Depo Provera for Birth Control User Reviews (Page 3)

• Anonymous
• June 6, 2022

"Well, my body ended up rejecting the Mirena twice, and my doctor said, 'Oh, we can do the Depo shot.' I got this shot a month ago, and I have had the worst time the past 14 days. I've had the worst diarrhea of my life that I've never had before. I've lost a total of 12 pounds in 11 days from just straight diarrhea. I now have a UTI, I itch so bad, and I hurt, and I just started spotting, which didn't happen when I first got it, so I think my body may be rejecting the Depo. I don't know if there's anything I can do but just suffer until it is out of my system. I'm very miserable. Has anyone ever experienced this besides me?"

• rai...
• September 23, 2013

"Depo-Provera has changed my life. I am now period and yeast infection free, which is a HUGE deal for someone who has suffered from yeast infections 1x a month for the past 4 years, as well as heavy, painful periods. Haven't had a period since my first shot, which was 7 weeks ago. I am a healthy 28-year-old, aside from suffering from migraines. I have not had any side effects from Depo-Provera, no acne, hair loss, weight gain, etc."

• Lau...
• July 17, 2013

"(July 17, 2013) Just received my second Depo-Provera shot yesterday. I am very pleased with this form of birth control because it is so quick, convenient, and nothing has to be done before or after sex. Personally, my only downside is weight gain. I've gained about 10 pounds and have a love/hate relationship with my newer curves (although I must say my boyfriend doesn't seem to mind them). I have not gotten my period since starting the Depo, but only some light spotting a few days before I was due for my next injection. Overall, I am happy and will continue using Depo-Provera for birth control."

• liz...
• November 17, 2014

"Two years on Depo... I have been combating depression, fatigue, and vaginal dryness since my third shot, hoping that I could overcome them or being in denial that it was from the shot, but it's definitely a side effect of the birth control. Though the shot is convenient, with no periods and strong hair and nails, I totally feel like I've been through menopause and am an old lady with NO sex drive. Switching to the patch in December, wish me luck."

• Jor...
• September 20, 2014

"Honestly, the best birth control I've been on. I had to switch from the pill to the shot due to medications I am on, and I have had no problems with this birth control. Of course, I gained a couple pounds, but that's just a given. I gained maybe five pounds, so nothing drastic. Will continue to use!"

• lnz...
• December 18, 2014

"I got my shot in the middle of October, and I don't like it. I'm not pregnant, but that may be because my sex drive is completely nonexistent. I can't lose much weight, even though I am breastfeeding and following Weight Watchers. I have random bleeding, and my vagina is incredibly dry. Not renewing my shot next month."

• Anonymous
• January 19, 2015

"Pros: Effective (always was on time for my injection). No period. No more PMS. Cons: Cramping on and off throughout a year on Depo shot. Gained 50 pounds within a year. Raised blood pressure. Nervousness and dizziness."

• Che...
• August 17, 2016

"I felt like I had to review this because I almost didn't start it since all the reviews were truly horrifying. I have been on Depo for a few years, and so have two of my best friends. We all absolutely love it. I haven't had a period since the first shot. I never experienced any weight gain or hormonal changes. Best of all, my bleeding and cramps from hell finally went away. I started taking this not for birth control, but to get rid of my extremely painful periods that started all of a sudden once I turned 30. I'm not saying don't believe the horror stories, just remember, people usually only review when they have bad experiences. I like this way better than the pill, and I don't have to take it every day."

• Jan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 23, 2020

"I wouldn't even rate this as a 1. It has destroyed my life!! I gave birth in November 2019 and had my first injection in January during our postnatal check-up. I started bleeding in March with light spotting which has continued to this day but now heavy bleeding. I only had the one shot!! I don't sleep at night with worry and have contacted the doctors a number of times about the bleeding. Would not recommend!!"

