I hate this shot.i would not recommend for anyone to take it.Im 15 years old,almost 16.im off of it now,but i was on it for one year.when i got the second shot i stopped having a period.I been off of it for almost 4 months and still havn't got my period.Im scared that when i do get my period that it will be really bad like constant bleeding.The shot made me gain alot of weight like 20 lbs.&& its also made me have really bad acne,&& my skin use to be so clear and pretty.Im also scared that when i do want to get preg. that i won't be able too.I feel like when i do start my period and it gets back to regular my face will clear up,But it feels so miserable having to wait and not knowing how long it could take.If i could go back in time i would have never signed the papers to take it.Your mom can't really make you take it if you refuse to sign the papers and get it.when i do have kids one day in a few years and if i have a girl i will not make her take it && have to go through it; Because i know how it feels.

This shot was great for preventing pregnancy and it also took away my periods which was great. I was on Depo for about a year and am still bittersweet about it. It was nice not having to pop a pill every day but on the other hand I gained weight, I became the biggest bitch I have ever met, I went into a deep deppression, and was always tired. One good thing that I did like abot depo was that even after I stoped the shot my periods remained light and only lasted around 2 and half days. That only lasted for 8 months after I had stoped taking Depo. If your looking for a good pregnancy prevention, not worried about your weight, NO PERIODS!!, and if your partner can stand your mood swings this birth control is perfect for you. If I could choose any birth controls out of the three I have tried (Tri-nesta the pill, nuvaring, and Depo) Depo is my number one choice. Hope this was helpful. Also the most weight I gained off of this shot was 15lbs which I still carry and is hard to work off (and im young).

As far as preventing pregnancy, I would give this shot 5 stars, but as far as my experience with it, I'd give it 1 star. I've been on this shot since April after I had my son because i'm 19 and don't want anymore kids at this current time, but I plan to have more in the future. I went with this birth control because of ease & because I heard it makes your period stop. As far as having no periods, that hasn't happened at all, in fact i've been spotting alot and even have went through periods lasting two to three weeks at a time. That is NOT a fun side effect especially being in a relationship. Another side effect i've noticed is that it made my hair much more brittle and it has been thinning considerably on one side. This is very unusual with me considering i've always had thick healthy hair and come from a family with the same type of hair. I've experienced constant headaches and a major decrease in energy which has not been fun considering i live a very active life. It seems like I can never get enough sleep. I talked to my doctor the first time a few weeks after I received this shot & alerted her of my side effects & she told me just stick with it & after the 2nd or 3rd injection things will improve & they've gotten progressively worse. I am switching to ortho tri cyclen lo instead of receiving my next injection. I was also not aware of the bone density loss that accompanies the depo shot & this is a concern for me as i've been hearing the bone density loss may be irreversible. Another side effect i've been having is a numbing feeling in my fingers and left leg. I never had a problem with that before. All in all i personally dislike this shot, but different people react differently to drugs. Do your research before deciding to use this drug.
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I took the shot when I was in my teens and I didn't have any problems. I loved it!! Now I'm 25 years old and I went back on it after I had my child. I HATE IT!!!!! About a week or so after I got my first shot I noticed how much hair I was losing when I brushed it or took a shower. I have hair down to my waist and it would be all over the bathroom. It was Everywhere!!! I also seemed to have a headache almost everyday. (That usually went away with a couple of asprin though.) I had no sex drive what-so-ever. I hadn't had sex in almost a year and I really didn't care! = ( I couldn't believe how bad my depression was too. I would get pissed off and totally freak out over the dumbest little things!! OMG I spilled a glass of juice.... FREAK OUT!!!!!! or sometimes I would burst into tears for no good reason. I was sooo mentally unstable. I had a roller coaster of emotions. When I wasn't Freaking out or balling I was just kinda sad and unhappy. I rarely smiled. I also noticed how Hungry I was. I was STARVING ALL THE TIME!!!! The only good thing I got out of the shot was that my acne wasn't quite as bad. All in all I would NOT recomend getting the shot. Every girl is different but it was really bad on my mind and body.

Im 19 and ive goten the shot for the second time the first time right after my period lasted one week longer than usual but after that no periods whatsoever. My sex drive is good i had moved in with my bf recently and weve gone on trips it was great i didnt have to worry about periods. before depo tho my periods were horrible the cramping was so painful i use to throw up . but now im like YESSS no more pain. guess it works diff for everyone oh and my acne.. not so bad anymore

I am 19 years old and have only been on the shot for about one month. I was on the pill for about three years, then ALL OF A SUDDEN, everytime i would take the pill i would have extremely bad stomach pains and end up throwing it up.

I read all the reviews and decided to take a chance. The time for my period was about four days ago and i lightly spotted for about two days. I had one really painful migrane which was uncommon for me, but with some Excedrin, i was just fine in about a half hour.

After getting the shot I had unprotected sex with my boyfriend of almost two years for the FIRST TIME.....we had always used condoms just because. Now I think we will still continue to use them, just in case. I've gained some weight, but i do not exercise or eat too healthy...it just never affected me before the shot. No biggie though unless you are already self conscious.

The only thing I can say is try it...if its that bad...get off it straight away, but it could be the best form of birth control for you. Try it and see. So far so good for me.

