Anyone have any experience with this method of BC? I'm considering going on it but I've heard some horror stories. I heard it causes serious weight gain and i have body image image problems so thats not good.
I would highly advise against going on it if you've never used hormonal bc before. I've known some people who had no bad reaction and absolutely love depo. I've known other people who had absolutely horrible reactions -- from bleeding for 3 months straight to severe emotional side-effects. Try the pill for a few months at least to find out how sensitive you are to hormonal bc -- a relatively low-hormone-dose pill will make me curl up in a ball and cry for a week straight, I'm glad I didn't make the mistake of having a higher dose (as in depo) injected so that I couldn't get it out of my system for 3 months! I'm definitely much more sensitive than most, but you don't know how sensitive you are until you try...
my friend was on it for 3 years. She went off of it when she wanted to concieve with her boyfriend. Unfortunatly, it took over a year for her period to return. While still on the shot, she spotted regularily, and her periods were very heavy when she did get them. Sometimes she didn't get them as schedualed. She also gained about 20 pounds, and had some depression problems.
I was on it for almost two years. I loved it, but I had weight gain during those two years, and eventually that's what made me stop (plus you aren't supposed to be on it for much more than two years). I gained about 30 pounds, maybe more... I dont' really weigh myself regularly. Emotional issues just around shot time, otherwise I was fine. Didn't menstruate during those two years either. However, if you've never been on birth control before I wouldnt' recommend it. Hell, I wouldn't recommend it to most chicks. I was one of the few who reacted fairly well to it, some other people react VERY VERY VERY badly to it. I'd look into something like the pill or the patch first. Fewer bad side affects, easier to find these days. If you do end up on depo, you should be taking regular calcium supplements as well as it can lower bone density and affect your body's ability to absorb calcium (so you ahve to take more to get your regular amount to stay in your body)
Keeping in mind that everyone reacts differently to meds, I have had an excellent experience with Depo. No emotional issues, very little weight gain, no breakthrough bleeding, etc. I have not had a period since April of 2004, and I LOVE it! Just realize that if you come off and it want to get pregnant, it can take a year or so for you to concieve.
Well everyone different, but I didn't have a very good time on it. i bled most of the time,which I guess was pretty good for birth control since I didn't want to have sex whilst bleeding. I didn't gain any weight though.
my advice would be dont! i was on it quite a while back, it sent me loopy, i would watch myself turn into an evil bitch throwing stuff about and swearing and calling my hubby all the names under the sun, but i couldnt do anything to stop myself, the whole time it made me feel like i was having a long term out of body experience, it screwed up my periods so even when i didnt have the injection it took nearly 2 years for them to return, and all for 3 shots of the bloody stuff
I hated that stuff. Of course, I was only on it for a month or two about 10 years ago, when I was 16. Maybe it's better now, but back then it caused havoc on my body. My hair fell out (lots of it) and I gained a ton of weight quickly, and I was a hormonal bitch! Never again, for me.
My friend was on Depo and she bled for like 3 months straight, like someone else said...the shit was eating her ovaries...I don't recommend it one bit..
I would say give it a shot if it's what you need to do. I had a really hard time remembering to take the pill, usually I forgot. I can't even remember to eat breakfast half the time. Anyway, it doesn't cause weight gain. It causes an increase in appetite. It causes calcium deficiency. If you watch what you eat and stock up on calcium, you may just be fine. I never spotted or bled, but my period was always very irregular (i might get it twice in 3 weeks and i might not get it for 6 months. It might be light and last two weeks or it might be heavy and last 2 days). Anyway, if there is a specific reason you want to take depo versus something else (if you're forgetful like me, etc.) then try it. If the side affects are bad, stop taking it. That simple.
Hint: if you go on this stuff, don't wear your favorite underwear until you're a good few months into it and DONE spotting. Just my luck, I thought I wasn't going to be bleeding, spotted, and messed up my favorite pair of underwear. I was sure the spotting was done, but no, it just had to do it the one day I wore those pretty underwear. Other than that, I've had no problems at all! ~Nova
