The contraceptive injection.

Chocolate80

I was on the injection for about 18 months. I had my last injection in July 09. I've still not had a period but for the majority of that time, it has felt like I'm about to have one ie. tender breasts, eating loads of chocolate. I feel like I've put on weight since I stopped the injection but that might be to do with the fact that it feels like I'm going to have a period every day IYSYIM.

I was put on it coz my periods were really painful but I wouldn't go back on it. I think I'd rather deal with the pain.

And I don't think size has anything to do with who can have the injection.

Happydaze

I was on this for 2 years and was great - no periods - no weight gain - no mood swings, worst bit was the jag on the bum!!
The only thing I would say is that if you decide to have kids and stop the depo injections it does take a long time for your body to readjust and get back to its normal monthly cycle - was ages before periods returned and I finally became pregnant.
Now have mirena coil fitted and this is just as good!!

SkipE

I was on it for three years. The first 4 months I developed motion sickness just without the motion. I suffered all the time!! I was throwing up in bushes on the street and all sorts!! I did gain weight. My periods stopped and at that time in my life that was an ideal solution for me.

It took me 18mths to get normal periods again, so if your planning on TTC any time soon I probaly wouldnt recommend it.

I didnt have depression or anything like that though. But I was depressed because of the extra weight!

These things affect people differently so you gotta try.

burnoutbabe

was on it for 14 years, was 1st contraceptive i used, no side effects at all, no periods, bliss.

changed 2 years ago to the implant, which also has no periods and no other side effects - i think a month after getting it i had a day when i felt teary for no reason (AHA, so thats these hormones that women get ) but thats it.

can't think its aaffected my sex drive and weight gain could due to that or just leaving uni/starting work/getting older - i can lose weight fine if i don't eat as much, so i doubt the contraceptive is to blame.

as with all pills, it suits some women and not others. I really don't ever want to go back to bleeding every month, so its more of a lifestyle thing than a contraceptive for me now.

Fluffi

Been on the depo injection for nearly 10 years now without problems - no bleeding is absolute bliss! I still get horrible day or two of irritability followed by sadness that I used to get before my periods though on a monthly basis still. I didn't find depo cured PMT for me.

My doctor recommended depo for me because my blood pressure is borderline high anyway and depo is less likely to increase your BP compared to the normal contraceptive pill.

The comments about the weight gain are interesting though ... I wonder if I'd find it easier to lose weight if I stopped taking depo for a while?

DaisyMoo

I was too scared to go on it and after having a terrible experience with the pill, Microgynan (Weight gain, severe mood swings) my GP suggested Yasmin. It was the best thing I ever did. I do not suffer with any side effects, my other half has also commented MANY times that he is unable to detect any mood changes!! Plus, I have not put on any weight.
Downside is you have to remember to take it every day and you do menstruate, although from my experience this lasts only for about 3-4 days.

*UpsyDaisy*

I wouldnt go on it again, as i was one of the unlucky (but now ever so grateful!!) few who became pregnant while on depo.

And i got fed up of having needles stuck in my bumcheek anyway lol.

mumslave

If you want kids in the future dont do it. I say that not because it will definitely stop you from having kids, but it works by shutting down your ovaries, and for some women, when they come off the depo, the ovaries need kick started...or just dont start again. The depo was originally designed to give to mental health patients to stop them from falling pregnant.

I had one injection of the depo after my middle child. 9 months later I was put on special tablets to try and stop the constant bleeding I suffered. In the end the only thing that stopped me from bleeding was going back on the pill. It took me a month to conceive my first, a month to conceive my second...nearly 18 months and a miscarriage to conceive my son after the depo. I never went near it again and lo and behold it took a month to conceive this 4th and final baby.

It doesnt affect all women the same, but I know a lady whom is now approaching her sixth year of ttc, after two years of the depo. So if you do want children in the future, I would err on the side of caution, rather than presume you wont be one affected.

ashbart

I was on depo for 10 years, started when I was about 15 due to really heavy periods. It was brilliant - no side effects for me! Came off of it about 1 year before I got married as we wanted to have kids more or less straight away and it can take a while to come out of your system. Went onto Cerazette which is a pill form of the injection. Unfortunately, had problems with large cysts on my ovaries (SO painful) but all gone now. Not sure whether it was a side affect of coming off of the Depo and going onto the Cerazette?!? Anyway, as other people have said, you either love the injection or you hate it and unfortunately, if you don't get on with it, you're stuck with the side effects for the whole 3 months... Hope it works for you, whatever you decide! Good luck!

MrsTinks

geri1965 wrote: »

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.

No but given that the chances of them getting another effective means of contraception is low then it's preferable... pills don't work because if you are sick or have a dicky tummy they don't work properly and condoms... yeah right...
So to the potential problems are worth the risk...

Personally I wouldn't go near it with a barge pole... I was a size 10... 10!!!!! And I was told "there is a minor risk of a slight weight gain"... my bare a$$ slight!!!!
Twice I've been on it - and both times I have gained weight. Second time the GP wouldn't believe I'd gained 8-9lb in 3 months and hadn't been over eating... So I presented my minutely detailed diet plan for the last 3 months from Slimming World. And I MEAN minutely detailed! I should have been loosing 2-3lb a week eating and exercising the way I had. I've now got a note on my file saying I'm not allowed anything with the same make up as the DEPO...

And for the record... it's the hardest weight EVER to shift again - possibly because your hormones have been affected... all I know is that I am still a size 16... Will however be returning to the gym again in a last attempt to try and loose at least a little... *sigh*

Unless you have no alternative then choose one that can be removed from your system again should you have an adverse reaction. Implant can be removed, coil can be removed, pill can be removed (stop taking it) - you are stuck with the DEPO effects for minimum 3 months!