The truth about Depo

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I sit on a advisory board and we held a forum this afternoon for at-risk teenage girls and their parents. It was entitled "Don't get burned this summer" and it dealt with teen sex, pregnancy, and STDs. Well, of course we had Planned Parenthood come in to discuss a lot of the technical stuff, and to offer free exams and birth control (with parent permission) for the sexually active.

During the birth control portion of Planned Parenthood's presentation the nurse speaking said that the shot would probably be the wisest choice for the majority of the group because it was extremely effective and you didn't have to remember to take a pill every day. She then asked the group why the shot was so effective. The young lady the nurse called on answered

"Because once you get your first period after you get your shot it never goes off...so you never get a chance to do anything!"

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

The nurse blushed and all the room could do was laugh. So true!

I recieved my 1 and only shot last november. When i went to my postpardum dr.s apt. the doc REALLY pushed it. I asked her if there were any side effects, what about risks assoc. with smoking- like with the pill, nothing. The only side effect she said was that she did not know what would happen with may period. So i said, ok. i asked her for a brochure so i could show my bf and she agreed. Well i opened the brocure AFTER i recieved the shot and it had a whole list of those whom should not recieve the shot: people w/asthma, breast cancer runs in your family.....and more that i did not need to worry about......(the other 2 i do) so i went online as soon as i got home and i found TONS andTONS of web sites relating to depo and the severe side effects some women scared the have after the shot, it scared the *!@# outta me!!!!

Well its been 7 mos and my one major side effect from the shot is i have my period everyother week......bf asked me if i was going to start menopause early, ya know run outta eggs :rotfl: ok, not so funny, but sorta.

SO, if you were to consider it, make sure you do the research.......i felt so stupiD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can relate to the story in the first post. My ex-wife got the depo shot and her sex drive went from 4 times a week to once a month if I was lucky - not to mention the "constant period".

I have never tried the depo shot. Heard about side affects from friends and I have bad luck with side affects. I used to take pill but could never remember to take pill at right time. When I would take the double dose I would become nauseated. I switched to lunelle and loved it! Only side affect was lack of period. Then the Dr.'s office called to let me know of the recall because it wasn't as effective as they thought. They told me a couple of shots that they had given me were part of the recall (thank god I didn't get preg.) So I tried the patch. The patch works for some but apparently not for me. I was on my period every month for 10 days at a time. Also I would get itch spots where I had put the patch. So now I am currently trying the nova ring. So far so good. My cycle is lighter but longer than it normally is. One day I will find the right Birth control for me..... :rolleyes:

Specializes in Adult M/S.

We had an interesting discussion in our Pharm class about birth control. Our instructor's point of view was that for someone sexually active who wasn't in a committed relationship with one other person who was also committed to the relationship he would not prescribe a non-barrier method of bc because of the high std risk. Was this discussed at all in your meeting?

I really liked the Depo shot. My period went away completely for the three years I was on it. However, when my husband and I decided to get pregnant it took almost a year and a half for my period to even return.

Jill

i love depo. no periods. no cramps. no nothing. not much of a sex drive but that is nothing new!

I took depo for 2 years. I had one period the month after my first shot, and not another until 9 months after my last shot. It took an additional 9 months after that to get pregnant. I won't get into the amount of weight I gained. :o I wouldn't do it again, that's for sure.

Specializes in Pediatrics.
We had an interesting discussion in our Pharm class about birth control. Our instructor's point of view was that for someone sexually active who wasn't in a committed relationship with one other person who was also committed to the relationship he would not prescribe a non-barrier method of bc because of the high std risk. Was this discussed at all in your meeting?

Somewhat, but not exactly. :) A non-barrier method birth control would be prescribed for anyone, because quite honestly, in today's society, some birth control is better than none. :o It was stressed that whatever birth control method a young lady gets she should still use condoms, committed relationship or not. Ms. X stated that not only is no birth control infalable, but even if someone has been committed a long time it does not necessarily mean that the partner is 100% faithful 100% of the time. It is up to each woman to protect herself reproductively and her mental, physical, and emotional health as a whole. :)

Thank you for asking. It is important to point that out to anyone who may be reading this and preparing to make certain decisions for themselves.

Specializes in Hey I'm now an RN!!.

That's how it made me feel 4 years ago...no period but a 30 pound weight gain...yes, 30! and I was tired and a general feeling of "yuk". Off the Depo and WaLa 30 pounds gone...strange.

This is my 3rd depo shot, and I have been bleeding straight for 6 weeks now with cramping, and have gained 10 unexplained pounds:angryfire ...it wears off on the 21st, I certainly won't be getting another shot...will be switching to the patch. Depo doesn't agree with me, that's for sure.
Specializes in ER.

I think that Depo really works differently in each person. I read allll of those websites abot the horrors of Depo etc, but you know what it is FDA apporved and has been around for a LONG time. My NP was suprised that I dont have break through bleeding etc. I was on it for a year and came off to try the patch but between copays and periods I went back after a year. I do have to say that my first shot back on I was SOOOOO nauseaus that I actually took SEVERAL pregnancy tests. I actually loose weight on the shot whoch is much nedded hahahahahah.

Of course the bad thing is that if you do have side effects they will last at least the 3 months until it wears off. Its not like the patch or pill where you can just stop.

Specializes in Everything but psych!.

Daughter was on depo. She had no periods, but gained 60 pounds in 3 years. She went off it, and the weight came off quite easily. Hmm, is the weight worth it?

Maire,

Please tell me that the Pill you are on is Ortho Tricylcen. I started taking them yesterday and I've read that it does aid in getting rid of acne. I hope it helps me.

Fatima

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