've tried it only works for a little bit. The headaches.... I kept putting them down to stress at work, home, school. They're constant! The sex drive... GONE! The depression... well it's constant. About a year and a half ago I went off the shot because I got tired of going to get a shot in the butt every 3months (I'm terrified of needles), it took almost 9 months for my period to come back. And when it did, in some ways it was WORSE than before. For someone who had always been regular (like a clock), everything was all over the place. Months in between, the clots, pain, EVERYTHING! And the more it came the worse it got. Eventually I went back on it. But it's not the answer! I just wish my own Doc, would listen and get to the bottom of my problems and find a way to fix it. Oh I did loose some of the weight when I went off the shot, but since going on it again, I've gained it all back. In some ways yes it did help, but in the ways that matter most... NOT A CHANCE!!!! My recommendation.... IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO, DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!! RESEARCH, RESEARCH! | F | 30 | 6 years | 11/8/2009 | 2 | Endometriosis, Blood Pressure, B/C | Severe Mood swings, Low Sex Drive, Irregular bleeding | Due to a diagnosis of both endometriosis and high blood pressure, my doctor decided Depo would be my best option for not only treating the endometriosis, but also for birth control. In the two years that I have taken the shot, the only consistancy from the treatment was the inconsistancy. My weight fluxuated, my mood swings effected everyone one of my relationships, and the bleeding became a gamble: Will I bleed today or not? Not to mention the severe abdominal cramps. I have skipped my last shot, and hoping some of these symptoms will go away... No not take this shot. The risks FAR outweigh the advantages. | F | 34 | 2 years | 11/8/2009 | 4 | Birth Control | Started taking in 06 for birth control. I had been warned of weight gain but noticed nothing but muscle cramps in my calves the week after each shot. Then I took a 6 month break from Depo in 2009. NOT a good idea. I took another shot after the break and the symptoms started..... | When the symptoms started, I gained about 15lbs in two months. I have extreme fatigue, I found out my foot is broken (took a physical) - probably from the loss of calcium. I have night sweats, no sex drive, severe depression, hair loss above my ears and crown of head, and my body odor is different and stronger. I will probably not take the shot again as I want to have kids someday and this medicine scares me... | F | 26 | 3 years | 11/4/2009 | 1 | birth control | DON'T TAKE THIS DRUG!!!!!!DON'T BELIEVE DRUG MANUFACTURERS!!! BAD DRUG!!!!! | bipolar, loss of libido, hormonal imbalance, panic attacks, period yet to return, blood clot.... (could have killed me.) | F | 33 | 4 years | 11/4/2009 | 1 | Birth Control | Mood swings, weight gain, no period. | I only took this drug once. it has been 8 months and I still havent get my period.. Do Not Take this drug. | F | 22 | 3 months | 11/3/2009 | 1 | Convenience | I was told that Depo would stop my periods and that I may have SOME SPOTTING in the first 2 weeks. Not true. I have been bleeding for 6 weeks and have been told this is a normal side effect of Depo. My hair is thinning and falling out and my legs ache all the time. I won't be getting my next shot; I'll go back on the pill | F | 23 | 6 weeks | 11/3/2009 | 1 | Birth Control | Gained 50 pounds, acne like you would not believe, depression/sad mood | Don't take it. A friend recommended it to me, and I regretted it. I took 3 shots before I figured out the shots were causing my issues. It took 9 mo for my cycle to start again, and I have struggled with the weight ever since (got last injection in 2004) by losing it all only to gain it back again, repeatedly. | F | 34 | 3 times | 10/31/2009 | 3 | Birth Control- Easier than the Pill | Periods stopped, aching joints, no sex drive, increased appetite, dry vagina, soreness in the breasts | I've been taking Depo for almost 2 years, because I would forget to take my pills, and the shot sounded much nicer. It was great not to have periods at first, but now it just feels wrong. It's like I'm not really a woman anymore... Like most people here who have taken the drug, I've got a monster appetite, but I haven't gained more than a few pounds so yay! I say it's alright, but I kinda miss my sex drive, and not having achy joints all the time. | F | 19 | 1 years | 10/30/2009 | 2 | Birth control | Weight loss and minor issues I will cover in comments. Very negative change in vaginal discharge and bleeding: thicker, drier, and everything started to turn brown or black! | I came off of Depo in January ('09). It never did what it was supposed to because after taking it I spotted (sometimes bled) almost every day and any discharge was brown or black and tacky. After about 2 months off Depo I noticed a definite change. Improved consistency and wetness of discharge, and my sex drive improved. I have never been regular and though my periods have always been super heavy, I never experienced anything else. But since starting (and stopping) Depo, I have experienced small headaches on a regular basis, cramping (sometimes severe) and I bloat and/or experience gas pain almost daily. | F | 20 | 9 months | 10/29/2009 | 1 | Easier than taking tablets | Irregular bleeding and spotting, loss of libido, bad mood swings, depression, didnt want to go out | Please dont anyone ever take this horrible drug. It has ruined my relationship due to the terrible mood swings and depression, i wasnt warned of any of this and didnt understand what was going on with my mind and body, saw doc 3 months ago, came off it and had copper non-hormonal coil fitted but can take up to 6 months for effects to leave your body so had to go back on anti-depressants to get me over the worst of the depression | F | 35 | 2 years | 10/29/2009 | 3 | to not get pregnant | mood swings, mild weight gain, massive hair loss, headaches, backaches, month long periods, extreme fatigue, always hungry, aching hips and legs, feeling soreness in my body as if im 70 yrs old, loss of sex drive | It absolutely blows my mind that I was never informed about all of these changes. I tried to ignore them thinking it was just my body changing but thanks to this website I now know it it eventually happens to everyone! I've been taking this shot wayy to long almost 3 years an will not get my next shot. The only good reviews on this site about this shot are people who just started taking it and they will eventually find out that its not as great as it seems to be in the beginning! | F | 21 | 3 years | 10/28/2009 | 1 | To stop vertigo (please read on..) | Severe depression, psychotic episodes, nausea, heavy bleeding, hair loss, 4 stone gained, joint pain and weakness, messed up my hormones triggering underactive thyroid. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG. | If I could go back over my 40 yrs on this earth and change one thing only, it would be to have never, ever, have started this evil drug. It has ruined my life - the 4 years taking it and the last 5 years since I stopped it. I have done enough research to know that it's this injection that has has caused my problems. I was the perfect picture of health, apart from vertigo, when my Gynaecologist decided that the vertigo was due to a hormone imbalance. As it turned out I had MS. This is now so much worse than it was all those years ago and I now have the effects of this drug to deal with too. | F | 40 | 4 years | 10/28/2009 | 1 | Birth control | Im 18, just got my first shot in september. it is now the end of october and i have experienced all of the following: Extreme Mood swings, Depression, Increased apatite. I just recently started spotting and had continuous extremely painful cramping all day yesterday. My clear skin now had breakouts all the time. | If i would have known all that woud happen before i got the shot, i woud never have gone through with it. it may be hassle free & easy, but the things you go through for it, isn't worth in the long run. | F | 18 | 2 months | 10/25/2009 | 1 | Only option for birth control | No sex drive,moodiness and very vile attitude,too many hot flashes and severe cramping. | If I had found this site before my first shot there is no way in hell I would have taken it.I got my first shot 8-20-09 and on 8-31-09 I started bleeding and 56 days later I am still bleeding,some days so heavy I use diapers to keep from bleeding all over the place.In two months times I have purchased 7 months worth of pads and tampons,I am afraid to leave the house out of fear of soiling my clothes.I started my first period when I was 12 and never had a cramp in my life,noe the cramps are so bad I just sit/lay in bed,hold my stomach and rock.My patience is short and everybody I know has started calling me mean,thank God I don't own a gun.The only reasons this works as birth control is because,#1.you are bleeding everyday,#2.your attitude is so stank,no man will come near you,#3.You have no desire to have sex and #4.If you have a man he will leave you beacuse no man will believe that his woman is having a 56 day period,I will definitely not be taking the second shot,I would rather have 20 kids than to go through this.The prayer that I pray everyday,all day is Lord please stop the bleeding.Thank you for such valuable information and I am so glad that I am not alone in this. | F | 46 | 2 months | 10/25/2009 | 1 | forgetting to take pill | were do i start!!!! loss of sex drive, hair loss, moods, panic attacks, depression, painfull sex, | would love to hear from any body who could tell me when will i ever feel normal again? | F | 31 | 18 months | 10/22/2009 | 1 | Birth Control | Excessive bleeding and clotting. Moodiness, bloated, cramping | Doctor gave me no information about this form of birth control. Only focused on the fact that it would stop my periods and it was convinent. A week after being injected have bled uncontrollably. Once night had to sleep on the toilet because I would soak through a pad literally every 10 minutes. I can only imagine how much weight I will gain since that's another side effect that was not mentioned to me. Worse part is there is nothing you can do about getting out of your body besides just waiting. DON'T USE THIS FORM OF BORTH CONTROL! | F | 26 | 1 months | 10/21/2009 | 1 | birth control | weight gain, mood swings, vaginal dryness, absolutely no sex drive, headaches, dizzines, breast tenderness | I was on the shot for 2 years, took my last one two months ago. I still am experiencing most of the side effects and have not had a period yet. I would not recommend this shot. | F | 29 | 2 years | 10/21/2009 | 1 | BC | DAILY BLEEDING, INSOMNIA, SEVERE JOINT PAIN | It started on March 23, 2009, THE BLEEDING! It is now October, 20,2009 and I have bled EVERYDAY from then til now. I can't sleep at night and now I know why. My knees feel like they belong to a seventy year old lady. Not to mention the embarrassment of the whole situation. My 14 year old daughter ,bless her heart, has not asked me any questions yet about why I seem to have an unending cycle, And I have bought so many boxes of tampons I may as well have paid for pills monthly. | F | 39 | 2 times | 10/20/2009 | 1 | Birth control | DO NOT TAKE THIS SHOT!!!!!! I have only had two shots and at first my headaches and cramps went away but two weeks after the shot I experienced extreme side effects. I have gained 20 lbs, my hair is thinning and falling out, I get light headed at random times, my stomach hurts, I have leg pain, joint pain. Plus I AM TIRED ALL THE TIME! The worst part is the low if any sex drive and vaginal dryness. IT IS NOT WORTH IT!! | F | 26 | 3 months | 10/19/2009 | 1 | birth control | I have had terrible mood swings also very irregular periods, in one month i've been bleeding for 24 days so far and it shows no sign of stopping. i sometimes get bad cramps, headaches and sickness. to be honest if my doctor had told me more about this contraception i would never of even considered it... you may not experience prolems till you try to come off it, i dont think this injection should be given out unless the doctor explains what can happen during and after the shot. always find out as much as you can about any contraception before you decide to go with it, i regret not doing this myself. im now on the pill to attempt to reset my system(replaces the hormones from the depo) im not sure it works but apparently it does so im giving it a go, it cant get any worse than what im experiencing now. i hope this little bit of info helps any one experiencing the same problems as myself :) | dont take it!!!! | F | 21 | 2 years | 10/17/2009 | 1 | birth control | 50lbs weight gain, depression, extreme moodiness, morning sickness, injection site is still sore! | I started using this product 2 months after giving birth. I had lost most of my weight from giving birth & breast feeding. I started this shot and I kept gaining weight from then on. I took this shot 2 more times and stopped in january. It is now october, i still have not got a period or have stopped gaining weight. I was always a small person up until using this drug. Then moodiness was just terrible. I thought is was the breast feeding, but i still get extremely moody. I was never this moody in my life! I would not recommend this to anyone! I have told all my friends not to take this, now after having their children... they're all skinny! | F | 24 | 3 times | 10/13/2009 | 1 | birth contol and bad cramping | i took the the injection for 9 months then stopped. i gained 50 pounds was depressed angry hungry exhuasted all the time swore boobs. after i got off the medication it took me two years to start my cycle again sounds nice right. no when i did start again i pretty much had 24 periods at once i had to be taken to the ER the pain was so great and had to miss work for an entire week because of the pain and the muscle relaxers that i had to keep taking. i would not recommend this form of birth control to anyone. | after my first injection my last period before i stopped having them was three weeks long | F | 19 | 9 days | 10/13/2009 | 1 | Heavy periods | Moodiness,loss of sex drive,no periods for 6 months after 1 shot had worn off,still not being able to conceive after being 19 months depo free(conceived other children easily before depo. | I wasn't given any facts about depo provera's side effects by my doctor other than"it will stop your periods for 3 months"which at the time sounded great but wasn't told about fertility or could be longer etc. | F | 36 | 12 weeks | 10/12/2009 | 4 | bc | weight gain | iv been using this in regards to bc for just about 3 years now. My mood has changed dramatically for the better. its easier to make a dr appt at the end of a 3 month window than it is to take a pill everyday-personally. I wouldnt rule out other forms of contraceptives however. I have gained a bit of weight these past few years. Not enough to have to go out and buy a new wardrobe but enough to want to hit the gym. Its deffinatly not for everyone. And each person getting this shot has their own reason. Dont be afraid to ask your dr questions. And most importantly dont be afraid to stop getting the shot if you no longer think its right for you. One thing i have noticed about getting this is that i feel sometimes obligated to continue with it. Just keep asking yourself- is this still something im interested in? | F | 19 | 3 days | 10/11/2009 | 3 | birth control | gained weight, no sex drive, a little bit of moodyness | This shot saved me from pain that i would have from the end of my period to the being of the next one, there are down falls to the drug it took me 2 and a half