• Jad...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 5, 2013

"I hate to be another bad contributor, but... I basically started out fine. No period for the first month. Then I was bleeding for the next two months. The worst part gave me the most ridiculous acne of my life. I have never broken out on my jawline and cheeks before this shot, so that was very strange and painful. I have been off of Depo and switched to Trinessa and am on my fourth pack. I still am trying to get my skin normal and regulate the hormone change. And I'm waiting for the dark spots from my acne from months ago to disappear. It's nice to not remember a pill, but because I had such bad side effects, I didn't even try to get my second shot."

• JD3...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 31, 2023

"I am month 2 on Depo, and I would rate it a zero if I could. Since receiving the injection, I have suffered migraines and/or headaches daily. I'm so exhausted I can't make a day without a nap, mood swings daily, a loss of interest as I have no energy, feeling unwell all the time, hot flashes galore, been on my period for a month, and it's major cramps. I wish I would have read about the side effects. I will never get another one and keep telling my husband I regret it daily. I just want my life back, I was hoping it would help with my periods, that is why I was prescribed it, and it backfired. Yuck."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 21, 2014

"When I was 16, I had the worst period. Major cramps to where I couldn't go to school, bloated super bad. So my doctor recommended the shot. I got it. And since then, I've had not even the slightest spotting. And it's been 2 years. One night, the condom broke completely, and I was so worried. But I didn't get pregnant. I've gained 5-10 pounds over the course. But I for sure recommend."

• Jen...
• August 19, 2020

"This is a disaster for wasting undies and products. Real sick of this brown sludge for the past almost 3 months. I recommend switching. Only went on this to avoid the yeast infections that Junel Fe gave me."

• dv4...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 8, 2016

"WARNING! I received two injections, and it was the worst 6 months of my life. This should come with EXPLICIT warnings, but didn't. I came down with severe anxiety and depression. My life fell apart and I had to leave town to regroup. My interpersonal relationships unraveled. I was so depressed I couldn't move. I saw a psychiatrist and he suggested that the depression could very well have been due to the Depo shot - he's seen it affect others like this as well. Also, I rapidly gained 15-20 lbs. It's been 8 months since my last injection and I am ECSTATIC to report my period finally came back. It can take that long to leave the system! This is a dangerous drug. Monitor your mental health closely. In fact, don't do it."

• Jan...
• February 28, 2013

"The shot is great for forgetful people like myself. Also, if you have bad cramps and/or heavy, miserable periods. I've been on the shot for almost 3 years, and it has been a good run; no period, no weight gain. However, I have absolutely NO sex drive. I feel out of touch with my body and emotions."

• Wis...
• January 5, 2020

"I got this shot back on June 23rd, 2019, and sadly to this day, I am still bleeding. I never returned for the second shot and have been on the pill to try and help, but sadly it doesn’t. I guess I now have to accept the fact that this is part of my life now and hope that it will eventually stop. I am depressed because of this, and it’s really hard each day seeing the bleeding. I have never had any trouble before, and I wish I saw this site because I would not have gone through with the shot. I hope this post helps one person not go through what I have to each and every day. I am 35 and am now looking at a hysterectomy to fix the issue because I could imagine living like this forever. 7 months of straight bleeding. This shouldn’t be available."

• Amy...
• December 24, 2019

"The Depo Provera shot destroyed my body. I took the 3-month shot and gained 30 lbs within the first two months of my first (and only) shot. I have huge stretch marks from how fast I gained weight. At the time, I was very active, eating healthy, and had a high metabolism. After the weight gain, my doctor told me I am at very high risk for heart disease now. I had anxiety attacks daily, and my depression peaked for the long 3 months. My depression continued to be horrible for the following months. I have had no luck getting pregnant for the last year since I took it. After the first 3 months, I had an extremely painful period that lasted a month. The Depo Provera shot literally pumps you full of enough hormones to last for three months. I would not suggest it to anybody. Here I am over a year later, with the world's slowest metabolism, and I can’t even look at myself in the mirror without seeing all the weight I gained. It plummeted me into depression and pain that I hope no one else has to experience."

