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Depo Provera User Reviews & Ratings

Depo Provera has an average rating of 5.1 out of 10 from a total of 1,009 reviews on Drugs.com. 28% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 55% reported a negative experience.

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Birth Control  
5.1
1009 reviews for Birth Control 347 medications
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Reviews for Depo Provera

  • ABano
  • Taken for 10 years or more
  • September 5, 2020

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I have been on Depo for 10 years without missing a injection. I had no side effects and LOVED not having a period. Something in the drug has obviously been altered because I'm having a period now, and nothing else in my routine has changed. This began around February/March of this year (2020). I've still continued to get the injection, but am questioning what exactly has happened to the drug and why patients have not been informed about any changes to the drug."

6 / 10
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254 Report
  • Chris...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • June 9, 2020

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I can't believe all the reviews I'm reading about the shot making you bleed for weeks or even months because now its happening to me. I got the shot for the first time in late April and I started to bleed about 2 and a half weeks ago. And I'm still bleeding. This really sucks. Being on a period everyday is not what I signed up for. I will NOT be getting it again and I just want my period to go back to normal. Would NOT recommend getting this to anyone!"

1 / 10
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212 Report
  • Taza
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • July 3, 2021

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I’ve started the depo provera injection fairly recently 24 May 2021. I was on my period which I normally have for seven days but with this injection my period went from normal flow to a dark brown, slow flow which couldn’t fill a pad. To changing halfway in June to a medium heavy flow. I called the doctors in the early stages because when I read the symptoms it said spotting but not heavy flow period. When I spoke to her it was like speaking to someone who doesn’t want to hear you. Not helpful at all. It’s now July I’ve been bleeding for a total of 42 days and counting. Will I get the 2nd injection in August? Nope. Would I recommend it? Nope. It really mucks up your emotions It has made me cry over stupid things. I had this injection so I could have sex without fear of pregnancy have I been able to have sex no. My advice once again it’s not the one to get"

1 / 10
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142 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • GGano
  • February 15, 2021

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I have been on Depo Provera for 22 years. After my very first injection 22 years ago, I have had zero periods and zero breakthrough bleeding. Zero side effects. Nothing. This has been a blessing. I had my last Depo Shot on 1/12/21. My next one is not due until 3/30/21. Today I wake up and have bleeding. While I realize that this can be due to other causes, I was just reading that there are others experiencing this. Perhaps there is something wrong with a batch of the medication? Will see what happens from here and keep an eye on it."

10 / 10
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153 Report
  • MsQueen
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • September 18, 2020

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I feel better knowing I'm not going through this horrible experience of Depo-provera alone. I loved the depo just because I didn't have periods over 5 years using this shot. And now to bleed every day longer than 10 days is very depressing. I would like to know what I can do to make this bleeding stop. This can't be healthy"

1 / 10
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163 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

  • GGano
  • January 4, 2021

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I've been on Depo-Provera for over a decade with no side effects, no periods or breakthrough bleeding. I have never missed an injection, however 3 weeks before my next injection I'm bleeding. This is an unwelcome, painful surprise because I've been without a period for as long as I've been on this birth control which has been almost 14 years. Something has changed with the medication"

8 / 10
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131 Report
  • Kat
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • February 10, 2020

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "Worst contraceptive ever. I had my first depo shot on the 9th of Jan. Approximately two weeks after I started spotting and then bleeding heavily. I am so mad that my doctor never indicated or told me about any of these side effects. I will not be going back for a second injection. Now, I feel like I am on a permanent menstrual cycle. If any of you ladies are really wanting to do something about this horrible drug, report it to the FDA. And also to Pfizer on their website. I believe this drug needs to be removed from the market. I don't think any woman wants to keep bleeding for months on end at a time."

1 / 10
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148 Report
  • Amanda
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • February 28, 2020

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I got on the shot in early Nov 2019, it's now Feb 27th and I have been on a period since. Not a light period but a heavy "blood clot" type one. I'll never get this shot again, and I will not recommend it to anyone."