years to have my first child and i gained 98 pounds the first time i went on it but also i went on it when i was a teen this time around i was on it for 2 years i have missed 2 shots almost have a normal period and trying for another child this isnt for everyone and to take it cause you dont want your period is not a good thing i would suggest to take it for problems that can only be helped by going on this drug i thank my doctor everyday for doing this cause my problem is gone for good | F | 25 | 2 years | 10/10/2009 | 1 | birth control | horrible depression, weight gain, non-stop bleeding, hair loss, extreme dry skin, no sex drive, depletion of breast milk, whole body aches and cramps | At my 6 week check up after the birth of my son, my doctor discussed birth control. I didn't feel like I needed to use anything given my age (42) and medical condition (PCOS), but we decided the depo shot was my best option since I was breastfeeding. I was not informed of any complications and had previously taken birth control pills with no problems. Everything was fine until about six weeks after the shot. I had a period that lasted three weeks. My breast milk supply was extremely poor where it had been very large. I finally stopped the period and had two weeks of feeling okay, then like an idiot, I believed that I needed to take the second shot. I have been having a period since Aug. 26. It gets heavier everyday and I am an emotional wreck. I cry at the drop of a hat, I don't want to do anything. I hurt from head to toe and my hair is coming out by the handful. I would never under any circumstances recommend this medication to anyone! Find something else! | F | 42 | 2 times | 10/6/2009 | 1 | recommended by my doctor | hair loss, moodiness, loss of sex drive, depression | It has been comforting to read about other people's experiences with Depo-provera. For me, the side effects didn't truly start to kick in until the second shot. My first reaction was that there was something wrong with ME. I thought that my loss of sex drive was a sexual disfunction; I thought my moodiness and depression (set off by even the tiniest things) were signs of a character disorder; I reasoned that my hair loss was due to a perm I had gotten six months ago...I finally realized that these side effects weren't my fault--they were caused by these foreign hormones that I was putting into my body. Our society has become so nonchalant about birth control that girls are often blinded to the adverse side effects it causes. I recommend careful consideration of ANY birth control and its effects before starting it. | F | 19 | 10 months | 10/5/2009 | 1 | birth control | hives, excessive weight gain, rage outbursts, increased acne, random/prolonged bleeding, loss of sex drive | after receiving the first shot of depo i dramatically gained weight, i weighed 119 and now 3 months later i weigh 135 even though i haven't changed my diet since i revived the shot, after my first period on the shot lasted 2 and a half weeks. extreme rage outbursts that i have never experienced before, im a very calm person, but now randomly over the smallest things i want to rip heads off, had over 100 hives on my leg in the coarse of a month and a half, i also have good skin since 7th grade i would get 1 pimple a month and that was about it, now im getting 8 to 10 a month and have excessive facial hair. I WILL NEVER USE AGAIN. after researching i found that depo is actually female anabolic steroids and a very large amount all at once EXTREMELY unsafe and unhealthy for you | F | 18 | 3 months | 10/5/2009 | 1 | Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome | Weight gain, thinning hair, moodiness. | I started getting the shot Nov 2008, everything was great for the first 6 months, couldnt have been happier... no periods (I was use to having them all the time), didnt have to worry about forgetting a pill, wasnt very expensive. But by spring I had gained 15 pounds... all focused in my mid section, despite exercising and watching what I ate. My joints hurt(thought I had arthritis or gout and all blood tests came back negative), my mild depression went to full blown bipolar. A few girls I know that have been on this before me, strongly discouraged me from taking this and I ignored them... I wish I had listened to them cause Im paying for somthing stupid with horrible abuse on my body. My gyno said it could take up to a year for my periods to return. Please if you plan on having kids in the future, having any problem with your weight or want to stay healthy. DONT TAKE THIS SHOT! | F | 24 | 1 years | 10/4/2009 | 1 | birth control and regulate periods | prolonged bleeding never satisfied when i ate sleepy moody and decreased sexdrive. | as soon as i got on depo 2 weeks later i got my period and it lasted for a little over 2 months and withing the first month the doctor gave me a second depo to stop the bleeding it didn't work. i got 2 shots in 2 months. here i am 5 months later and i may not be able to have children because of this i have ovarian cysts and a uterus thats so thin it's laying on my back. needless to say if you cant take it out right away dont take it at all. i dont wish this pain on anyone. | F | 24 | 2 months | 10/4/2009 | 1 | pregnancy prevention | acne, headaches, increase appetite, no sex drive, discharge, nausea, weight gain, moody, and tired | i had the worst headache yesterday i have only had 2 shots and the first one i did fine with but the second really changed me i have discharge now, i am very hungry all the time i have gaind like 10 pounds in 2 minths i have acne and i have never had acne in my life i feel sick all the time and sleepy and old | F | 21 | 2 months | 9/30/2009 | 1 | Birth Control | Extreme Fatigue, Extreme Depression, No Libido | I have received 3 Depo shots and I will never have another one. Within the past 4 - 5 months I have started feeling hopeless about everything...and so sad. I feel like someone took a huge sponge and soaked up all the joy from my life. I don't enjoy anything anymore...not my kids sports, not movies or tv, eating out at restaurants, being with friends or family, nothing. I am empty and no one can reach me. And I am anxious...my heart races...I have irrational and obssessive thoughts constantly...worry, worry, worry is all I do. And sex?? What sex. I don't want it. I sleep on the very edge of the bed so my husband won't accidentally touch me because then he might want to have sex and I would rather eat glass. Also, I can barely stay awake while driving. I literally have to baounce my head of the headrest to wake myself up sometimes. Be very careful if you choose this for BC. | F | 41 | 9 months | 9/29/2009 | 1 | To relieve symtoms of fibroids | Have had constant heavy breathing since two weeks after first shot,heavier than ever before,depressed,dead sex drive and moodiness. | I will not take the next shot,thank God I'm about finished getting my medical clearance for my hysterectomy. | F | 48 | 1 months | 9/29/2009 | 3 | Birth Control | Weight Gain, No Sex Drive | I liked the shot itself, not having to remember to take a pill everyday was hard for me, I even like the fact you don't get your period, that was great. I did gain weight, which I didn't know about, my doctor stressed more about taking calcium for my bones than anything, and when I explained I had no sex drive what so ever I was told to tell him to work harder at arousing me, not, this is a normal side affect, so glad to know it's not me acting like some old lady! I had taken it for almost two years and recently stopped, but I agree about the feeling pregnacy like symptoms, sore breasts, no period still after a few months, it's very odd. I actually went to a weight loss doctor to help me loss the weight I put on because that's accurate about wanting to eat constantly. But, I lost the weight, and little by little I'm getting my sex drive back. Not the