Depo Woes

[SnappyPix]

I did a quick search on the forum with regard to depo, but didn't really find the answer to my question - so, as always, huge apologies if this has been asked/answered before!

Apologies in advance, also, if this posting is a little bit too-much-information!

Has anyone else had/is having problems with continual bleeding whilst taking Depo?

I started a course of Depo-Provera around 5 months ago. Its main use is as a contraception, but my sole reason for starting the treatment was to stop having periods.

I work as a gardener and generally have no access to bathroom/toilet facilities throughout the day - being on my period became a bit of a nightmare, so I began a course of Depo, thinking this would help solve the problem. Several of my friends have also been on Depo, with no problems - their periods stopped and everything was hunky dory.

Unfortunately, it seems I'm one of the very small minority who had an adverse reaction and have been on a period, give or take about 10 days, for the past 5 months!

Whilst the bleeding isn't as heavy as a period, it's still substantial enough to definitely need to use something.
Thank God for the Diva Cup is all I can say!

Having googled the subject, it seems this isn't uncommon; but whilst women have reported problems similar to mine, I can't find out if the problem eventually gets better over time - and if so, how long.

So far, I've had 2 injections (3 months apart). I only intend to take Depo whilst working in my current job (which will finish at the end of the year) - as I'm also aware of the correlation between Depo and bone density loss.
I don't know whether to give it more time to work, or to just give it up as a bad idea (research has also shown that it can take up to 2 years to get out of your system!).
5 months is enough to try even my patience - and the cramps/pmt come along for the ride too, so it's an absolute hoot at the minute!

I guess, in a nutshell (sorry for rambling!). Has anyone taken Depo - and what were your experiences?

[Lise]

Hi, SP, I haven't used Depo, but have many patients that do. Irregular bleeding/spotting is the most common side effect. Usually goes away by 4 injections, if you can stand it until then. A way of trying to stop it is to take ibuprofen 800mg three times a day for 5 days. That's 4 over-the-counter 200 mg Motrin or Advil at a time. With food, so it doesn't hurt your stomach. Another solution is to get the next injection 10 weeks after the first one, rather than waiting the 12 weeks. Good luck with it.

[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.

[Nanci]

My last bone density scan was 5 years ago. My bone density has decreased a minimal amount, and is still well over average. I was on depo the entire time, except for a nine month break ending last month.

Nanci

[SnappyPix]

Thanks everyone for your comments - I think I will look into alternatives and give it one more shot before I concede that depo isn't for me.
Nanci - great news about the bone density scan.
Here's the report that I read on loss of bone density: http://www.nichd.nih.gov/new/releases/bone_loss.cfm

[Nanci]

AKK! According to the study, I'm not of reproductive age!! No kidding!!

My hip density went from 1.240g/cm2 to 1.122g/cm2. I don't know what percent that is.

The tech also told me that if one has osteoporosus, it responds _very_ well to prescription calcium.

Nanci