SO IM READING ALL OF THESE REVIEWS AND ITS KIND OF FUNNY TO ME TO HEAR PEOPLE RAVING ABOUT IT. I WAS ON THE SHOT FOR ABOUT A YEAR AFTER I HAD MY FIRST CHILD. THE FIRST FEW MONTHS WERE GREAT, IT WAS SO MUCH EASIER THAN THE PILL I WAS ON THAT GOT ME PREGNANT IN THE FIRST PLACE! LOL. BUT AFTER A FEW MONTHS MY HAIR STARTED FALLING OUT WHICH WAS CRAZY FOR ME CAUSE IVE ALWAYS HAD LONG, THICK, HEALTHY HAIR. THEN I STARTED GETTING HORRIBLE MIGRAINES.AND THE WORST PART OF IT WAS THAT I COMPLETELY LOST MY LOBIDO.WHO NEEDS BIRTH CONTROL WHEN U NEVER WANNA HAVE SEX N E WAYS!?! THE LAST TIME I GOT THE SHOT IT LEFT A HIDEOUS BLACK BRUISE ON MY ARM AND THE PAIN LASTED ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO. AFTER THAT I STOPPED TAKING IT. BUT IT DIDNT END, I STILL GOT THE MIGRAINES AND I WAS BLEEDING FOR 2 MONTHS STRAIGHT. MY LIBIDO WENT BACK TO NORMAL BUT WHOS HAVING SEX WHEN YOUR BLEEDING NON STOP. NOT TO MENTION THE BLOOD WAS A THICK NASTY BLACK COLOR. GROSS!! I ABSOLUTELY HATED IT. NOW IM TRYING TO FIND ANOTHER SOURCE OF BIRTH CONTROL BUT AFTER ALL OF THAT IM THINKING I MAY STICK WITH A GOOD OLD FASHIONED CONDOM! I KNOW WE ALL REACT DIFFERENTLY TO THESE THINGS BUT IT ALSO MADE MY MOM INCREDIBLY DEPRESSED AND ABSOLUTELY NUTS AND 2 OF MY BFFS HAD THEIR PERIOD FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS.SO THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IVE EVER HEARD N E THING GOOD ABOUT IT. HEY, TO EACH ITS OWN I GUESS!

Flat out, I have two children.. both boys. Love them more than anything in this world! I'm also only 22 years old and was taking the shot when I conceived both of them. I didn't really have any side effects other than... getting pregnant . lol. But-- I did experience really really deep depression while on the shot. Whether that was caused by it or not, Im not sure. Depression does not run in my family at all. And there was no real reason to feel the way I did. I had no real weight gain, no headaches, no bad acne (other than what you would normally get as a teenager). HOWEVER.. I GOT PREGNANT TWICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Enough said.

So I just got my second depo shot. I deffinately love not having to remember to take a shot...I had very small amount of bleeding after the first shot, and no signs of bleeding so far after the second shot (2 weeks ago) But I did start noticing over the past 3-4 weeks that when I combed my hair and ESPECIALLY when I took a shower gobs of my hair were falling out...my hair is already very thin so I was getting concerned, but did not associate it with this shot. I usually don't get side effects from anything...meds or anything. So this morning I took a shower and saw how much hair was coming out when I ran my fingers thru my hair to get the soap out and I was trying to think of what could be causing it. Other people kept saying it was because I had a baby 5 months ago or because of the change in season. So today I realized the only thing that I've done differently in 26 years is to get this shot so I looked up the side effects and VOILA!! Hair loss is a side effect...I would have never guessed! The only other thing I notice is I've been trying to lose some of the baby weight I gained during the pregnancy and it wasn't coming off...now I know why!
Over all I think I can deal with the hair loss if it only lasts until my body gets used to the progesterone. But if it just keeps continuing I'm going to change birth control methods, because at this rate I'll be bald in 6 months.

When I was about 15 I went on the Depo Shot, Then I really didnt think nothing about trusting my mom to know the side effects and such.Well Now Im 21 been off the shot for about 5 or 4 years and I have NEVER had a regular period since then! My periods basically come when they want, don't come at all or Im constantly bleeding. I noticed someone said something about infertility, well I have been with my Fiance for about 4 years and we have been trying to have a baby and nothing has happened yet. Not sure if it is from the shot I had been on or what. Iam going to the doctor soon about my problem and will tell her the depo has really messed my menstrual cycles up. I also got stretch Marks from using this shot I guess from gaining then losing weight when I came off it. I would not recommend this shot to anyone. And by the way to summon of you girls out here talking about the negative reviews, It effects different Women/Girls in different ways what might be good for you might hurt someone else.

I'm on here reading these crazy negative reviews, and quite frankly, I'm appalled! I began taking the depo shot at age 16 when I found out I was estrogen intolerant. I had never heard of it, so I was a little uneasy about how I felt about it. After my first shot, I knew it was for me. I didn't experience any out of the ordinary side-effects. No weight gain. I did get my period very lightly on and off for the first month or so, but it was minor and I knew it wouldn't continue. The only other thing I really noticed was dryness during intercourse. Which can be easily fixed with a personal lubricant. Other than that, nothing to complain about! You don't get your period which is nice! You don't need to remember to take a pill everyday! Those girls that are saying it made them depressed, gain 60 lbs must have some other things going on in their lives that contributed. I definetly recommend it as a great form of birth control. I'm 20 now and plan on staying on it for the next few years!

I went on the shot after forgetting to take the pill and having a scary thought i was pregnant, which thankfully i was not. I am 17 years old and was on the pill for about 6 months before taking depo provera. It was THE WORST choice i could have made. At first it was perfect. i didnt have to take the pill everyday and i wasnt having any bad symptoms. then about a month into the first injection i got my period. then MY PERIOD LASTED OVER 2 MONTHS STRAIGHT. at first it was light and wasnt much of a problem, but after a few weeks it got heavier and heavier. i havent had sex with my boyfriend in over 2 months because of this and im incredibly tired every day. Just walking a few blocks and im out of breath from lack of iron i believe. i talked to the doctor and she just said i had to wait till it was out of my system which will be another few weeks. Im taking iron pills daily and calcium pills for bone density loss. Taking depro provera was the worst mistake ave ever made. NOTHING is worth getting your period for 2 months straight. I realize this doesnt happen to everyone, but i was perfectly fine on the pill with no side affects so i assumed i wouldnt be different on the shot. I read that the hormones in depro provera are supposed to thin the lining of the uterus so the eggs will not attach, btu in some cases the lining thins so much it is like an open wound that continuously bleeds. that is the grossest thought ive ever had. DONT TAKE THE SHOT!! im warniing you! seriously i very much regret taking depro provera.

I just sadly came off this shot after 11 years of use and I loved it!I tried talking my doctor into another but advised she thinks it has been to long. I never had any side effects other then the weight gain. But I didnt eat healthy nor work out. My skin was always flawless while on the shot. And I never had a period nor spotting after the first shot was given or if i was a few weeks late getting it. I cant say anything bad about it. I would recomend it to anyone I know. But everyone is different!