greatest but not the worst. | F | 30 | 2 years | 9/25/2009 | 1 | Birth control | Anxiety, mood swings, severe cramping all over my body, headaches, nausea, vomiting | It's astonishing how instant all of my symptoms came about. I received my first (and only) shot of Depo right after I had a miscarriage. I've never had problems with anxiety until now. I have been anxious 24/7, I have no interest in sex, or anything else for that matter. I've been suicidal and have even woken my mother up at various hours of the night from being in such pain from cramps I could do nothing other than weap. I have been spotting constantly since the shot and it seems like no matter how often I keep clean, I still have a vaginal odor which I've never had before using this birth control. Although it's convenient, the side effects out weigh the benefits and I DO NOT recommend this shit to ANY woman out there. | F | 18 | 3 months | 9/24/2009 | 1 | birth control | Loss of sex drive, painful intercourse, leg cramps, fatigue, spotting for 2 weeks after injection, spotting after intercourse | I've gotten two Depo injections, and I WON'T be having another one! Reading all of these reviews makes me feel somewhat better; I thought it was just me. Obviously, it's not! | M | 37 | 4 months | 9/24/2009 | 1 | Birth control | Irregular bleeding, Fatigue, Muscle aches, Loss of sex drive, Severe mood swings, Acne. I could go on | I wouldn't recommend this to anyone. Once getting I'd say my 2nd injection I felt like a totally different person and not in a good way. I can see why its very effective birth control it makes you so mean no one would want to touch you. My face has broken out terribly. My hairs thin. I have no energy at all. I ache. I feel alot older than I am from it. And I have been getting two periods a month. I have not had an injection in over a month and still feel side effects. Matter a fact I had a period two weeks ago and got another. I still feel very edgy. It would be nice to know when this crap will be out of my system. Its terrible! If anyone would like to share similar experiences or might know how long this crap takes to wear off email me. | F | 24 | 3 months | 9/21/2009 | 1 | endometriosis/form of birth contro | everything. | I started taking depo as a form of birth control because it was easy, and because i was diagnosised with endometriosis. I was in the worst pain of my life before I took depo. When I got my first shot I felt like a whole differnt person. The pain was gone, no period, it was great. But then after the next couple of shots I, my parents and my fiance all started noticing a change. I had sever headaches, joint pain, a feeling of nervousness all the time, a GREAT loss of sex drive and wanting to do anything AT ALL. I was plain out depressed. I felt like a robot. I stopped hanging out with family and friends, I was uninterested in doing anything but being locked up in the house....and im only 20! I've been on this birth control now for 2 1/2 years, I've never once had a period, or spotting since I've gotten my second shot. But now even after being off of depo for 6 months and wanting to have a baby, I can't because I STILL haven't gotten a period. So for anyone wanting to get on depo-provera because they think it's "easier" or dont want to use condoms. Don't go threw the pain of getting this shot. | F | 20 | 2.5 years | 9/18/2009 | 3 | To prevent pregnancy | Complete Loss of sex drive, extremly moody, fatigue, loss of apetite | I almost lost my marriage due to the lost of my sex drive. I've been married for 1 year yes 1 year and I have no desire at all for sex. I snap for anything. I thought something was wrong with me because I've always had a healthy sexual appetite. Until I found this site I would have never known. My doctor never told me about these side effects. I was told I wouldn't have a period little weight gain but nothing of what I'm experiencing. I'm so happy I found this info out. I'm due for another shot next month but guess I will not be getting that dose. I'll try to find another option. | F | 30 | 1 years | 9/17/2009 | 1 | Birth Control | Hunger, Weight Gain | I started depo july of 2003 and stopped the injections a year later. During and even still to this day I still feel very hungry all the time. It really sucks and it seems like since I started the shot everything tastes completely different. So it's 6 years since I've stopped taking the shot, and I am still constantly starving, all the time, and when I eat nothing seems to satisfy my taste buds. I have gained 35 lbs. and it is very hard to control the hunger and lose the weight. PLEASE IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING THIS BIRTH CONTROL, RETHINK YOUR OTHER OPTIONS. | M | 23 | 1 years | 9/16/2009 | 1 | stop menstral flow | I have bled everyday for 3 months.Its horrible.i wonder how long this will last? | I do not recommend it!!! | F | 46 | 3 months | 9/16/2009 | 1 | birth control | i have had a sever migrain that pain releif barely works and has been on going since the shot kicked in. Ive had horrible mood swings. My hair is getting really thin. Ive broke out really bad on my face and ive got sore itchy bumps that are around my hair line, and my breast are really tender. | I know all this stuff is from the shot cuz i didnt have any of this before hand and im having the same reaction my aunt had when she took it. I will never get another dose of this and id rather just use condoms (even tho they arent to comfortable) than keep going through these side effects!!! | F | 20 | 2 weeks | 9/16/2009 | 1 | birth control | increase in appetite, mood swings, irregular bleeding, decreased interest in sex. | Like others, I have had the WORST mood swings imaginable. My sex drive is practically non-existant, and although it says that your periods may stop all together, it is like mine has never stopped. Like someone else said, a big reason why this works for birth control is because you either don't want it, can't have it (because of spotting), or are far too moody for your boyfriend/husband to want to have anything to do with you. | F | 21 | 9 weeks | 9/14/2009 | 3 | Pregnancy prevention | Mood swings, cramps, loss of sex drive, fatigue | I've been on the shot for 2 years now. I did not gain weight but it was impossible to lose any weight! I love not having a period and not worrying about getting pregnant! But that's about it. The day I get my shot I end up with a migraine and nasty nausea. The day after I'm still nauseated and have cramps. My left breast is permenantly tender to touch and I'm constantly tired. I have NO sex drive what so ever! I'm actually scared my husband will go elsewhere because I really despise sex! The shot is soooo easy and so effective that I keep getting it (maybe because my mom in law is essentially my doctor and will NOT let me miss one....she brings it home from work!) it's alsomst like choosing the lesser of 2 evils! I got pregnant with both of my kids while on the pill because it was so hard to remember it and the nuva ring kept coming out during sex and was a pain to remove. I won't get the implant because it perminantly irritates the lining of your uteras and as a nurse, I'm really not comfortable with that thought! The shot is also depleating my calcium which is taking it's toll on my teeth! I really think that with the long term effects, I'll regret my decission to use the shot for birth control! But for now it works....like I said....lesser of 2 evils! | F | 25 | 2 years | 9/12/2009 | 5 | Right after getting the shot (the first two weeks) I felt hunger that was more than normal | I have been taking the shot for 3 years now. It is amazing. If you do your research in the begining it does warn you about all the side effects that could happen but I have only experienced one. (The hunger) But even that is mind over matter. You get a shot once every 3 months and it works incredibly! I would