Hi my name is monica p. i have been on depo-provera for at least a year or 2
since i have got off it has been hard for me to conceive is there anyhting that can be done to be able to conceive again or should i find out from my doctor when i started taking depo-provera and when i actually stopped my cycle has also been irregular
i suffered mood swings for no reason no sex libido what so ever headaches you name it.
Jane H. 10/8/2004
Hi - I wanted to share my sister's story with you and hope you might
pass it
along to others who are currently taking Depo or have used it in the
past.
My sister was put on the shot a few weeks after she gave birth to her
son.
Although she had gained some weight during her preganancy, the weight
seemed
to pile on more so afterwards than during. I am not sure how long she
was
on it or any of the side effects she experienced during her usage, but
a few
years ago when she was only 26, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Obviously this was a complete shock to our family, but more so because
we do
not have any history in our family of this disease. Since her original
diagnosis, her cancer has reoccurred twice. She is currently going
through
traditional chemo a 2nd time, and has shown great improvement since
then,
but the fear of this coming back again and taking her life is real. I
urge
all women who have ever taken this drug to stop and to do thorough
breast
checks often as I truly believe that the depo is what caused the
appearance
of cancer in my sister. Although she may have faced this same issue
later
in life, I really believe that she would not have had to face this
issue so
soon had a "midwife" not given her the drug so early after giving birth
and
during breast feeding while her estrogen level was so high.
I hope her story can help others.
Thanks for letting me share.
Jane H.
Lily 10/6/2004
Okay I read most of your story but alot of what you seem to be informing women of i knew. I am nervous, wisely probably from your opinion, about putting chemicals in my body. So here's my breif story if you can help. I'm 22, working full time, i have a contant but causal "friend". and I'm tired of the idea of me saying "opps" to him as i pass the positive test over. I don't plan to have kids, not for 5 - 10 years. So your big problem was that you had problem after. I can skip most of that. I'm not into kids for Quite awhile. . . So achne? I can live with better than a toddler. . . :) umm what else main side effects. . . bleeding again better than a kid. I know you can bleed for up to 3 months straight. . . MY personal only major problem is the Chemical part. I am slightly depressed and am seeking help. but we haven't gotten to if it's personal or cheimcal causes. . . So this can make me more depressed? Or it could reverse and make me up and happy. And weigh. I have a problem with that but I"m young need be I"ll go to a gym. . .I really am just babling now. Can you please give me some advice? what do you think . . .my situation I think i have read alot and am well informed of textbook stuff. . . what do you think? I'm a missing something BIG?
thanks for your help. Lily
Olivia 10/5/2004
I just miscarried my first baby. I found your story online. Thank you
for posting it. I was on depo for five years and I never knew what was
happening to me. I need to know about the link between depo use and
miscarriage; I need to understand what happened. I lost the baby at
week
eleven. The doctors NEVER gave any indication this could happen, nor
did
I understand how the depo works. Is there a link between the depo and
miscarriage? Is what happened to us common? What can we do? Please
write
back if you can find a few minutes. I am so grateful you shared your
story. This is the worst nightmare.
My name is Diana and I am a student and a research assistant for an
organization called Population and Development. I am currently
reseraching and
writing an article for one of our publications, Different Takes,
concerning the
harmful effects and coercive usage of Depo-Provera. I visited your
website,
and I was wondering how you would feel about a part of your story
appearing in
the article, or about perhaps doing an e-mail interview. I can send
you links
to our website, as well as a sample of our publication, if you are
interested.