I personally never had a real problem with depo provera. I first became sexually active at the age of 15 and that is when I first got on the shot. I found that it seemed really convinient to only worry about birth control 4 times a year. I did expirience some fatigue, but it was hard to tell at the time if it came from the shot or from iron defficiency due my poor teenage diet. I really liked the fact that I never expirience a menstral cycle or even any spotting. However I was very physically active at the time too and I think that might have played a role in it. I have heard the rumors that you become infertile after years on the shot. I myself was on the shot for 7 years straight. i discontinued using it at the age of 22 and got pregnant with my son when i turned 23. I'm really not sure how typical my results are. All birth control will have some kind of effect on your body. I do know that every woman is unique and your best bet is to try it out and see for yourself what fits you best.

I am 18 years old, and considering getting this shot because i can never remember my birth control pills. I am not really upset by the reviews on here, partially because i realize that often people only write reviews when they dislike a product. On the other hand, who is anyone to say that this shot is bad for everyone? I mean, i am an 18 year old, with weird work and sleep hours, i run a crazy schedule and don't have time to remember pills, rings, or patches. Plus a the end of the day a condom just can't cut it, because unless the darn thing is in perfect condition, put on correctly, and doesn't rip on accident there is a large chance it can fail. For some of you gaining weight is like a curse, but for others with my kind of lifestyle it's worth it to know your covered, and most forms of birth control can make you gain weight anyways. I'm not trying to put down those who don't like the product and want to voice your opinion, but please leave it at an opinion rather then trying to scared people away from it. Even after reading the reviews I am still partial to the shot because it is very beneficial for a young woman such as myself.

hello, my name is meg
I have been on the shot for about... ohhh...a little over 3 years now on and off. I have decided to go off of it a few times so that i can let my body have a break and get a normal flow. Since I've been on the shot I haven't really had any problems. I am 20 now and my first shot was administered when I was 17 i believe maybe 16. The reason why I am on it is because I am estorgen intolerant, so taking any other type of birth control or even being natural is like hell for me. For instance, before I was ever on the shot my periods would be so bad that even a percocet wouldn't take the pain away. Anyway, this is why I dont agree with taking this birth control off the market.
Yes, I have gone through mild depression while I was on the shot alothough I wouldn't blame it on the shot, mainly because when I was 15 or so I went through major depression and I hadn't been on the shot yet. The only ones who get depression while on the shot are ones who are prone to it in the first place. And girls, when your 15-17 the hormones you have and the changes your still going through, depression is normal at that age.
As far as weight gain goes, I didn't gain a pound untill I was recently living with my boyfriend and his mom and sister (who the mom is swedish and man do they like their sweets) which is why i gained weight I was working 2 nights a week at a bar and working from about 7pm-3am and of course the only thing open to eat that late at night is mcdonalds, so that is what I blame for my weight gain.
Just a little tip, look at some of the other things that are going on in your life, one little shot can't be what is causing ALL of these "horrible" side effects. Like for instance, the thing that contributes MOST to depression is stress it is about 99.9% of the cause. I agree with some of the other girls as well, the only way you will gain weight is if you let yourself. Another thing, if YOU dont take the responsibility to find out information about the drugs YOUR taking then thats your fault. No one elses, dont blame it on a drug because everthing (besides vitamins) has a negitive side effect. That drug is going into your own body you should be the one to inquire about it and find out as much as you can. Whenever I get a new perscription even if my doc tells me the side effects I go home and look it up myself anyway cause I know there will be more then what he is telling me.
I think the longer your on the shot the faster your body goes back to normal the first time i decided to give my body a little break it took about 6 months to get my period (luckily i didn't get it till after i got home from vacation) but now if i'm late for my shot I get it not even like a week after. The only bad thing now is that instead of getting it every 12 weeks I need to get it ever 10 weeks cause thats when I start spotting.

I was on the depo shot for nearly two years..I had two shots left, and I quit taking it, because I researched all the side effects. I want to have another child, because my son is 27 months old now, and I don't want to wait forever. The reason I picked depo was because I was on the pill, and I could never remember to take it correctly. Plus, I had no periods, sounds great right? Wrong. I have been off the shot for nearly 9 months and I just had a real period last week.
I will admit it was nice not having to use a condom, because I hate them things, but I would rather have a normal flow, than none at all. Luckily, I had no weight gain, or any other side effects. But if you are young and looking to having another child, I would not reccommend it. A lot of my friends have had children and I tell them not to pick depo. If my doctor would have told me that I can become infertal and all of that, I would've never gotten the shot.

Wow!! I don't even know what to think after reading all of these reviews! I just got my first shot. I knew there were some risks. I asked my doc about some of them and his response was, the weight gain was with just a small amount of women, not most. it sounds like alot of women are having a bad time with the depo to me! And he didn't even mention any of these other issues!

I got the shot because I don't want to have a period due to the bad pms I get every month. Now after reading this it sounds like I might get it anyway! I sure hope not..I already have depression issues and migraines( I do take meds to prevent them though). Maybe I will be one of the few??
I also take meds for my mental illness that causes weight gain, sounds like I am looking for double trouble!!!My doctor should have taken these things into account before prescribing me this, but I am on gov.health insurance so it is probably cheaper this way! Go figure..

I think when I need to get bc for my daughter it won't be the depo shot!! I know everyone is different but I don't want to take any chances with her!

Thanks for all of the reviews and wish me luck :] I need it!!

I'm 17 and in the last month of my shot. It has completely ruined my life. I'm depressed, I'm too scared to leave my house, I've put on weight, I'm constantly bloated, I'm always sick, I'm bitchy ALL the time, I've now got acne and I'm constantly tired and achy. I really, really wish I could take this back. I don't even know how I'm gonna get past this depression. I'm 17 and I should be out enjoying life, but I'm not...because of this shot. I really wouldn't recommend this to anyone, it's too big a risk to take. I knew there was risks when I got it, but my periods were hell on Earth and I never thought this would happen to me. I don't have any periods at all. Before I got the shot I was on my period (I had been on my period for almost 3 weeks at the time), and then my period just stopped. That's probably the only good thing about it.
Usually, I can eat what I want and my weight stays at around 120lbs. But now I'm up to 128lbs. And although it doesn't sound much, I'm only 5 foot 2, and it shows on me. I have a ton of belly fat and I'm so depressed that I have no motivation to do anything about it. I'm now spending most of my life crying and wanting to die. I used to have things that I enjoyed...like shopping, and hanging out with friends. But now I don't have any friends, because I've pushed everyone away and I can't leave my house without my parents. And I hate shopping because if I do go to a mall or a store then I'm just really paranoid and it makes me feel like shit.
Seriously, there are better forms of birth control out there. I strongly. strongly advise you NOT to get the shot. There's pretty much a 75% chance that you'll have bad side effects. I've read the reviews on here and there's not many people that like it. Don't risk it...I wish I hadn't :(

At 17 I went in to get the shot (depo) because I was afraid that I would forget my pill and get pregnant... 17 years old, 115lbs, fit, great metabolism...
This was the first form of birth control I had ever tried.
I would not recommend it to anyone.
I was on it for 3 rounds, gaining a total of 60+ pounds, My skin which had never had problems before started getting really bad acne, and my period was at first constant and uncomfortable, then disappered completely.
I am now 21 years old, and still working on ridding myself of the weight I gained. Almost all of it is gone, I had switched to a low hormone bcp and now am thinking about the non hormone IUD.