recommend it to anyone!!!! | F | 25 | 9/11/2009 | 3 | Ortho-Novum 7/7/7 | Insomnia, Fatigue, Vaginal Dryness | The shot pretty much puts your body into a reversible type of menopause: No periods, but all the other crappy stuff comes with it. I'm Afro-American, so the bone loss problem generally won't affect me. My mate and I are poor college students, and condoms tend to be expensive so I'll stick with it:) Thank you, Planned Parenthood. | F | 19 | 1 years | 9/10/2009 | 1 | birth control | anxiety, extreme irritability, bleeding, headaches, fatigue, low sex drive, acne | My doctor suggested I get this shot due to the fact that I had the Novasure (endometrial ablation) procedure and it would be very dangerous for me to get pregnant. The nurse in the office told me the main side effects they see in their practice are weight gain and bleeding. I have not gained weight, but I have been spotting and bleeding since one week after receiving the shot (August 19). I was informed at the office that bleeding "should not be a problem" for me, since I had the Novasure. What a joke! The reason I had the Novasure to begin with was because my periods were lasting for 30 days at a time! Now it seems like I'm back where I started from. I am also EXTREMELY irritable, which is not like me at all. My husband and kids are paying the price in this aspect, and I hate that! I told my husband the reason this shot works so well for birth control is because 1)you are so irritable, no one would want you, 2)the acne is so ugly, no one would want you, 3)you don't feel like having sex due to the constant bleeding, and 4)YOU don't want anyone because you have no sex drive AT ALL! We have decided that I am NOT getting my next shot, my husband has made an appointment with a urologist to take care of our birth control!!! PLEASE think twice before getting this shot!! | F | 38 | 1 months | 9/10/2009 | 1 | Birth Control | Constant Sick feeling, Nausea, Severe Headaches, Breasts were sore, Hair loss,mood swings, depression. | I have been was on the shot for 9 months. I didn't go back to get the last shot b/c the side effects were so bad. Every thing was great for the first 2 shots then i started getting all the side effects suddenly. I have been off the shot for one month and my period has not came back yet and the side effects are still here. I am getting pregnancy like symtoms but i am not pregnant. I would not tell anyone to take this shot I would tell them it would be a HUGE MISTAKE!! | F | 21 | 9 months | 9/8/2009 | 3 | birth control | a HUGE and i mean HUGE wad of blood & maybe vaginal discharge came out the 1st week of august i have been bleeding/spotting everyday since then and its now entering 2nd week of september. im pretty sure an abortion occured i think i was pregnant and my test came up negative at the obgyn before my shot and that wad was my kid. and im pretty sure i have vaginal dryness | i have no weight gain or any of the other things mentioned, but reading all these things does scare me. i am debating on receiving another shot. | F | 18 | 1 times | 9/7/2009 | 1 | birth control | moodiness, tiredness, terrible back pain, had pregnancy symptoms (breast tenderness, etc), weight gain (an wasn't small before the shot), acne, night sweats, head aches, NO sex drive | I took the depo because we had just had our second child and needed something that worked well, but was not permanent. A friend had taken the shot and said that it worked great for her. The nurses at me dr office said that the side effects were miserable. I am pretty strong headed, but it turns out that they were right. | F | 32 | 210 days | 9/5/2009 | 2 | prevent pregnancy | i started the shot late july 2009 after terminating a pregnancy. since then i have only gained 4 pounds, no acne, sex drive hasn't changed but it seems like since i have been on the shot i spot everyday. about a week ago i got my first period since being on the shot and its heavier than my regular period has ever been. i've passed 3 huge blood clots in a matter of 3 days [which scared the life out of me] and its lasting longer than usual. honestly if i would've known that i'd be bleeding the whole summer and some i'd have rather not taken any bc. | F | 20 | 45 days | 9/4/2009 | 4 | Birth control | Have cravings like im expecting...Hungry all the time | I got my first shot on Aug. 3,2009 and my period only lasted for 5 days after that it went away..I actually love the Depo shot and don't regret that I got it, I haven't had any bad side effects beside Im always hungry....I would totally recommend the shot 100% | F | 22 | 1 months | 9/2/2009 | 1 | birth control | weight gain, period for 3 months straight, moodiness, stomach issues, consitpation and diarrhea, some hair loss | Ever since starting depo, I haven't been able to lose weight and I just pack on the pounds even though I'm active. I was on the shot for 2 years and just went off it almost 2 months ago. Since going off, my breasts have been tender and sore. I still am packing on the pounds. I still haven't seen my period yet and after reading about other's experiences, I don't expect my cycle to return to normal anytime soon. My husband and I want to try to have a baby but I'm terrified it'll take a year or more. I've been having bad headaches since going off the shot. While on the shot I wouldn't have a bowel movement for a week or more and then when I did have one, it would be diarrhea. It was awful. It was like this every week for 2 years. I just didn't realize it was the depo causing it until I got off of it. I wish I would have had the sense not to use this form of birth control. | F | 30 | 2 years | 9/2/2009 | 3 | Birth Control | No sex drive, no periods, extreme mood swings | I started getting depo shots when I was 16 yrs old. I stopped at 19 got pregnant a year later and the baby was still-born. Had another baby right after and then got back on depo after that. I've been on it a year now. I love not having periods. My acne has not gotten better. It still comes in breakouts, I'm guessing around the time my period would supposed to come. My bones are achey. My fingers feel like I have arthritis, (sp?) The worst thing is my horrible mood swings and the way it causes me to treat my partner.He's always telling my I'm mean. I cry real easy and things I shouldn't cry about. I am getting off the shot and going to try the "rythem method".Look it up. It works. | F | 24 | 4 days | 9/1/2009 | 1 | Birth Control | Weight gain, moody, easily irritated, bloated, and an overall feeling of being pregnant and I am not. | This medication has been horrible from the very first week. I immediately began my cycle and bled for 6 weeks with only a day or two in which I wasn't bleeding heavily with occasional "chunks of tissue." I continue to spot almost daily. I am so bloated I can no longer fit into most of my clothes. My breasts are huge and feel like they weigh 3 pounds each - my bra size was a small "C" prior to this injection; but now I think I must be a "D" or bigger as I'm busting out of my bras. I am constantly hungry and have gained 6 pounds over the past 9 weeks. Prior to this medication I was fun, happy, and easy going. Now however I am easily irritated and will go off for no apparent reason. I will NOT be taking an additional injection and i am emailing all of my friends to avoid this medication. THIS IS THE WORST MEDICATION I HAVE EVER PUT INTO MY SYSTEM AND I REGRET THE DAY I MADE THE UNINFORMED DECISION TO DO IT. | F | 41 | 9 weeks | 9/1/2009 | 1 | birth control | bad mood swings, weight gain (30 lbs), acne, painful intercourse, total loss of sex drive | Depo was recommended to me because I have "white coat" high blood pressure and no other options were given to me. Gained 30 lbs in 9 months (10 lbs per shot). Had the same workout/diet routine since getting the 1st shot and found that I was actually gaining weight! I am slowly losing the weight I