The Depo Shot

SimpleJane

Have any of you used the shot for birth control? I have had a tubal ligation, so no need for birthcontrol, but I have highly cystic ovaries and an OB specialist I saw today recommended the shot. I get crazy migraines on the pill, so that's out, and she said this is pretty much the only option that will essentially shut down my ovaries and relieve the pain.

She also pretty bluntly told me I would need to exercise more and eat a lot less as the shot makes most people gain weight. I'm very very scared of gaining, since I'm already about 8lbs above what my normal has been my whole life. I've always been tiny and this little bit of extra flab is making me feel self concious enough. I don't want any more!

Experiences?

SimpleJane

MelRC117:

I was on the depo shot for 9 months and hated it but since you aren't using it for BC you may not. I didn't gain any weight, in fact I lost weight but I've been very purposefully dieting so I'm not sure how it would compare if you stayed on your usual diet. I now have the Mirena and have been having issues losing weight even though I, continue to diet and have exercised more than on depo.My main complaints had to do with the NON STOP spotting while on the shot and it was a PITA to get since I had to go to the pharmacy first, then to my ob's office to get it injected. They stopped carrying it due to cost, which also meant I had to pay OOP...90 a shot. Otherwise I probably would have stuck with it.nbsp;

She mentioned spotting as well. But said it was only an issue in a small percentage of people. I'm just a little worried about trying something that is going to be in my system for 3 months. I don't want to be a constantly spotting fatty with constant migraines, haha. I guess maybe that's okay if I don't constantly have ovarian pain...

Pamelacake

I personally have never tried it but my sister has been on it for years. She switched from it to the merana for a short time but switched back to the shot. I don't think it effected her weight as she has always been thick/muscular. She started out with a pill (not sure which one) and it caused her to have migraines, heavy bleeding which in turn made her very moody so she didn't like it at all.

Gwenillian

I had it ages ago for a little over a year and a half. I had no spotting, no periods. I did have huge problems losing the baby weight (started it before I left the hospital after my second child was born). I didn't gain though.

HoolyGo

I was on it for 3 years. I didn't gain weight or have any mood issues, but it tanked my sex drive. I didn't realize how much my sex drive decreased on it until I came off of it.

ambrvan

I have never been on it, but a very good friend of mine has. And for same reason as the OP. She did gain quite a bit of weight very quickly, and she also had huge mood swings. But it helped her physical ovarian problems wonderfully. She stopped the shot a few months before her wedding to try to lose weight and prepare to try to get pregnant. She lost the weight about as easily as she would have normally, a couple pounds per month. Then she took fertility pills to get pregnant.

She went long times without a period at all, and other times she would randomly spot for days.

But another friend of mine who had the depo shot, she loves it. It did make her gain weight. A lot of it. She is an extremely active person, but she cannot seem to lose it. She has a period every three months, and that is it.

CFjo2010

I was on the shot for about 3 years.  During that time I never had a period, no spotting, nada.  It was actually quite awesome.

However, my face started breaking out like crazy.  I looked like I was a teenager all over again.  And the weight gain was annoying, but not too bad.  But I couldn't lose the weight no matter what I tried.