Depo Woes

[SnappyPix]

Thanks Lise, that information's really helpful - I'll definitely try the ibuprofen and will aim to have the next injection 2 weeks early, as you suggest.
It's Sod's Law that waiting for another 2 injections before the effects subside means I'll be period-free just in time for me to come off it!
Thanks again for taking the time to respond.

[Selkie]

I'm not on depo. However, Mircette (it's a BCP) stopped me from having periods. There are only two non-hormone days each month. According to my GYN, no periods or PMS is one of the side effects of Mircette. It made my melasia (sp?) worse, though. I'm trying a few month of tri-cyclen lo, but I might go back to Mircette. This is my first full no-hormone week in four or five years, and I forgot what it was like to get PMS and cramps!!!!!!

[Nanci]

Hey, I've been on Depo for about four or five years. I think I had irregular bleeding for a bit, then very light periods, and now nothing for several years. I stopped it last August for no particular reason, and my period didn't come back till February. So then I started it again. I am very happy on it.

Before that, I was on Norplant for 10 years, and loved that, too. I love anything where you don't have to do anything.

Nanci

[Brandi]

The iud I am on stopped my period for a year. And now has kinda come back. But periods are really light. And sometimes not at all. I am not a good person for that diva cup. Cause most of te time I don't need anything my periods are so light. But i like the thought os the diva cup. Just price wise and enviroment wise it sounds smart. Good luck and hang in there. It sounds to me like you do need to give it more time.

[Susan126]

From my understanding, depo is very hard on your bones. Depleting the mass and calcium. My daughter was on depo but in less than a year she had to switch to another form. What's good for one person may not be good for someone else. She had severe leg cramps from the depo. I would suggest talking with your own physician and ask a lot of questions.

Sue

[Quillfred]

Depo can be hard on the bones for some people. There are now warning lables from the FDA that require Health Care Providers to educate people for potential side effects regarding bone mineral density loss.

Women need to be sure the get the minimum daily requirements of calcium which is between 100-1200mg. When I prescribe Depo I give hardouts on high calcium foods and usually recommended calcium supplements to make up the difference as it is hard to meet the minimum from diet alone.

Also important is getting enough weight-bearing exercise which includes walking and running which encourages bones to retain calcium. Too bad cycling isn't one.

Our clinic encourages women to use Depo for two year cycles with a year "off" to help prevent bone demineralization. If they have good reasons to go beyond two years with use, they are also encouraged to check their bone density with either a heel scan or a Dexa scan (a more expensive and more accurate scan) and their risk factors for osteoporosis is determined.

In my experience, many have varied experiences with spotting while on Depo. Some periods cease immediately. Some cease or greatly reduce by the third dose. But there are some women who then either choose to discontinue it or spot frequently. Others have a cyclic MP about every 12 weeks.

With all its peculiarites, Depo is a very good method for many, including women who have dysmenorrhea, anemia, certain types of migraines, and other health conditions that prevent them from using estrogen safely. Many users are women who have problems remembering to use the pill consistently. Hope this helps a bit.

[DrBee]

I was on Depo for 3 months while breastfeeding my son. It was my only option - can't be on the pill while bfing and I'm allergic to latex, so ... not an option. I did NOT react well to the Depo at all. I did have a little bleeding, but the headaches at the beginning and coming off of it were horrendous. I also gained weight (avg wt gain is 5 lbs in the first year, from what I've read) and it made me feel ... just off. It's difficult to explain, but I did not feel like myself. And - I don't think it was hormonal changes from having the baby (as this was my second child) and as soon as it was out of my system - I was back to normal.

I have a friend that was on it for 5 years and stopped taking it over a year ago. She's having a tough time conceiving a baby, had one miscarriage, and had withdrawal like symptoms for the first 2-3 weeks after stopping the injections.

Some people don't react to it at all (like Nanci). I guess it's an individual physiology thing.