Yvonne 9/29/2004
HELLO;I REALLY HOPE THIS LETTER FINDS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY DOING FINE.I WAS READING YOUR UPDATES.I`M SO GLAD THAT AFTER GOING THRU SO MUCH....YOU ARE DOING FINE WITH THE FAMILY.I`VE BEEN SEACHING THE WEB TRYING TO FIND MORE INFORMATION,ON THE DEPO PROVERA CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS.AND THERE SEEM TO BE NONE AT ALL.I LOOKED INTO SHELLY`S SITE.....AND SHE WAS STATING THAT THE LAWYER;WHO WAS SURPOSE TO ATTEMPT HELPING HER.SHE COULDN`T SEEM TO GET IN TOUCH WITH HER.I TOO HAD A FIRM IN TUPELO MISSISSIPPI CALLED WEBB SANDERS AND WILLIAMS SURPOSILY HELPING ME.THEY ASSOCIATED ANOTHER FIRM ALSO FROM TUPELO MISSISSIPPI CALLED SHELTON AND ASSOCIATES TO DO AN INITIAL INVESTIGATION. NOW MIND YOU.....THEY HAVE ALL MY INFORMATION AND EVERYTHING PRETAINING TO ME TAKING THESE DEPO SHOTS.I JUST RECIEVED A LETTER FROM THEM STATING.....THEY WON`T BE TAKING THE CASE. AND THE SHELTON LAWFIRM STATES......THE FDA HASN`T PULLED THE DRUG OFF THE MARKET AND AGREES(FDA)WITH THE MAKERS THEORY THAT THIS IS A GOOD FORM OF BIRTH CONTROL.THEY STATED THAT THERE ARE SOME STUDIES THAT SUGGEST THAT DEPO IS DANGEROUS.BUT THE DRUG COMES WITH A PAMPLET THAT STATES THE SIDE -EFFECTS OF THIS DRUG.YOU MAY WONDER WHY,I`M SO UPSET?WELL I TOO TOOK THIS DRUG FOR 2 YEARS.AND YOU KNOW THE PAMPLET THAT COMES WITH THE DRUG STATES....IT WILL CAUSE A WOMAN TO LOSE BONE MASS.WELL THAT LEADS TO ARTHITIS.AND I`M NOW DISABLED WITH RHEUMATIOD ARTHITIS.MY DAYS ARE SPEND IN PAIN. AND I FEEL THAT THIS DRUG HAS CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN TO ME.MY DOCTER BILLS ARE NOW OVER $30,000.00.I WAS WONDER CAN YOU GIVE ME ANY UPDATE INFORMATION AS TO ANY LAWSUITS THAT ARE GOING ON OR BEING FORMED AS WE SPEAK.I`VE SIGNED THE PETITON;AND WANT TO HELP GET THIS DRUG OFF OF THE MARKET.PLEASE RETURN MY E-MAIL.YOU CAN REACH ME AS FOLLOWED:trueebonyeyes@yahoo.com I SUFFERED ALOT OF BAD SIDE -EFFECTS WHILE ON THIS DRUG TOO!!!
Chelsea :-) 9/24/2004
I went to my Dr.'s office and inquired about the Depo shot because I
always
forget to take my pills on time and thought a single shot sounded so
easy
and worry free. Well, after reading your web site and talking to a few
friends who have had the shot, I have decided to not get the shot!!!
My friends reported much of the side effects that others on your site
have
reported. I am a newly wed and I am not willing to risk my health and
my
marriage on a shot because it seems so easy.
My Dr. even wrote out a prescription for me to get the shot when I have
my
next period. I guess I will just have to do what it takes to make sure
that
I take my birth control pills on time, even if it means wearing a giant
clock around my neck. NOTHING about the Depo shot is worth the
reported
side effects!!!
Thank you for your site and thanks to all those strong women who shared
their stories so that people like myself are able to be fully educated
on
the subject and not just educated on what the health care providers
want us
to hear.
anonymous 9/23/2004
Hi,
I started taking the depo about 5 years ago. I took it for 4 years, and then stopped. After about 9 months after stopping depo, I got pregnant. When I got an ultrasound, it showed that the baby had miscarried, but was still there. I had to have an abortion like procedure at that point. I had a normal pregnancy 8 years earlier and was devastated by the miscarriage. I wrote it off as being fate I guess since I had no other explanation for it and my boyfriend and I had broken up shortly after the miscarriage. I am now in another relationship and have plans to have a baby later down the line. Today I started the depo shot again without question. My boyfriend asked me to pull information on depo so he could understand what it is. I came across your web page and after reading, I am deeply concerned. I did gain 15 lbs after starting the shot the first time, I was very depressed, lost interest in sex, intercourse was sometimes painful, and I had bladder infections very frequently. I don't know if all this and the miscarriage are due to the depo.... but now I am wondering if I made the right decision today. I'm concerned I won't be able to have children when I'm ready, or I'll miscarry again. Is there somewhere to get more information? I guess I've always been concerned with the shot. I mean, you can actually feel it go through you when injected. That always freaked me out. What is the safest form of birth control? I don't feel comfortable with the IUD or patch.