DONT TAKE THE DEPO!!!

I'm 17 and have been on the shot for 6 months. The first few weeks I didn't experience any problems. I am very active and even visiting the gym 4-5 times a week didn't prevent the weight gain. I gained 15-20 pounds just in the last 6 months! Also, a month or 2 after taking the shot I began to bleed... and haven't stopped since!! I have to wear a tampon EVERY day, and sometimes it doesn't even look like blood because its dark brown discharge. The only pros I found with it are less acne and of course prevention of pregnancy. I don't reccomend this form of birth control, but then again its different for everyone. I'm going to the doctor today to switch to something else.

Well i cant take birthcontrol because i am a very forgetfull person..
So I just got the depo shot yesterday, for my second time..
The first time i got it, i bled for three months, but i guess
bleeding is better than being a teen mom :)
I am still bleeding, im hoping i wont bleed for three more months :/
the Dr told me the bleeding will most likely stop for me
the third time i get the shot... so i guess i will have to wait and see.
I did gain weight and feel bloated both times.. ehh. it sucks.
but its wayy better than gaining 20 pounds while being pregnant lol.
I didnt get moodswings, i did get minor headaches but nothing major at all.
I have to quit smoking though because it makes you lose bone density
and so does the depo shot :/ which is another negative side..

but over all i like it and would recommend it if you
dont wanna get pregnant, its great :)

- Sam -16

Depo isnt evil like the reviews make it seem. I think it's time someone write a success story for it. It costs me $17 (generic brand) every 3 months which cant be beat, and you dont have to remember to take pills everyday. It did NOT decrease my sex drive, did NOT make my acne worse, did NOT make me moodier, NO headaches, NO back aches, and DID NOT MAKE ME GAIN A SINGLE POUND. I think it affects different people differently but so far so good for me. (FYI Ive been on other forms of birth control and had VERY negative side effects). Also, if youre considering depo, realize that the people who typically write these reviews only write them because they are the unfortunate people who had the bad effects (which are possible with every BC). Its less likely that someone who is completely happy with the drug take the time to write a review. The only side effect that I've had is that I get extremely fatigued and hungry the week after my injection. (and yes it also sucks to remember to take calcium pills). Everyones body reacts differently to different prescriptions, but because Ive had so much success with depo, I would 100% recommend it. My only concern are the side effects once I stop taking it...

i honestly do not recommend the shot depo-provera. i have been on the shot now for almost a year ( August 15 2009 ) will be a year and it has been nothing but trouble. I am have been on my period for the complete year that i have been on this shot. they did tell me yes slight bleeding and stuff but nothing like what i have had. i have told my doctor multiple times that i have had my period for this long and that its semi heavy and all they keep telling me is that its normal. I have also noticed how horrible my mood swings have been since i have been on this. its like i am fine one minute and the next oh my god watch out. i have also notice when i was not on the shot i would be fine the next morning if i only got like 6 or 7 hours of sleep. now i need at least 12 hours of sleep a night and a huge coffee in the morning just to semi function. My Sister - in - law was also on it and had gotten off it immeditly because she was litterly going crazy from it, but i just wanted to give u my experience from the shot and my next appointment is coming off and i am deffently getting off the shot.

16
on my 2nd dose
i get headaches all the time ( i never use to get)
after i got my first shot i bled for the whole 3 monthes -and tampons arnt cheap for 3 monthes!
i feel fat(bloated) all the time - i weigh 120 5 ft 3 usually weights round 117 its a rollercoaster
my boyfriend says im more bitchier, everything seems to bug me
im a happy optimistic person and now it just feels like maybe im depressed? im just not the same
hopeing that i wont b the 1 out of 1000 to get pregnant
im waking up at least 2 times a night
and have been having hot flashes like crazy
on the good side
i never had cramps which evn b4 i got on the shot i rarely had
good for just the concept of birth control
couldnt remember to take a pill every day at the same time
only have to worry about going to the doctor 4 times a year
im not happy but not mad about this its just ok
the bad weighs out the good but i cant say that you should get on it because everyone takes it differently either you love it or hate it or for me -ehh (:

I began taking the depo shot when i was 16 and stayed on it for almost three years. My mom put me on the pill to begin with but she felt uncomfortable that i might forget to take them so my doctor recommended the depo. I was nervous bout the shots i hate needles. I got my first shot and was suprisingly not painful. The injection site stayed sore a few days afterwards though. I was told that i would have spotting or breakthrough bleeding for three months or so. I bled for the entire three years every day if it wasnt blood i was discharging. It completley ruined my sex life. After complaining to my doctor, they prescribed me viville dot which is a pre-menustrual path that helps control bleeding and side affects on people who are nt experiencing menapause.At first it stopped my bleeding and i thought that things were coming together. After three months of just spotting and bleeding during and after sex, i began to bleed heavy to the point where i had to wear a super tampon 24 hrs a day which is unusual for me. I went back to the doctor after a lot of hair loss, slight weightgain, heavier bleeding than before, numbness of my right leg and terrible cramps and pains. They took me off the viville saying i had been on it too long (ha) and checked me for endometreiosis and cysts. They drew blood and found i was anemic due to all the blood i had lost. That explained why i was so tired all the time. I eventually couldnt do it any longer. I convinced my doctor to let me get the Mirena (IUD). He was hesistant cause i had not had children but he agreed. It was so well worth it i have not bled since no cramps nothing. My insurance covered it and it is good for 5 yrs. Many loose weight and sometimes their breasts grow. There is no estrogen in the Mirena which causes no PMS symptoms :) I would recommend the Mirena to anyone. it is a miracle.
Look up Mirena birth control ratings and reviews to see what others had tosay about theirs if you are trying to find the right bc for you.