• Kok...
• April 24, 2013

"I am 21, and since I first received the shot in January, I have been bleeding ever since. Sometimes light, sometimes like an actual period, with cramps and migraines. Also, this medicine has completely jacked up my hormones. I am angry ALL the time, ALWAYS sad. I cry every day, over the smallest issues, or for no reason. I am happy, and in a split second, I will feel very low or even have suicidal thoughts. I experience extreme mood swings and flip out on my boyfriend-coupled with less sex from the bleeding. It's very frustrating. I am hoping that this is just my body still adjusting to the medicine. I haven't had any weight gain or acne though (knock on wood)."

• TXa...
• March 26, 2016

"So I'm 17, I got the shot a little over a week ago. So far, nothing but good to report here. However, where I got the shot (arm) was pretty sore for like 5 days, and I'd say I probably had slight depression for a few days afterward, but now I'm back to normal. I also had an increase in appetite, which is probably why a lot of people have gained weight. I'm a health nut, so appetite is something I control on a regular basis. The best thing is that my boobs grew MAJOR!!"

• Bet...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 11, 2019

"Depo-Provera made my periods stop after about 7 months (amazing). It gave me relief from chronic migraines I've had for years. I only have occasional cramping now and have not gained weight. HOWEVER, the first two injections sent my moods wild. I was often extremely anxious and sad (this did go away!). I am doing great now and most importantly, I am not pregnant."

• Lon...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 22, 2013

"I have been on Depo for 3.5 years now, and the first entire year I had spotting almost every day. After that, I would only get my period about a week after I would get a new shot, which lasts at least a full week but is very light. I love this birth control because I don't have to remember to take a pill every day. I didn't experience weight gain, I actually lost weight after taking the shot, but I did experience some acne, which I am not sure is because of the Depo or just minor adult acne. I definitely recommend this method for birth control!"

• Anonymous
• March 17, 2023

"I received my depo shot a bit over a month ago. Two days after, I started having migraines. The migraines progressed over time, and I’m at the point where I have been unable to go to school, the gym, and just have a life whatsoever. I’ve had three phone appointments and three in-person appointments trying to fix these migraines, and nothing works. I’ve been on at least seven different pain medications, including Imitrex, Zofran, naproxen, etc. Nothing works. I have back pain and neck pain every day with these headaches, along with constant hot flashes that make me drip sweat and always feel tired, fatigued, drowsy, and nauseous, feeling like I’m going to throw up. I’ve always had perfect health, and since this shot, I’ve been stuck in bed for a month. It also kills your appetite (they say it makes you gain weight), but I don’t have an appetite, and I’m constantly losing weight. The doctors do nothing for me, they just throw a bunch of medications at me that make it worse."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 6, 2014

"When I first got the shot, I skipped my first period and then had really light periods after that for a few months. Then my period started occurring more often. About 2 weeks of bleeding, then 1 week off, then bleed for 1 week, then 1 week off or less, then bleed for 2 weeks. Really weird! That occurred for a couple of months. Then I started bleeding nonstop for a while. It was really light, but who likes bleeding all the time? Finally, at about 1 year of sticking it out, I now am back to skipping the first period after getting the shot and sometimes skip the second or sometimes have light spotting. I do bleed a little heavier just before my next shot is due. Makes me think it's wearing off too soon. Had no other side effects though."

• Bri...
• January 6, 2014

"I have been on this birth control since I was 16, I am now 21. I was not sexually active till 17. I didn't really have any interest in sex until I was 19, referring to sex drive. Depo was the best decision I ever made the first 3 years, then my body started having random cramps from time to time. I could be walking and I would have to stop for 2 minutes. I wouldn't move. I would have discharge. I had 2-day periods for 2 years every 3 months right before my next shot. Now I'll spot for a couple of weeks. I started at 112, now I'm 121. I never had a problem with gaining weight. I'm still not pregnant. So I'll stay on this because the pros outweigh the cons."

• Anonymous
• October 20, 2011

"I've been on the Depo shot for a year and a half now, and I have been bleeding ever since I took it. I have experienced a lot of weight gain and depression and tons of mood swings. You get cramps every day as if you just got your period. I wouldn't recommend it if you don't like bleeding. Might work for some people, but not for me."