Please keep this anonymous~ THANK YOU
Kari F. 9/18/2004
hello, my name is Kari. i found your website looking up info on the bc. i have been on depo since 8-03. recent conversations with people at work and my mom have prompted me to further investigate the shot. i have being feeling strange as of late. my main reason in getting on this bc was to stop my period. i have had several miscarriages in the past years and wanted something that i knew would stop my period. it seemed to work the first shot, then towards time for my next injection, the bleeding would start. but as soon as i would get my shot, it would subside. until the last time. this last cycle has been the worst. i have been bleeding off and on for the past 3 wks. and it isnt just that. the profound hair loss, the tingling sensations i get in my head, sometimes it is a cold sensation, sometimes a hot one. i have problems with my body going numb in certain areas, and other things in my mind that do not feel right. i do not feel right in my body. i am hoping you can give me info and help me determine if my symptoms are side effects or something else wrong. i constantly feel like i am not going to live to see tomorrow, or my son grow, or lots of things. im sure you get alot of mail from women like me, so i wont expect to hear from you soon. but please, respond to this as soon as you can. my next shot is next month, so if you could try and get to me before that, it could help me to decide whether or not to try something else. thank you for your time.
Flo 9/16/2004
Hi,
I am currently using the Depo Provera and your story is very interesting! I am very sorry that you had such a painful experience. I have been using this form of birth control for about 6 years. I am very interested in facts concerning this birth control method. If it you don't mind or it is not a problem, I would be very grateful, if I could use some of your references to do my own research. It would help me to understand and be aware of different side effect that I have/may experience. Your cooperation would be greatly appreciated.
D'Ann 9/15/2004
I have been on depo myself for about a year and a half. I actually thought that I was lossing my mind as well. I would lay in my bed at night and just begin to cry for no apparent reason, I would continously have severe headaches, have a period for about two to three weeks at a time and then go five to six months again without one, but no weight gain. I agree about the lack of true info. that doctors and pamphlet offer you on this method of birth control. They make it seem like its the best thing that could happen.They tell you no period(what woman wouldn't mind not having to deal with a period), no pills to have to remember to take everyday just think a form of birth control that you have just every three months. My advice to any female who is thinking of taking this form of birth control think again and think hard. It is a lot more to it than you read about in the pamphlets and what the doctors actually tell you.
Angela 9/15/2004
Hi-
I just got my first shot today and I had no idea there
was so much involved with this. I am really scared and
I wish I hadn't gotten this. I have a little baby with
a serious disease to take care and I have depression
as well. What can I do?
Angie 9/12/2004
Hi my name is Angie, I was looking for some answers about depo on the net and your page I found very educational.
I have been using depo since I was 18. I went off it when I was 20 to get pregnant and after I had my son I went back on it. Two months after the first injection I started to bleed off and on. That scared me so I decided not to use it any more. Now it has been about six weeks and I am still bleeding off and on, and it keeps getting heaver. Is this normal? I am so scared, and I don't know what to do. Please can you help me?
Angie.
Christina Prus 9/7/2004
Hi,
My name is Christina. I just recently noticed my hairing thinning and
at a
fast pace. I finally came up with the culprit and that is the stupid
depo
shot. I am so upset because if there's one thing I really like about
myself
it's my long, thick hair. I only took two depo shots before I couldn't
take
it anymore and demanded my doctor get me back on the pill. My question
is,
will I ever fully recover from those two horrible months of taking the
depo?
And most importantly will my hair ever grow back? If you could respond back that would be great. Thanks for your time.
Sincerely,Christina Prus
Peggy 9/6/2004
I am taking the injection once a month because I was having heavy and
long
periods. Well that stop but My arthris is worst and I am having some
of
the other side effects. I have to go tommorrow to take another
injection
but I am thinking about telling the Dr I don't want the shot what are
some
things that happen after you get off the shot. Thanks
Lonnie 9/1/2004
Hi I'm 20 years old and been on the Depo Provera shot for 2 years now.
The reason I have stayed on the shot for so long is because I don't have a period and well haven't had one in the last year or so.
I am noticing now the side affect for being on the shot for so long and now even realizing it more after reading all these other stories.
Some of the side effect that I am dealing with now are trying to lose the weight because I go back in forth lose a couple pounds and gain it right back but I've gained about 10 pounds. The bloating,headaches,tired all the time, lost of libido,depressions,lower backpain,lost of memory.
I am now debuting on getting off the shot I'm not really having sex and well I want to lose weight. It's just not having a period is why I've been on so long.
Sincerely,
Lonnie
Tasha 8/28/2004
hi, I was reading your site and I've decided to go on natural
progesterone
cream. I had my last Deop shot in December '03 and I still haven't
gotten
my period. I've slowly been experiencing my hormones getting somewhat
back
to normal, but I was wondering if you thought I should use the
progesterone
cream. Do you think I should? I realize that you're not a doctor -
but I
find you one of the very few people who can maybe give me any kind of
input
concerning depo. thanks
~Tasha.