I took my first shot in early march and then stopped because I didn't like everything I read about losing bone density. I never had a period on it and even now (July '09) I don't get my period which is a little unnerving. I did gain a couple pounds but I do attribute it to incresed appetite and I don't blame the shot. However, I became depressed and have had several nervous breakdowns even after I stopped. I had an overall alright experience with it, I did like not having periods, but I wish it was out of my system and that I had never gotten the shot because there are a lot of risks. I wouldn't reccommend it because you could have a good experience with it, but if you don't (as with so many women), the side effects could last a long time.
I have decided to abstain rather than harm my body. I believe that my health is a greater thing to have than sex.
I'm not even 17 years old, but I understand when something is worth it, and sex is not one of those things. The next time my boyfriend and I have sex, it will be with simply a condom and a full understanding of the risk and responsibility of our actions.

Well for the record, i am 23 yrs old, 5'2 110 lbs..and i have a 19th month old..
I am currently on my FIRST dose of the shot..Its been two months and I cannot wait until this thing leaves my body completely because so far, I've hated my experience with it...

I was on my period for two days when i got it and almost right after my period went away..So those first two weeks I didnt feel anything different..I had no complaints..However 2 weeks later my period came back and it has not left yet! So for a little over a month i have been on my period every single day!

Just this week, my back has started to hurt real baddd! Besides, the eternal bleeding, i would say the back pain is my biggest complaint! My boobs are super tender, im completely bloated and my eating habbits have become weird..and sometimes I feel dizzy, or a little bit nauseous..So basically, I just feel totally preggo right now! My entire body feels tight and sore all day like i've been at the gym for 300 hours straight..
My face did start to break out alot that first month, but now that seems to be going away, hopefully it stays away!

My moods are also really weird. I have NO patience whatsoever some days, and i hate it!
The only thing that i have seen alot of people complain about, that i dont have, is the decrease in sex..Thank God! But i mean, who wants to have sex when your whole body hurts and you've been bleeding for a month straight, am i right?
Ugh soo the shot was totally not for me..I absolutely HATE it.

I know that the results of it can be completely different for someone else, but I would just recommend, to try anything else first..because unlike other methods, this is one thing that If you happen to hate, you cant just instantly get off of it..you have no choice but to wait till it leaves your body on its own..And for no periods and not having to remember to take it too often, its just totally NOT WORTH IT. Set an alarm on your phone and just take the damn pill everyday...

(the shot) i first got on the shot back in 2005 i wanted to get on it so that i wont have a period and i loved it at first then i did gain a few pounds. i cant remember why i stop taking it but just as of last month i got back on it right after i had my son and a few days later i started bleeding. and its been a month and i still haven't stopped so what do that tell you. the only reason reason i like it is you don't (or your not suppose to have a period) and there is not taking a pill so on that note its ok.

i hate it! 0mg i always get headaches my back always hurts my mucelses stay sore. my hair falls out a lot. its ruining my body. im losing bone density. if i could get off of it i would i cant cuz my m0m said if i do i cant go anywhere anymore. ive been on it fer a year. i guess your not suppose to be on it for more than 2 years? so im trying to make her let me get off.. but she keeps saying no. i feel like its so terrible for my body. this is making me so unhealthy. and i really dont wanna go threw what all the other ladies are saying. especially infertility! i really wanna be able to have babies when im older.. im going to hate my mom forever if im unable to concieve.. i would just die.
i really want off of it but than ill be stuck at home all day.. and its already boring enough around here. i hope she lets me off. id rather take a pill. even tho i dont think anyone should take anything unless its absolutely necessary for their body cuz we shouldnt put stuff in us our bodys are meant to be natural not injected with stuff.. its also made me get crazy about everything i get mad so easily.. i mean i was like that before sorta but its made me muchh worse! i hate it; my boyfriend is always getting mad at me.. annd its cuz i get mad over nothing cuz of this shhit.. and ive also been diagnosed with depression but my mom still has me take it eveen tho its kn0wn to possibly cause depression? wtf? that makes it worse onme. i hate this. i hate having to listen to everything my mom and dad say. they dont understand anything! i hate them! any0ne who reads all of these saying how bad it is pleasppleaspleaspleasplease NEVVER EVVER EVER EVER TAKE THIS IT SUCKS! and if your a minor like me, dont start taking it just take the pill or somoething. cuz now that im on it she will prolly not let me off til im 18 and im only 14 1/2 right now.. never agree to taking this. IT SHOULD DEFINNATELY BE TAKIN OUT OF THE MARKET. NO0NE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO TAKE IT. IT SUCKZ!
id put a zer0 star if i could! i hate it!

I have been on the shot for almost 9 months. I DID read up on all the reviews. But I went for it anyway, I tried to take the pill.....but I would forget. I have two boys...I am 24 years old. I have had two miscarriages. So I'm done with pregnancy for now. My first round of the shot I actually lost weight...so it was okay. But 2nd round I gained about 2-3 pounds...I noticed -extra- facial hair. Really bad mood swings. More acne. 3rd round I've gained about 6-7 pounds. Mood swings...Depression....Headaches etc. So I'm going to have to get off the shot in August when this 3rd month is up. Because these issues are preventable. I'm just going to have to remember to take the pill! It's better than this!

I was on depo for about 2 1/2 years and am currently coming off of it. I know every girl is different and I guess birth control just isn't for me. I got on depo because all other forms of birth control eventually made me sick (pills, patches, and rings) or they were things I refused to use (IUD's or inserts). It took about 2 years for the estrogen based BC to really make me ill and it took the same amount of time for the depo. Unbearable left side leg and arm pain and numbness, headaches and dizziness. Also I was a decent weight before the depo. In fact I was making better eating choices and began to go to the gym and get active, yet I gained about 20lbs. I could say that some of it was my fault but there was no way that with the changes I made that all of that weight was my fault. I constantly felt bloated and weighed down.. just heavy. And sex... what sex... not only was my sex drive none existent, when I did have sex, it was sometimes painful. I already had some emotional issues that I was controlling very well on my own but once I got on the depo, my emotions went way out of control. The mood swings were amazingly drastic and it made dealing with issues very difficult. The only thing I can look back on now and say was a pro was that I haven't had a period in the 2 years that I was on it. Even though I did spot for the first three months continuously.