put on (so far lost 15 lbs in 3 months). Sex was extremely painful to the point I could not have any sex at all. My GP did not discuss the side effects and when I told her about not liking the shot she told me everyone else is delighted with it and couldn't understand how I could not like it! WTF?! You have to do your own research before getting this! I practically forced her to switch me to a different BC and now I'm on progesterone-only pills (POPs) and feel a million times better. I've been off Depo for 3 months now and I have no acne, no moodiness, sex drive is back like I'm 18 again, and no weight gain. And most importantly I've switched clinics. | F | 33 | 9 months | 8/28/2009 | 5 | birth control | I was on the shot for 2 years. High sex drive for a month then low sex drive for a month and so on and so forth | I have been on the implant for a year and i am switching back to depo provera , because i am sick of the prolonged bleeding and headdaches. | F | 21 | 2 years | 8/27/2009 | 4 | Contraception/no period | This is the third time that I've gone on Depo in the last 9 years. I was told by a doc to not stay on it for more than a couple years due to bone loss. This round I'm experiencing pregnancy-like symptoms (nausea, fatigue, dizziness, etc) as well as bad cramping and hot sweats. I'm in the middle of the 2nd shot, so I'm hoping it will go away. My period is gone now though, and the symptoms were minor enough that I just now realized that is what's causing everything. Not pregnancy and not a cold that just keeps trying to attack. | It's different for everyone, but I overall, the pros outweigh the cons for me. | F | 26 | 5 months | 8/26/2009 | 1 | birth control | prolonged bleeding, and low sex drive | The shot is the worst ever! Let me give you a time lime just to let you know how much I bled: I got the shot on Feb, 10, 2009. I started bleeding exactly one week later. On April 28, 2009, I was scheduled to return back to the Dr. for the 2nd shot. After bleeding the entire time I decided not to get it. I contintued to bleed and did not stop until about May 10. I stopped bleeding completely and when I just though the medication was completely out of my system and I was going to have a normal period, I start bleeding again on July 31, 2009 and have not stopped yet. There is not even a day where I am not bleeding! I can't wait 'til this is completely out of my system but from the looks of the other posting it could be more than just awhile! The doc even told me the medication would be out of my system after 6 months from getting the last shot but then when I called re: my concerns, they said this was completely NORMAL!! Ugh! I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND NOT TO GET THIS AT ALL! DONT EVEN CONSIDER IT! If you want to keep you sex drive healthy, dont get it! | F | 21 | 3 months | 8/26/2009 | 1 | Pregnancy Prevention | MOOD SWINGS, HAIR LOSS, VERY PAINFUL INTERCOURSE, BLEEDING DURING INTERCOURSE, RANDOM BLEEDING | i HATE the Depo shot. i've only been on it for 6 months & i'm already unsatisfied. the first couple weeks on the first shot were okay, my sex life was normal, then progressing toward the end of the cycle, i began to bleed during sex, & later it became extremely painful where my partner couldn't even get in. i visited the doctor to be safe & i found out i had a mild yeast infection. i took the medicine i was given, however, i was still randomly bleeding & sex was extremely painful. i began to get uncomfortable irritation in my lower parts, so i visited a personal doctor to do a pap smear which came out normal. although i was still experiencing irritation, mood swings, depression, & my sex drive was a -4.. even after i had a normal pap smear, sex is still very painful, so its obvious its the birth control. i have also lost a lot of hair, some by strands & by chunks... i thought something was wrong with my body, until i read reviews about the shot & realized that's what causing me so much trouble. i would definitly NOT recommend this form of birth control. | F | 6 months | 8/25/2009 | 1 | Birth control | Vomitting, headaches, stomach aches, cramps, hot sweats, excessive bleeding. | As soon as I got my first shot 2 days later I started my period. It lasted 3 weeks. 5 days later my period started up again and is continuing for the 2nd week. I get hot sweats and stomach aches that lead to vomitting. | F | 19 | 70 days | 8/24/2009 | 1 | contraceptive | moodiness, weight gain, back pain, night sweats | I have had 2 shots. 30 days after my first shot I started bleeding and have not stopped yet except for 1 or 2 days. I have had depression most of my life and this has only exacerbated the problem. A friend of mine had great results with it and never had a period at all..one of the few lucky ones..so I thought I would try it. BIG MISTAKE! My OB/GYN nurse encouraged me to take this 2nd shot by telling me it should make the symptoms decrease. I am miserable. I am having severe cramps and backaches. I am bloated, gaining weight, having headaches and am snappy and mean to my family. Forget being intimate, this is the last thing on my mind. I would not recommend this shot to anyone! | F | 40 | 5 months | 8/21/2009 | 1 | Prevent pregnancy | migraine, mood swings, mild hair loss, acne, increased appetite, long menstrual cycle | I do not recommend this product. I took the shot in May and everything was fine until the end of June. At that time I started spotting continuously (every day all day) and then I had my cycle which I thought would fix this issue but it went on for 2 1/2 weeks and then the continuous spotting returned. I am now into my eigth week of my long cycle with no sign of it stopping. My doctor has told me this is a reaction that some women experience and I have to wait it out until the drug is out of my system. The information I have found suggests that this could continue for 6 to 8 months. So I would highly recommend another form of birth control first before using this method. You never know how your body will react to this shot. | F | 30 | 3 months | 8/19/2009 | 1 | conracteption no periods | ruined my life....insomnia, bipolar, hair loss, migraines, joint pain, fatigue, no sex drive, painful sex, night sweats | i have been off depo for 2 years and i have been struggling to get my body back to normal....acupuncture has saved my life...i found a book today called Hormonally Vulnerable Women by Geoffrey redmond that gives tons of ways to get your body back to normal...just wanted to share what has helped me bc i know it is fustrating getting normal again...any ? email me | M | 25 | 4 years | 8/19/2009 | 3 | Prevention of getting Knocked up | First period after the shot was EXTREMELY heavy with horrible unbearable cramps and a huge chunk came out made me think it was a miscarriage, really bad burning and rash to the vagina, depression, extreme mood swings, 9 lb weight gain in 3 wks | F | 18 | 2 months | 8/15/2009 | 1 | control periods / endometriosis | weight loss of about 22 lbs., extreme hair loss, terrible mood swings, emotional, break through bleeding, depression, loss of personality, terrible pain, loss of appetite. | I have had endometriosis since I was 14. I have had surgery twice and been on birth control pills. After my second surgery in June of '09 I was put on this shot. At first it worked great except for a few break through bleeding every now and then. I would say after my second injection I began to loose weight. I weighed 112 lbs. gained 3 to be 115 lbs. then lost 22 lbs. to now be 92 lbs. I am 4' 11 so this is not a healthy weight for me. I also began to have periods exactly a month before I got the next injection, and they would last 7, 14, and one time it lasted 17 days! I have always had a lot of hair but now it just falls out in clumps I cant even run my fingers through my hair anymore because I am scared it will just pull more out. After my third shot