Kristan Marie 8/28/2004
hi, my name is Kristan and I'm 15 years old going on 16 and i have been on the Depo-Provera shot for about a year and a half.. here's a few things that happened to me: I stopped getting my period the month after i had gotten my first shot, i've just started noticing for like the past.. maybe 3 months, that i have been losing my hair.. and I'm only 15 so that's pretty scary. I have a whole bunch of brown spots on the top of my stomach.. right under my breasts and some white patches that look like dry skin. i believe that i weighed about 126 when i first started and now i weigh in at 169.7 lbs.! Yeah i gained that much in a year and a half. pretty freaky for someone who is only going to be a sophmore in high school! My appetite has increased BIG time and as much as i want to look thinner.. i just cant get myself up to do it. i make my little sister get up to get me stuff because im so LAZY! I dont know what to do. Being on the shot was more my mom's choice then it was mine.. i want to try something different after reading all this but i dont know what she will say. basically that is all i've had to put up with. thanx for listening to my story.
Cyndi 8/18/2004
HI MY NAME IS CYNDI .. AND I GOT ON THE DEPO LAST NOVEMBER..THINKING HECK YEAH! NO PERIOD! THEN I STARTED TO GAIN, THE WEIGHT, MY MOODS ARE HORRIBLE, I FREAK OUT ON EVERYONE, I'M ALWAY STARTING FIGHTS WITH MY BOYFRIEND EVEN THOUGH I DON'T WANT TO FIGHT WTH HIM.. BUT IT GETS WORSE.. I HAD TO GO BACK IN IN JANUARY TO GET ANOTHER SHOT OF THE DEPO.. BECAUSE I HAD GOTTEN MY PERIOD.. AND I HAD BEEN ON IT FOR 3 WEEKS.. SO FROM THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY TO THE 15TH I THINK I WENT IN AND GOT THE SECOND DEPO (THE DOCTOR HAD TOLD ME WHEN I WENT IN IF I HAD ANY TROUBLE BLEEDING TO COME IN FOR ANOTHER SHOT).. BUT AGAIN ANOTHER 2 MONTHS, AND I WAS BLEEDING, SO I GO IN FOR ANOTHER SHOT.. AND THIS IS MARCH NOW... WELL I GO IN AGAIN MAY.. FOR ANOTHER SHOT.. BECAUSE ONCE AGAIN... I'M BLEEDING.. AND THIS WAS THE END OF MAY.. SO THE DOCTOR UPPED MY DOSAGE FROM 150MG TO 300 MG... THEN IN JUNE I GO IN FOR MY PAPSMERE... THINKING ITS GOING TO BE NORMAL.. BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE GENITAL WARTS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT..I'M A VERY CLEAN PERSON... AND I WOULD FREAK OUT IF I THOUGH I MIGHT HAVE THEM.... THEN 2 WEEKS LATER THE DOCTORS NURSE CALLS ME.. SAYING THE DOCTOR WANTS ME TO COME IN AND TALK ABOUT MY PAPSMERE RESULTS. I WAS LIKE OKAY.. WHATEVER! I GO THERE AND THE DOCTOR IS TELLING ME THAT ITS HPV.. THE HUMAN PAPPALOMAVIRUS, AND THAT THATS CAUSED FROM GENTAL WARTS. (PRETTY MUCH MADE ME FEEL LIKE I WAS A DIRTY SLUT BECAUSE I COULD HAVE THAT, BECAUSE USUALLY GIRLS WHO SLEEP AROUND GET DISEASES)(BUT I DIDN'T SLEEP AROUND, AND I HAD BEEN WITH THE SAME GUY SINCE DECEMBER, AND BEFORE THAT I HADN'T HAD SEX SINCE OCTOBER! I MEAN I ASKED ALL KINDS OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DEPO, AND IF PLANTERS WARTS CAN CAUSE STUFF IN UR CERVIX... BECAUSE I HAD HAD A PLATERS WART THAT I HAD GOTTEN FROM A FOSTER HOME, AND WARTS ARE A FORM OF HPV... ALL THEY DID WAS TELL ME NO.. YOU CAN ONLY GET IT FROM HPV... AND BLAH BLAH BLAH... SO THEN I HAD TO HAVE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT FOR A DIFFERENT DOCTOR... SO HE COULD GIVE ME A COLPOSCOPY.. AND HE TOOK SOME BIOPSY'S AND HE SAID THE SAME THING LOOKS LIKE THIS IS FROM HPV... AND AFTER THAT SESSION I WAS TOLD TO CALL HIM NEXT WEDNESDAY AFTER ONE. THAT WOULD BE TODAY, SO I CALLED HIM, AND HE TOLD ME THAT I HAD TO GO IN FOR MORE BIOPSIES.. THEY'RE GOING TO FREEZE MY CERVIX AND SCRAPE I THINK PRETTY MUCH IT ALL, AND HE SAID THAT THE TESTS SHOW THAT IT MIGHT BE CERVICAL DYSPLASIA... AND I'M LIKE OKAY WHEN MY BOYFRIEND STARTED TELLING ME TO GET OFF THE DEPO I LOOKED A BUNCH OF STUFF UP ON THE INTERNET.. AND I READ THAT IT CAN CAUSE CERVICAL DYSPASIA.. AND ASKED THE DOCTOR THAT AND HES LIKE NO, OH NO, YOU CAN ONLY GET IT FROM HPV... SO WHAT AM I SPOSE TO DO.. HERE I AM ALL FREAKED OUT THINKING THAT I'M SOMEKIND OF SLUT AND THAT NOW I'M A DISEASED PERSON.. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN TELL ME OR ANY INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE THAT CAN HELP.. ALSO AFTER I WENT IN FOR THAT SHOT IN MAY I WENT IN AGAIN IN JULYTHE BEGINNING OF IT A WEEK OR TWO LATER I WAS BLEEDING AGAIN, IT IS NOW AUGUST 18.. AND I'VE BEEN BLEEDING FOR 4 1/2 WEEKS... DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW LONG I MAY BLEED FOR? I FYOU COULD REPLY TO ME AT SUPA_SWEETIE_69@HOTMAIL.COM... I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE ANYTHING YOU HAVE THAT CAN HELP ME.. AND I GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. I JUST WANT TO FIND OUT WHATS WRONG WITH ME BEFORE THEY END UP GIVING ME A HYSTERECTOMY OR SOMETHING KRAZY LIKE THAT!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
SINCERELY
CYNDI
Maria F. 8/5/2004
Thank you for sharing your story.
My sister is on Depo and the doctor prescribed it as a solution to her
ovarian cysts, it does keep them away but so would birth control pills.
She likes the shot and the fact that the pain from the cysts has been
stopped. She has always suffered from depression, and has gained 30
pounds in 3 years on the shot. She is only 19 years old and has been
diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. I am wondering if this may be
related. Have you ever heard of any swelling in the hands as a result of the
shot?
Jeanne 7/24/2004
I've used depo a few times in my life. After my daughter was born I got the shot while still in the hospital. I was on it for about a year, and for some reason or another just decided to not get anymore shots. My first period after coming off depo was extremely heavy and didn't seem like normal period blood. It just seemed like regular blood if I was to cut myself. I thought I was hemorrhaging. After time, my periods got lighter and they were always regular, it's just that I bleed different now. It's like regular blood. I am now pregnant again and I was just thinking about how my periods were. I was just wondering if you ever heard of someone bleeding like this and if it affected their pregnancy, labor, delivery, and/or baby
Kim 8/30/2004
I was on depo for almost 1 1/2 years, was sick the day of my appt. for another shot and about a month later, was pregnant. Imagine my suprise. I now have a beautiful seven year old daughter. I immediately returned to depo because it "seemed to work" and I enjoyed not even spotting for months at a time. I was then on depo for 4 years, and I decided to "give my body a rest". My fiance' and I were very careful, most of the time. In Fall of 2000, I found out I was pregnant, having a tubal pregnancy and had surgery all in the same day. I then went back on depo for a year. When my husband and I married in 2002, I went off again. I have been off of the shot ever since, waited 7 months to start having abnormal cycles and have been very unsuccessful in trying to conceive, even though my appetite for sex has returned. I have very painful mestraul cycles, but I am not sure if it is connected in any way to the shot. I am wondering if there is anything I can do. We have been trying for over two years, with not even a scare. Could some of these menstraul cycles actual be miscarriages. How would I know? I feel odd asking the doctor questions after reading some of the stories because I feel he won't give me the right answer. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. And to everyone else, just know that there really is not a "birth control" that is healthy, they are technically all toxins that manipulate our body into doing "unnatural" things, but to keep your head up. I will definately consider your information before considering depo again. Thanks Kim