Did anyone else know that they give depo to sex criminals to kill their sex drive? Yeah... go figure

It's been about 3 months now since my last injection and I can't say the last time I've felt better. I feel lighter and like I can move better and my sex drive is back in full swing. Now my only worry is getting my body back to it's normal cycle. I heard that it might take a while and even that it could be a very painful process.

Does anyone know what I can expect coming off of the depo?

As of now, I do have a little cramping and breast tenderness. I'm trying to get my mood back in check as well as my previous weight. The only thing that scares me is that it could leave me infertile. I want kids more than anything and that would kill me if my cycle never comes back.

If anyone has any advice I would appreciate it

OK first off, EVERYONE'S body is different. As far as the weight gain, I did gain weight on it! No i was not shoveling food in my mouth more cuz of the shot. My habits didn't change at all and I gained 15 lbs in 6 months. My weight was never out of control or any of that sort. So if you people think its my fault, your right, for taking the shot. The nurse before she even gave me the shot said that you are likely to gain weight and I said i should be fine never had weight issues. She also said that if i do they will not give it to me again, which i decided that on my own from the experience. On the other hand, I did like not having my period, that was nice, my sex drive didn't go away, No worrying about taking a pill or that sort. so ya...just research it and use your judgement before taking it, anything for that matter. These are all our experiences so it may be different for you :)

First off i would like to tell everyone that is complaining about gaining weight on Depo to stop and think about something, being on depo doesnt make you gain 20 - 50lbs. You do it to urself. Yes, depo DOES increase your hunger, YOUR the one who decides to eat. TIP: Have a salad not a burger.

So, i was on depo for more than 5 years. I met the love of my life and after we moved in we decided to think about having kids. I went on the net and read some reviews. MANY women were saying it took them 5 YEARS to conceive. I thought WOW, i better get off this so i can get ovulating. Then, 2 months later I had my period for only 3 days and it was very light. 2 months later (not 5 years) I soon descovered i was pregnant..... at 19 years old. My life changed so fast. But now i am proud to say i have a BEAUTIFUL 14 month old daughter. But, ALL women are different. I didnt gain weight, I did and still have a sex drive, and I had no spotting or bleeding.
The only way that you can tell that Depo is right for you is to try it.

The shot doesn't make you gain weight. It increases your appetite, which may cause you to gain weight. You can't blame the shot for making you fat, it's your fault for not watching what you eat. Typically if you're under 130 pounds you may not gain weight at all. And if you're under 110 you won't even have to think about gaining weight. The decreased libido comes from the emotional side effects you experience from the hormones. I like it because after about 2 or 3 months I didn't get my period at all and the spotting stopped. The shot it 99.9% effective based on 100 women who are sexually active while taking to shot. It's nearly impossible to get pregnant since you don't ovulate. However, if pregnancy does occur it will most likely not form in the uterus. It will be ectopic. You should still use a back up method like a condom just in case. Other than the possible side effects, the shot it amazing and the best method of birth control.

Ha! I see why they call it birth control. You have absolutely no sex drive and you're fat as hell. Who wants to have sex with you now? It's actually only 97% effective when my doctors told me it was nearly 100%. Not at all. I feel like I'm pregnant all the time. I don't even feel like a woman anymore. My life is ruined. I'm only 17 and I hate my life thanks to Depo. Thanks a lot doctors. If you're thinking about taking this, you might as well get ready to see a nutritionist and psychiatrist in the time being. Be prepared to have everything taken away from you in three months that you thought was good.

I was on the shot once for a year and then again for two years. I never experienced a single problem. No weight gain, extra hair growth, muscle spasms, none of that. When I came off the shot I didn't even experience anything for 5 months. Then I began bleeding very heavily and had horrible cramps. I went to the hospital for a fear that it might be something more serious. They ran tests and then he told me he believed it was the hormones from coming off the shot,and that 2 years of no periods were just catching up with me. But this was just my experience, I have read hundreds of reviews and literally every woman is different.

Pros:
1. LOVED never having a period.
2. Didn't get pregnant over the 3 year period I took it.
3. Also loved only having to think about it 4 times a year.
4. Enjoyed that fact that, unlike implants, there is nothing in your arm or uterus to disrupt you or cause pain.
5. Affordable.

Cons:
1. Gained about 50 lbs. I am an athlete and burn 3,000 to 5,000 calories a day. I watch what I eat and eat about 1,200 to 2,000 a day. Does not equal weight gain! But I did. I can concede maybe I ate 10 of those lbs onto me, but I should lose it, like, within a week as much as I work out. So... that is the reason I am quitting it.
2. Absolutely no sex drive. Obviously this could just be the way I am or that I have been with the same guy for a very long time and it's not exciting anymore, but there isn't a good way to tell one or the other. I can just say that my man is not very happy anymore.

At this point I can only hope that when I switch (I am trying the pill Microgestin this month) that I will start to lose the weight and get some sex drive back. There are lots of pros, but unfortunately, for me, those two cons outweighed them.

Good luck to everyone else!

Horrible, Horrible, HORRIBLE!
I was on it for 3 years and after gaining about 40 pounds I decided to change. I am 5'6" and starting out i was 114 (a little underweight, I understand). When I moved up to 130 I was happy because I was normal and finally gained a little weight. When I became 155 at 5'6". I was at the gym all the time and only prevented myself from gaining more weight. I have been off of it for a year now and I have been able to get myself down to 143.
When I finally decided to get off the shot, I had nothing but problems. I decided to go on the IUD so I had to wait to get my period again. After about 7 months I got my period and couldn't get rid of it. When I went to see the gyno, he saw 15 cysts on each ovary. I ended up having endometriosis. The shot hid this but I still had the pain. My ovaries were always in pain and there was no explanations. I know someone who was also on it and had the same weight problem.

I love it. I've been on it for 4.5 years. I am 22. Some people need to give it time. Towards the end of my very first shot, I did have a period followed by days of spotting (but no cramps). Some spotting after my second shot. After one year, I have not had any periods whatsoever. AMAZING...for me at least. My periods consist of ridiculously painful cramps that I couldn't go to school or work. I would even run out of class throwing up in the bushes when I got my period. Depo has SAVED me. I do take my calcium supplements and I feel great. No side affects that I could tell: no weight gain, no headaches, no cramps, no nausea, and no decrease in sex drive. I plan to take a bone density test next week before my next shot. I think this is a great method if you are responsible and take your supplements. Obviously some bodies react poorly to this method, but if you're just scared of long spotting after your first shot...I would recommend just trying it for a little bit longer.