my friends and family began to notice that I was not my bubbly outgoing self anymore, I was just so tired and never felt good. My doctor says that this would have shown up after my first injection, but that is not the case. She also said if you are prone to depression the shot will pull it out, but im telling you I have never felt depressed or as messed up as I do now. I would get so upset over every little thing and could switch from being happy to pissed off in about 2 seconds. I was just not myself anymore and am tired of it. I will not take another shot after this one is over I will just go back on the pill. | F | 18 | 15 months | 8/15/2009 | 1 | Wasnt quite ready to have a baby | nausea, outrageous bleeding/ abdominal pain, loss of appeptite | I got the shot at the beginning of june and a week after I went completely off my period I came right back on the next week. I have been bleeding daily since, whether it is heavy or just spotting, there is blood. I have had horrible stomach pains sometimes they are unbearable. I stay very moody and emotional almost like I am bipolar and I have never had any problems like that before this shot. I have been having headaches that last all day long and because I stay so quizzy all the time I never wanna eat. This shot is not worth it I would try a different form of birth control instead of this. I have bleed so much it defeats the purpose of me getting the shot because I can never have intercourse. DON'T GET THIS SHOT!! | F | 23 | 3 months | 8/14/2009 | 1 | as a contaceptive | low sex drive weight gain, depression, breast tenderness heavy bleeding | i had three shots all in all. the first month i would be moody and cry with no apparent reason and i would have a period every two weeks.my honeymoon was hell i bled for 3 weeks. i took it originally because i suffered from uterine fiboids. i wish i hadnt taken it at all. am trying to get pregnant now. its been 9 months since my last shot but i cant get pregnant and i experience irregular verrrrry long periods of up to 20days. please do not use this contraception | F | 26 | 9 months | 8/13/2009 | 5 | birth control | slight spotting fatigue for a week after injection | Depo isnt evil like the reviews make it seem. It costs me $17 (generic brand) every 3 months which cant be beat, and you dont have to remember to take pills everyday. It did NOT decrease my sex drive, did NOT make my acne worse, did NOT make me moodier, and DID NOT MAKE ME GAIN A SINGLE POUND. I think it affects different people differently but so far so good for me. (FYI Ive been on other birth controls and had VERY negative side effects) I think it's time someone write a success story for it. Also, if youre considering depo, realize that the people who typically write these reviews only write them because they are angry. Its less likely that someone who is happy with the drug take the time to write a review. Everyones body reacts differently to different prescriptions, but because Ive had so much success with depo, I would 100% recommend it. | F | 22 | 4 months | 8/11/2009 | 1 | birth control | EXTREME DRYNESS leading to PAINFUL INTERCOURSE. causing me to stop sex mid way through.. loss of sex drive along with the pain made it very effective considering the thought of having sex made me cringe. 10-15lbs weight gain. some mood swings that leveled out after the first month. headaches, body aches. chest pain. bloating, gas, abdominal pain. | I was on depo for 6months. and refused to get my 3rd shot because i was so dissatisfied. i was unsure of what was directly causing my side effects, but after finding this website i am convinced they are all caused from depo. i have been off depo for roughly 3 months, i have regained only a quarter of what my sex drive used to be, i have a hard time becoming aroused. intercourse is still painful, luckily my boyfriend is very understanding but i feel it is still straining our relationship.. intercourse feels very tight, even with the use of lubrication and easing his way in. after only a few minutes it begins to make me feel as though i am being "rubbed raw" inside and i have to ask him to stop. it is sometimes so painful that i am brought to tears.. i PRAY that this will go away. i feel dysfunctional. as for the weight gain, i do not know that all of it can be blamed on depo. i have now renewed my gym membership and working out 5-7 days a week doing cardio. i have lost the majority of what i gained while on the shot. i would never recommend the shot, and i wish i never had it. | F | 18 | 6 months | 8/10/2009 | 3 | Didn't want to take the pill | Nausea, stomach pain, tired ALL the time, headaches/migranes, dizziness, leg/foot/knee/ankle/back pain, CONSTANT sick feeling, irritability/anxiety/depression, no motivation to really do anything. | I only have these side effects during the month after I get the shot, or the week of the next shot. Which sucks, I wish it didn't happen at all. But, it's better then getting pregnant... | F | 15 | 19 months | 8/9/2009 | 1 | High Blood Pressure from the Pill | Extreme anxiety, moodiness, depression, sadness, extreme fatigue, not feeling like myself, feeling constantly sick | I had anxiety issues before is started depo provera, and my doctor knew this. But at that point in time they were under control and typically didn't dictate how i lived my day to day life.. the first 2 injections were fine, maybe a slight elevation in anxiety but not enough to notice. I had my 3rd shot about 3 weeks ago and my anxiety has never been worse. I almost had an anxiety attack from driving to a concert the other day. I have extreme fatigue and though i CAN sleep at night I wake up feeling exhausted and am tired throughout the day. My doctor said it was strange that only now the negative symptoms were showing up, and she chalked it up to it being my anxiety only. I know that the depo is directly associated to all these side effects.. I noticed a very obvious and drastic change right after I had the injection. | M | 19 | 10 months | 8/8/2009 | 4 | Birth Control | Loved it for birth control. My period stopped for good the day I got the shot, had no mode swings or weight gain. Only side effect (in hind sight) is lack of sex drive. | I should have planned ahead more for starting a family. I was on shot for 7 years. Went off of it a year ago to try and get pregnant, still havent had my period, despite attempts by my doctor to restart cycle. Depo is great drug if you don't plan to have kids. If you do plan to have kids stop the shots two years before you start trying! | F | 33 | 7 years | 8/7/2009 | 1 | Birth Control | MAJOR weight gain, knee pains, hot flashes, hair loss, mood swings, vaginal dryness, loss of sex drive, nausea, not sure what else it has caused but i'm sure it has done something else i haven't noticed. | When i started taking Deop i was 98lbs. i have always been very small and skinny... well i'm only 5'2 as well. but after 3 years i am now 115(17lb increase), it is still a good weight but just doesn't look right on me. depo has increased the fat in my abdominal area and arms heavily. i've been trying to exercise to get rid of the weight but it doesn't seem to work. i have decided to stop taking depo after i found out that after 2 years of taking Depo, it causes loss of bone density and is a risk of causing osteoporosis. I plan on taking a Bone density test which i recomend all women do if they have been taking depo over 2 years. i have also read that after you get off depo you must do a "cleansing technique" in order to get rid of the drug out of your body faster. Drink lots of water, eat lots of raw vegetables, drink raw vegetable juices, exercise, get some fresh air, steam in a steam room or sauna, drink herbal teas or teas that balance female hormones. I just never thought depo was doing so much harm to my body... | F | 22 | 3 years | 8/6/2009 | 1 | birth control | head ache,depression,body