Talk To Me About The Depo Shot

CaliforniaSunshine

I have never been on any kind of birth control. I had DD#1 12 years ago and it took DH and I over 3 years to get pg with DD#2. We have decided we are done having babies, so I need to get on some kind of birth control. The pill seems like a PITA and I am a little bit afraid of having something inserted. If you had the depo shot, what was your experience like while on it? Was there a downside to having it?

Starfish113

i was on it for 4 years and loved it. i just went back on it. i think it's great because you don't have to remember to take a pill everyday, and it lasts a while. i didn't get my period the whole time, but the first month or two you will spot quite a bit. you will also need to take calcium the whole time because i guess it lowers your calcium which could lead to osteoporosis.

but seriously, i think it's the best kind of birth control out there, and i highly recommend it

emily0829

For me, it was awful. I consider it to be a liquid form of Satan.

I bled constantly. I gained weight, and couldn't lose the weight. It made my jaw feels like I was punched constantly. Zero sex drive. Seriously---none. My biggest celebrtiy crush could have asked to hook up and I'd had taken a rain check. Horrible mood swings. My breasts felt like there were a ton of bricks on them all day, every day.

I'm so happy to off that shot. Those side effects disappeared the second that I got off of it.

Hanginginthere2010

Took it years ago.  Made me gain 30 lbs.

CaliforniaSunshine

Starfish113:

i was on it for 4 years and loved it. i just went back on it. i think it's great because you don't have to remember to take a pill everyday, and it lasts a while. i didn't get my period the whole time, but the first month or two you will spot quite a bit. you will also need to take calcium the whole time because i guess it lowers your calcium which could lead to osteoporosis.

but seriously, i think it's the best kind of birth control out there, and i highly recommend it

Thanks for the info! I was diagnosed with IF problems and while I don't think I would get pregnant again (my IF doc couldn't explain how I got pg with Ella) we want to be on the safe side.

JustBrauzin

I was on it for 8 years...way past the recommended time.  We had issues TTC DS and I can't help but think the length of me on it had something to do with it.  That being said, I LOVED it.  No period, no pill every day.  I gained a little weight with it but nothing out of the ordinary. (5 lbs over 8 years...could have been other factors).  and it made my sex drive go THROUGH THE ROOF. 

We are TTC #2 and then I would consider going back on it.

Starfish is right, you do have to take calcium everyday, but who cares? No period is worth it to me.

BlueRidge8

emily0829:

For me, it was awful. I consider it to be a liquid form of Satan.

I bled constantly. I gained weight, and couldn't lose the weight. It made my jaw feels like I was punched constantly. Zero sex drive. Seriously---none. My biggest celebrtiy crush could have asked to hook up and I'd had taken a rain check. Horrible mood swings. My breasts felt like there were a ton of bricks on them all day, every day.

I'm so happy to off that shot. Those side effects disappeared the second that I got off of it.

I'm on my last depo shot - ever.

She's not kidding about the sex drive. DH is is very attractive, a wonderful husband and father and I don't want him to touch me.

By process of elimination, we've deduced the shot is the reason I've been having fuzzy brain spells and difficulty concentrating.  I can't wait until this last one is out of my body totally.

I'm going BC free (condoms) for a month just to try to regulate.

CaliforniaSunshine

abrausen:

I was on it for 8 years...way past the recommended time.  We had issues TTC DS and I can't help but think the length of me on it had something to do with it.  That being said, I LOVED it.  No period, no pill every day.  I gained a little weight with it but nothing out of the ordinary. (5 lbs over 8 years...could have been other factors).  and it made my sex drive go THROUGH THE ROOF. 

We are TTC #2 and then I would consider going back on it.

Starfish is right, you do have to take calcium everyday, but who cares? No period is worth it to me.

No periods are a major plus My periods are horrible after I had DD. I went from super light to heavy. It sucks!

elaughlin

i hated it! if your BFing it will mess with your supply and I bled for 3 stright months nonstop. my moods where off the wall to were DH didnt want to be around me. i will never get the shot again in my life! that is just my expeciance

goosh24

emily0829:

For me, it was awful. I consider it to be a liquid form of Satan.

I bled constantly. I gained weight, and couldn't lose the weight. It made my jaw feels like I was punched constantly. Zero sex drive. Seriously---none. My biggest celebrtiy crush could have asked to hook up and I'd had taken a rain check. Horrible mood swings. My breasts felt like there were a ton of bricks on them all day, every day.

I'm so happy to off that shot. Those side effects disappeared the second that I got off of it.

I took it years ago and had most of these side effects too.  Never doing that again!

soldiersgirl78

Absolutely LOVED it!  No period/cramps/PMS/etc., bigger boobs, slight weight gain but nothing major, and no worrying about pills etc.  I was on it for probably like 5 years.  No issues with sex drive. 

GreenNGold

I was on it for years and I LOVED it! No period is the best side effect ever No issues with sex drive or weight gain here either. I will go back on it after we are done having babies for sure!

That being said- I know people that have hated it like some of the PP's. It is something you have to try and see how your body reacts to it. 

kmwills

Just started it after birth of DD.  My OB told me it would help with my milk supply, but I didn't notice any difference.  I haven't really gained weight with it, but I'm still trying to lose the pregnancy weight.  I really haven't had any adverse effects yet, except for irregular periods.  The Pill was nice b/c I always knew when AF was coming.  I'm planning to go back on the Pill in the summer though, b/c DH and I want to start trying for #2 and I heard it may take up to a year to ovulate again after having the shot.