Never take this please! I was on Depo for 9 months and I feel like an idiot. I started taking it because I had no health insurance, it's only $40, and I only needed to take it once every 3 months. I should have known that everything comes at a price. The first shot: Newly wed and first discovering sex, I was on my period for 3 months (horrendous) and after going to the doctor was told "It should stop with the next shot". The second shot: still on my period and still hearing the same thing from the doctors. I then decided that I would try the implant (Implanon), but I had to take one more shot in the interim. The implant didn't stop what I had accepted as the period that would never end. So after being on my period continuously for ONE YEAR!!!!!! I had the implant taken out and continued my search for a usable birth-control method....

Listen Ladies!! I need to know if anyone out there has been on the shot then got off of it to try and have kids!!

Where you able to conceive?
After how long?
Did you have to take any other medications to help?

I took my last shot a year ago.......and still no babies....talk about depressing......

I had the Depo-Provera shot in February. I have never responded well to birth control and my doctor took out my copper IUD and put me on Depo since it seemed I was sensitive to estrogen. Almost immediately after getting the shot, I became very sick with what seemed like allergies at first. It got worse and I was diagnosed with bronchitis/pneumonia and had to go on all kinds of medicines to help. I didn't sleep at all for almost a month straight and I thought that it was unrelated. Then my eyes started to ooze, almost like I had pinkeye. They hurt, they were always red and people were constantly staring because I looked like I was on drugs. I went to my eye doctor who diagnosed it as allergies and put me on some medicine to get my eyes better. This is when I started to put it together that the Depo-Provera shot is what was causing all of this.

I have never had allergies in my life. I am not an allergy sufferer and found it to quite odd that I started having so many health problems as if my immune system crashed. I had just had my yearly physical and blood work done and was a picture of health. Nothing changed in my life or lifestyle AT ALL. I did some research and found out that Depo is a steroid shot - which I was unaware of. Steroids suppress your immune system, and in my case, they REALLY did. I am sick all of the time. It has been 3 months and I am still feeling the effects and still have not recovered fully from the bronchitis. I have been on 2 rounds of antibiotics and my DR is no help - he just prescribes me more medicine to counteract but it doesn't help. Here are the problems that I have had since depo :

I have a hormonal imbalance that caused me to be acne-prone, but nothing too severe. Again, my dr just prescribed me Depo which only made my hormonal imbalance worse.

I went from having normal/dry skin with occasional acne breakouts during that time of the month to having extremely oily skin and broke out in a horrible rash all over my forehead. White/skin-colored bumps without heads just cover my forehead and have since 2 weeks after I received the shot. My chin is also completely broken out as well and NOTHING helps.

I didn't have my period at all for 2 months and the 3rd month, I bled for 3 weeks straight. It was light - not light enough to be just spotting but enough to have to use a tampon. It's erratic and stopped for a week and now it's back. It is still erratic and I will bleed heavy for 3 hours and then it will completely stop and the next day or day after, I will start bleeding again.

I'm constantly sick and it has caused numerous health problems for me. No, I did not have any underlying health problems. I work out regularly and eat healthy and had a health screening before I went on Depo. I had no problems whatsoever.

I am constantly bloated. My stomach bloated to the point where my usual flat tummy now bloats over my jeans. It is not fat - not love handles. Just a distended, bloated abdomen. I have not gained weight, but I did gain cellulite. I did not have cellulite before. And I workout regularly, like i said, so I am not sitting around eating snacks all day on my butt.

I developed asthma and a sudden inability to maintain the stamina I used to have while working out. I get winded easily and have to take frequent breaks.

I developed high blood pressure and I have had low blood pressure my entire life. The day I got the depo provera shot, I was 100/60. Now it's 140/80. My heart pounds most of the time, which is why I think I have a problem with getting winded very easily.

I developed insomnia where I did not sleep for almost 2 months straight and was put on Lunesta. My insomnia was so bad that the dosage had to be increased above the normal Lunesta dosage because even the sleeping pill did not help me sleep.

I have terrible headaches and mood swings - which was part of my hormonal imbalance issues before but Depo only exaggerated these. Other small things are that I have BO that develops quickly no matter how many times I shower. My hair growth is through the roof - I'm shaving 2x a day sometimes. My body has become "immune", so to speak, to certain things like exercise, medicines, etc. In example, I can workout for an hour every day and I won't see any results or feel any difference whereas before the shot, you can obviously feel/tell that you exercised. My skin is resistant to acne medication. It doesn't do anything. I have to brush my teeth several times to feel like it makes a difference. It's bizarre but true!

This is the worst of any birth control I have tried, for me at least. My mom was also put on this a few years ago when she was going through menopause to stop her heavy bleeding and had some pretty bad complications from this as well - including excessive weight gain and depression. It has been 3 months now and I'm hoping it is starting to wear off but I am still feeling the effects from it. My skin is a mess and I'm a mess and can't wait to get this out of my system. From my research and experience, I do not recommend this birth control. I think it should be taken off the market.

I think that with the shot it tends to be all or nothing-it works wonders or its a curse. I've been on it for six months and I absolutely LOVE it. Mild spotting only around the time I get the shot, I've had no weight gain (but I also am at the gym every day), so emotional rollercoasters. The pill did not work for me, I was a hysterical wreck every month. Just make sure you take calcium!

I don't even want to give this birth control ONE star.

I got my first Depo Provera Shot in January, after which I had a normal period the next month, and then a week later got ANOTHER period and that one has lasted until now. I have been bleeding/having my period for 2 and a half months now. Nothing has helped.
I have gone to the doctor twice about this, I have been given "Provera", sort of the antidote (my ass) for this shot in order to stop the bleeding, and when that didn't work, I tried "Premarin", some sort of menopausal symptom pill. Neither have worked. It is miserable and I wish every day that I hadn't gotten this shot. From the sound of it, I guess I'm going to be on my period for two more months.

