I’ve been on Depo-Provera for almost 6 months now and I’ve never had a terrible experience. I’m personally unaffected by most of the side effects and I have little to no difficulty other than the occasional irregular bleeding and appetite loss.
However, I’ve noticed one negative effect (I’m not definitive that it’s caused from Depo), which is vaginal dryness. No matter how high my sex drive is, I find it hard to get wet enough before sex since taking Depo, which makes sex painful for me. I researched why this could be, and apparently Depo causes estrogen levels to drop, and with less estrogen equals vaginal dryness. I’m not sure what to do, I don’t want to go off Depo-Provera but vaginal dryness is causing issues in my sex life. Should I start taking estrogen pills or will that mess with my hormones? Please help.
Thank you!
Taking estrogen pills while on Depo-Provera?
Question posted by s27272002 on 4 March 2019
Last updated on 4 March 2019
Answers
You need to speak to your doctor before taking estrogen pills, as the hormone imbalance that the Depo Provera creates, is deliberate, to stop you from getting pregnant. You need to discuss how using estrogen would effect that balance, & if it could lead to pregnancy.
I had a lot of vaginal dryness on Depo Provera, & also very painful sex, partly due to the dryness, but also because it made all my pelvic floor muscles very sore, so penetration was impossible. I was diagnosed with Pelvic Floor Myalgia. Within a year or two of stopping Depo Provera, this all cleared up.
You may find lubricant helpful. I had to shop around to find one that didn't irritate me, but once I got one that suited me, it helped with the dryness. Unfortunately the other part of the issue still prevented intercourse, though.
This explains so much, it’s very difficult for me to have sex because penetration is really uncomfortable and painful when it’s deep. Thank you so much for the advice, I will definitely discuss this with my doctor. I really want my body to go back to normal, were you able to have sex during this waiting period after going off depo?
This explains so much, it’s very difficult for me to have sex because penetration is really uncomfortable and painful when it’s deep. Thank you so much for the advice, I will definitely discuss this with my doctor. I really want my body to go back to normal, were you able to have sex during this waiting period after going off depo?
It took a while before I could have pain-free sex. I was on Depo a long time, though.
I can't remember exactly how long it took but I'd say it was around 18 months maybe.
There's quite a bit to know about Depo, & I don't know what you know already, so I'll give you the lot & you can take what you need from it...
Depo Provera works by convincing your body it's pregnant, even to the point that you can get pregnancy symptoms/side effects. Lower back ache is common, as your pelvis ligaments soften, ready for a growing baby. Leaking breasts can also happen from time to time.
It's common to get irregular bleeding. That can be a mixture of bleeding, spotting, or no bleeding at all, until you've had 2 or 3 shots, & then you typically find that your periods stop, altogether, until you come off Depo Provera. Sometimes you can get a little irregular bleeding in between shots, especially after sex or around the time that my shot was coming up to be due.
The Manufacturer advises that you should not be on Depo Provera for longer than 2 years, unless you have no other option for contraception. This is due to the significant risks that come with the Drug. In particular, Depo Provera is known to cause bone thinning, leading to osteoporosis. There are other conditions associated with Depo, such as certain cancers, for example, however, there are such risks with all hormonal contraceptives, so it's just a case of making an informed decision.
The Manufacturer also states that if you have to stay on Depo Provera for the long-term, that you take regular breaks, every couple of years, to give your body a rest, & that you have an MRI scan after a significant time on the Drug, to monitor your bones. I've just been through this, & have to have the scan repeated when I reach menopause, which is when any bone damage is most likely to show-up.
The Manufacturer also advises that even after just 1 shot, you may be infertile for up to 18 months. Don't rely on this for contraception timing, & still get your shots every 12 to 13 weeks (12 is best as it gives you a week's grace, should you be unable to get your shot), but you may find that you either don't get periods for quite some time after stopping Depo Provera, or that they are very irregular. Sometimes, you can even get very heavy & constant bleeding, after Depo Provera. I had that, too. We hear of many women who's periods struggle to get back to regular cycles, at all, after Depo Provera. I managed to sort mine out, after 2 years of medical procedures & intervention, by using Vitex. Worth writing down, in case you need it in future. You can get it at health stores or online. If I'd known about it earlier, I wouldn't have had to go through all the medical intervention.
Most of the information I'm giving you can be found on the sheet that comes with the shot, & also on the Manufacturer's website. In my experience, the doctors/nurses rarely give you this sheet. You can ask for it, though. Otherwise, just go to the Manufacturer's website (Pfizer), & look for the Depo Provera page, & the sheet to download, called 'Depo Provera CI U.S. Physician Prescribing Information'. I'll try to add the link in the comments. Sometimes they'll let me, sometimes they won't.
Common side effects are basically anything you might get with a period or pregnancy, or other hormonal change in the body. Weight gain is one of the most commonly reported, as is the lower back ache, but I also got less common side effects, too, such as very painful intercourse, & constant cystitis, which both stopped after a year or two of coming off Depo Provera.
It's important to alternate which buttock you get your shot in, otherwise the same buttock can become concave until you stop getting it in the same side each time.
Hope that helps
This is the link to the insert from the Manufacturer, that comes with the Depo shot.
https://www.drugs.com/pro/depo-provera.html
Related topics
depo-provera, provera, birth control, side effect, estrogen, pill, estrogens
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