aches,spotting with chunks | This was my first time taking the shot and i don't like it. at the beginning of the 3 months i had no bleeding and then at the last month i start spotting with chunks of tissue coming out. it was time for me to get another shot july 14th but i decided not to. the problem is that i am still spotting with the chunks of tissue and when my boyfriend come back from the military and this is still happening i dont think i will be able to have sex with him. | F | 22 | 12 weeks | 8/5/2009 | 1 | birth control | SEVERE WEIGHT GAIN, knee and anklejoint pain | I was 110 lbs when i originally started taking the shot a year later I am 142 lbs. I have always been slender with a very tiny frame and have never had weight problems, Ever. I wouldnt recomended the shot for anyone. Maybe someone suffering Bulimia or anorexia | F | 20 | 2 years | 8/4/2009 | 1 | birth control | Migraines/tension headaches, irritability, moodiness, exhaustion, spotting | I have on the depo for almost 3 months I am due for the next shot in the first week of September. I will NOT be going. The past three weeks I have been spotting, But for over two weeks I have had unbearable migraines and tension headaches, nonstop. I can’t stay awake while driving unless I am talking to someone on the phone or in the car. I am extremely irritable and tense that I feel like am going to explode. I took the shot because my doctor suggested it for my lifestyle. So now I am acting in a renaissance faire camping on the weekend feeling miserable and not being able to focus on anything. Please consider the extreme effects of this drug on your life style and how much it will influence it. | F | 24 | 3 months | 8/4/2009 | 4 | birth control | spotting/light bleeding in last month before shot needed again, weight gain!,maybe more nervousness but nervous person anyway,no decrease in sex drive luckily!!! | I havent got pregnant on it so I will put up with side effects:) They suck but pregnancy is worse!!!! Was on in high school and had no periods but still had the weight gain. Took after I had my daughter and made post partum depression horrible bled for the 3 months after I had her til shot wore off. I dont recommend directly after labor. | F | 27 | 6 months | 8/2/2009 | 1 | Birth Control | Huge weight gain, mood swings, allergic reactions, no period | DONT USE DEPO-PROVERA! I had my last shot about 3 months ago and my last period was in January, i've gained over 15 pounds, im misserable because of it and have bone pains sometimes. I don't believe its a healthy or safe birth control. My suggestion is wear a condom or just wait. | F | 18 | 3 months | 8/2/2009 | 4 | prevent pregnancy | vaginal odor (never had it before), weight gain (20 pounds in 1 year), no sex drive, uncontrollable emotions | i don't get my period anymore, which is really the ONLY plus side, can't go off the depo because my periods are too hard to manage. | F | 17 | 1 years | 8/1/2009 | 4 | Birth Control | As of yet, no prominent side effects. Noticed some fatigue this last week but still excercising and staying busy. I've lost 5 lbs, no loss in sex drive, and not pregnant. | No depression, but I also started Celexa the same time I got my first shot. Not Depo influenced though. | F | 27 | 1 months | 8/1/2009 | 3 | Birth control | CRAZY Mood swings, dizziness, lack of sex drive, tunnel vision, severe fatigue, abdominal pain, back pain | It is crazy how instint all these symptoms came on. At first i couldnt explain it, or figure out why i felt like this, not wanting to blame it on the shot. but after reading all of these i see exactly why, where and how my mood and body have been effected. i havent been on it long enough to know about if ill have a period, or anything else but this is where im at now. I cant tell anyone to or not to take it. just be fully aware of wat your getting into. i can deal with these side effects... they just suck. I had to start taking daily naps oh and have been more pissy than i was before. anyone experience bladder infection...? | F | 19 | 2 weeks | 8/1/2009 | 1 | Birth control | severe depression, tiredness, mood swings,irritability, headaches, migraines, leg cramps, stomach pains, loss of sex drive | First month on it I was sick a lot, but the next 3 months were really good. No side effects at all. By the 4th month, I suddenly became depressed and experiencing frequent migraines. Depression & headaches got worse, started experiencing more symptoms. I'm tired all the time, I'm in therapy for anxiety/depression, I'm just not happy anymore. I seem to have a lot of seemingly random symptoms, different kinds of stomach pains, constant feeling of unwell, I cant concentrate, I get very mad over the slightest things. I've been spotting almost everyday for a month now, now there's lingering abdominal cramps. Before this, I was in very good health. Now I'm just not myself. Its terrible feeling sick all the time. What did I do to myself? | F | 31 | 8 months | 8/1/2009 | 1 | Birth Control | EXTREME NAUSEA,abdominal cramps,no sex drive,Hair Loss,Servere Depression,Anxiety,Gastrointestinal problems,Heavy periods lasting for more than a week.Itchy Skin, Weight loss 40pds | About 4 days after takin the shot i experienced EXTREME Nausea its been non stop for 3 months,Ive been to the ER 8 times in the past 3 months they keep telling me i have gastrointestinal problems, ive loss 40pds, i havent been able to eat because of the nausea. Ive lost hair, Servere depression even suicidle thoughts my fiancee is having a hard time putting up with my moodswings, i cry for no reason i get so mad for the little things,i cant eat i feel full all the time,Dr's take alot of blood from me do all theses test in they cant tell me whats going on.Now i have to see a therapist for my depression.im going for a colonoscopy on Wed!! i know its the depo makin me feel lke this..I wouldnt recommend this to anybody especialy if u love ur health.Its the worst thing i have ever did. | F | 26 | 3 months | 7/31/2009 | 1 | pregnancy prevention | Moderate to severe depression, weakness/shakiness, tired all the time, nausea, no appetite whatsoever, decreased sex drive (so what's the point right?) | F | 19 | 30 days | 7/30/2009 | 4 | birth control | stopped my period. | I took it for 3 years went off it for 5years and am about to go back on it. In the three years it was wonderful not to have a period (especially as I worked as a canoe guide and was camping for 5 months straight). I;ve always been moody and this drug regulated my moods so instead of being depressed spontaneously I was only depressed when the shot was running out and about 2 weeks before I got the next one. I may have gained a little weight but nothing drastic. And now that I'm in a relationship again I'm going back on it this week | F | 30 | 3 years | 7/28/2009 | 2 | birth control | Spotting nearly every day for 6 months. | F | 27 | 6 months | 7/27/2009 | 3 | birth control | weight gain, moodiness, anxiety, loss of sex drive | I wish I had done my research. I just chose it because I knew I wasn't ready to get pregnant and thought it was convenient to get a shot every 3 mos and not have to remember to take a pill every day. 4 years later I've been to 3 different psychiatrists and 1 therapist, been on 1 antidepressant, just been diagnosed with ADD, my marraige is on the rocks (I have absolutely no desire to sleep with my husband) and my hips have recently been giving me pain. I'm due for my shot in 2 weeks and I'm making the decision to go off it. We'll see what happens. I'll try to give an update. | F | 31 | 4 years | 7/24/2009 |
| Key to
ratings: 5-Very Satisfied: this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal. 4-Satisfied: this medicine helped. 3-Somewhat Satisfied: this medicine helped somewhat. 2-Not Satisfied: this medicine did not work to my satisfaction. 1-Dissatisfied: I would not recommend taking this medicine. |
