The contraceptive injection.

geri1965_2

I've been on it for about 14 years. No periods or pain, which is great.

I have put on 3 stone in that time, I was 30 when I started taking it though so it's possible I would have put that weight on anyway. I do think it has increased my appetite though.

Lots of people don't put on weight though and some lose it. I think you just have to be careful not to eat too much.

I did decide to have a break last year and stopped it for a while - I couldn't stand having periods again so I went back on after a few months.

Glamazon

loubie_lou wrote: »

I was on it for 2.5 years.............I loved it! No periods at all. I did put on a little weight but not much. The worst thing I did was to go onto the implant after it!

Good luck whatever you decide!

OMG I could have written this! exactly what hapened to me

atwitsend_2

I was on it for 5 years. A previous doctor had told me to have it every 8 weeks instead of 12 weeks, so that is what I done for a few years. Then I moved house, registered at new doctors and when I saw the doctor to get the prescription sorted, he informed me that I was being overdosed with it by an extra injection per year and that it was dangerous! He said that if I had been overweight (was size 10) then he could of maybe understood it but I'm not! He said that he wouldn't prescribe it to me, as I had been having it longer than they recommend (2 year) and that he only believes it should be used in third world countries as it messes your body up so badly! He said my chances of getting pregnant again would be low as I had been having the injection for 5 years, well within 2 months I was pregnant lol.
I loved the injection, ok I hate needles but it gave me no periods at all which is handy when you wanna have sex anytime you like lol I put on a little bit of weight but nothing severe. I would happily take it again if my OH let me, he won't though and nor will my doctor

shiningdove

Thanks to all above also.

Does it hurt much?
I'm aware it goes in the bum :l

atwitsend_2

I don't think it hurt at all, just a little !!!!! in your bum :rotfl: although I did have one bad one once where it went in a muscle in the wrong place and I couldnt sit down on that side for 2 weeks :rotfl:

jammy26

I had endless problems when on depo I have tried it twice and been really poorly both times, the trouble is once you have had the injection if it doesn't suit you it can take months for it to work it's way out your system unlike other forms of contraceptive where you can stop any time you like.

Lobell

I was on it for 10 years and didn't really realise the negative effects it was having on me unil I came off it.

I put on a lot of weight. Not all of that was down to the depo, admittedly, but it did seem to make it harder to shift the weight. Since coming off the depo over a year ago, I have lost 4 stones. Coincidence? Not entirely, I don't think. My friend was on it for about 8 years and came off just before me. She also gained a fair bit of weight, which started to drop off again when she came off it even though she wasn't making any effort to try to lose it.

It also badly affected my libido which, again, I didn't realise just how badly until I stopped it. Maybe that's how it works - you can't get preganant because you don't want to have sex! I've recently found out that some states in America use it as a form of chemical castration for sex offenders because of it's effects on inhibiting sex drive. If I hadn't have already stopped it at that point, I definitely would have after reading that!

I did love not having periods at all and it is a very convenient and effective method of contraception but I wouldn't go back on it even if I was allowed to and I don't feel happy about recommending it to others.

Gravesendgirl

I was on it for 4 years and loved it. Only side effect I had was an appetite increase after each injection for about a week. I lost 3 1/2 stone whilst on Depo so it is poss to lose weight on it.

I raved about it to some of my friends who had nightmares with it though. One friend had constant bleeding for about 2 months after the injection (including on her honeymoon) and it took ages for it to leave her system. Another friend with lots of period problems had it and loved it for the first 3 months but bled after the second injection.

I will have no hestitation going back on Depo but remember it is not for everyone and the side effects if you have them last for 3 months.

My bum was slightly tender for a day or so after the injection but it was pretty painless and much more convenient for me than taking daily tablets.

After Depo I had the implant which I had a similarly positive impression of.

geri1965_2

atwitsend wrote: »

he only believes it should be used in third world countries as it messes your body up so badly!

But it's OK to mess up the bodies of women in 3rd world countries? I wouldn't be very impressed with my doctor if he said that.

hermanmunster_3

I've given depo to loads of people - they either love it or hate it, but most of the time you can't tell before they try which group they are going to fall into.

however some people really surprise me by loving it when I thought they might not and some you just know will hate it and be in every few days for the 3 months...:eek:

So best not listen to to many stories and try it out if you want to.

We usually give it 11 weeks to make sure that it doesn't get forgotten - gives a bit of leeway ......:o