I'd like to say I'm sorry for all you poor women who've had to go through this same hellish experience. Cramps all the time, irrational moods, the constant bleeding, and it just makes me angry that we have to go through this. YOU don't. Don't get this shot. You will regret it. The majority of these women who have experienced it have had horrible times. I just wish I could go back in time and never get this shot.

DEPO PROVERA SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE MARKET OR DISCONTINUED.

I should have learned my lesson the first time I had the shot after having my son. I bled for 5 straight months. Four years passed and after my third baby (about 3 months ago), I started Depo again after my doctor talked me into it. I have had bad luck with all forms of birth control. Bottom line, it isn't natural and it isn't meant to be in your body. So anyway, I'm 2 weeks away due for my next shot. Am I getting it? Hell no. I have had the absolute worst body aches, stomach aches, head aches, acne, mood swings, blurred vision, and the list goes on. This is sad, honestly because I really do feel like I have lost three months of my life because that's how bad I have felt. I have been severely emotional, irritable, and my husband and I are very intimate and honestly, 9 out of 10 times, sex is the last thing on my mind. The part that bothers me the most is how irritated I get with my kids. I have never had such short patience with them. I'm trying REALLY hard to not show it or yell at them, but that makes my head hurt even worse. If I raise my voice at all, not even really yelling... bam, there's a headache and it doesn't go away. It gets worse & worse. Finally, I have to just force a smile on my face & wake up the next day in pain to start all over again! I am completely miserable. I hate Depo, please do yourself a favor and don't take this and this is just my opinion, but do yourself a favor and don't take any birth control. Depending on your situation, there are options in my option.

A: Don't have sex
B: Natural Family Planning Method+ pull & pray
C: Condoms
D: Vasectomy- Not natural either, but a hell of a lot less side effects & not invasive surgery like a tubal!

Ok so this is the story i want every girl out there to know. You should know that you should NEVER take this shit ok. I don't know this from any personal refrence but from my sis and yes I am a guy. It made the the BIGGEST bitch I have ever seen in my life and befor she took this GOD AWFUL SHIT she was so amazing. She was nice and fun to be with and I loved her. Now i hate her for what those fucking doctors did to her. T'hey dont tell you any of the side effects at all and I promise you will wanna kill the damn doctors for doing this to you. So yes PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE NEVER EVER EVER take this for your own sake.
Some of the side effects that I have seen with my sis are weight gain, moodiness, she snaps your head off at the littlest things, she hates it when we talk about it, she never wants her boyfriend or any one else to touch her, she has always wanted to be by her self with no one around her ever since this shot, she is always tired, bad headaches, doesn't sleep well, is nervous, yells all the time and is NOT HERSELF AT ALL. I love my sis and I would really like to have her back. I am hoping that happens very soon.
She has had one shot and within 4-6 weeks these side effects hit. It has been HORRIBLE. Do not let anyone you know get on this form of birth control.

About a week after my first shot I started having mood swings from hell. I get angry at the littlest thing. It's kinda like a PMS to the max. No one wants to be around me (kids, boyfriend, co-workers). I would NOT recommend the shot to anyone. I just want to be myself again. I am counting the days for it to run out and will definitely find a different method of birth control.

I am 25, almost 26 mother of one. I was on Depo a little over a year ago for almost 4 years. I almost immediatley fell in love with this form of birth control. The day after I got the shot my period stopped and I never saw it again. I never had any side effects, no weight gain, no hair loss, no loss in sex drive...nothing. I was warned about bone density so I took my calcium with vitamin d (which is crucial to make sure that the calcium is absorbed) I never had any spotting and I never had any emotional problems. I would have some breast tenderness right before it was time to get my injection, other than that nothing.
I found out that I had some thyroid issues and I had to have my thyroid removed. Your thyroid controls a lot in your body, including hormones. I started having problems controlling my hormone levels so it was suggested that I get off of Depo until things got under control.
I have had normal thyroid levels for about a year now and am going to get back on Depo.
When I was off of Depo I had no issues. I went one month with no period and then almost like clock work the next month I started and had a normal period. I have had a 5-7 day long period every 28 days since then. I could be a poster girl for regularity.
I am going today to get back on Depo. I would recommend talking over things with your doctor about Depo, but I think it is a good thing.
Feel free to e-mail me at jaclyns83@comcast.net if you want to talk about it.

Hello.

I'm sorry to hear that so many women are having so many problems on the Depo. I guess each women is different so I want to share my thoughts on this issue.

In my teens, my period were so horrible, I didn't get "bitchy" but extreemly emotional. Cried about everything. Fevers shot through the roof. Loss of appetite, unbearable horrible pains. Average lasts about 7-8 days. Just went on endlessly.

I went to the doctors to see what I can do about it. He said this all won't stop until I get pregnant and the changes in my body will lessen all the above mentioned. The only other thing was to go on birth control methods. However, my parents were very old fashion, and that was a definate no-no.

I went to a women's clinic and got The Pills. But I'm just no good at remembering to take it every day. I went on the patch, but since i live near the beach, it left a horrible square patch sun mark.

I then decided to try the depo shot. It seems almost too good to be true. One shot every 12 weeks. After 3 months with rare occasion of spotting here and there... well, I never got my period again. I've been on the Depo for 5 years. After 2.5 years, my doctor highly reccomended me to go off for 4-6 months on a pill. Which I did. Then went right back on. So this has been the trend every 2 years, take a short break.

I don't have mood swings. I haven't gain/loss weight. I'm not emotional. My sex drive only goes down like the first week of the 12 week shot period. But i can still have sex, just not yearning for it. lol. After that I'm still a typical horny chic.

Basically, its great to me. I know its not for everyone. But worst comes to worst, you just get off it and go to another method.

*** THE ONLY DOWNSIDE I HAVE TO METION IS: Women who use Depo-Injection may lose significant bone mineral density. Bone loss is greater with increasing duration of use and MAY NOT be completely reversible.

It is unknown if use of Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection during adolescence or early adulthood, a critical period of bone accretion, will reduce peak bone mass and increase the risk for osteoporotic fracture in later life. ***

*** Which is why, I just took my doctor advice, he said to take calcium regularly. not that this would help significantly or not, but i remember the painful experience i went through, and because having my own child is not crucial to me, I can take this risk ***

So here's my thoughts on this subject. Hope it helps someone out there =)
Any questions, feel free to email me. my screen name @ yahoo.com