1 / 10
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144 Report
  • Gladys
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • June 1, 2020

For Birth Control "I only see the negative sides effects of depo-provera being listed. Well I started the depo mid last year (2019) and so far so good I haven't hard any challenges or side effects while on it. Before the injection I used to bleed heavily with painful cramps but since I started this, no cramps with lighter bleeding that lasts for up to 3 days. Mind you before I used to bleed for seven days. I think it's all about ones body just because it failed on you doesn't mean it will fail on another person, people are different"

9 / 10
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134 Report
  • emma
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • February 13, 2020

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "So I've been on this Depo-Provera shot since I was 16. I’m 18 now. I haven’t bleed on my period for 2 years. This past week I started to spot. Now I'm getting really heavy bleeding that’s bright red. It’s just a little odd that I’ve been on it for 2 years and haven’t bled at all and now all of the sudden I am. I am not sure if this is normal or not."

5 / 10
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111 Report
  • Banan...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • October 4, 2020

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I took Depo-Provera injection many years ago. I never had a period or spotting from the first shot. I was on it for 6 years no issues other than weight gain. I got the shot again on September 10, 2020. I started bleeding 10 days ago. The cramps are extreme to the point I don't want to get out of bed. Which is not possible, I have 3 children age 8, 2, and 1 and a stay at home mom. Over the counter medication does not help with pain. There are too many of us experiencing the same things and a lot of us have already taken depo before with no issues."

1 / 10
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93 Report
  • Keke
  • Taken for 10 years or more
  • May 22, 2020

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I been on depo-provera for 20 years and was very happy but then when I love to out of state last year I start bleeding. I been bleeding for over 2 years now and I am so depress over this annoyance and my hubby is to. I really want sex but with the blood clots and non-stop bleeding I feel like I'm going crazy. I have tired everything the doctor has giving me bit it just won't stop and I'm sick of it. I'm mad and wish this bleeding just go away so I can try and be happy and work on my depression. Somebody please help me to stop this bleeding 2 years is too much."

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100 Report
  • ARS
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • August 18, 2021

For Birth Control "The depo is the worst thing I have ever put in my body. Ladies please re-consider before using this. Along with so many physical symptoms (nausea, acne, fatigue, heart burn, bloating cramps, bleeding constantly) the emotional symptoms are very prominent and worse than the physical ones. I believe this drug is destroying my relationship, I have no interest in sex or physical touch, I’m irritable all the time, depressed and have a constant feeling of emptiness that was not there before the depo my personality and mood took a full 180 on the depo. I am not going back in for my next injection. Something to also note is that the FDA is trying to pull this drug off the shelves. Please if you’re considering the depo do your research! I wish that I did."

1 / 10
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72 Report
  • Summer
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • June 6, 2020

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I got the Depo-Provera in January - the only one I had. My heavy bleeding started the very next day and now 5 and a half months down the line I am still bleeding a heavy period everyday!! Doctors can not work out why or what is going on !!"

1 / 10
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82 Report
  • JNK
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • August 20, 2020

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I was on depo from 2008-2011 with zero side effects. My periods were gone completely after the first shot and I had no weight gain and minimal mood swings. Fast forward to July 2020, all finished having children I got the shot again. I’ve now been bleeding heavily everyday for three weeks straight. Looking at this review forum makes me think the manufacturer made a change in early 2019 that quite obviously is not working with the majority of women’s menstruation. Who wants to bleed every day for a year?! NO ONE. I WILL NEVER GET THIS SHOT EVER AGAIN. NEVER."

1 / 10
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74 Report
  • Hater...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 16, 2020

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I thought I would get Depo after a pregnancy scare my first jab was given at the beginning of August 2019, I bled from the next day onwards right up to when the next one was due so I decided not to have it, and it’s now mid-feb and I am still bleeding, I have had the occasional day where I think it’s over and it comes right back. In total over 6 months I have had 5 days of non-bleeding! It is almost like a form of torture, I thought it would be out my system by now!! DO NOT HAVE THIS, IT WILL BE THE BIGGEST REGRET OF YOUR LIFE!!"

1 / 10
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70 Report
  • Vick
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • August 25, 2020

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I’ve took depo awhile back when I was around 17/18 , I’ve never experienced bleeding like this I recently got the Depo-Provera injection again because I have really horrible periods and extreme cramps, so I decided that I would go back on depo it was the worst thing I ever did. I experienced light spotting when I receive my first injection but I went in for my second around July 2020 and I’m still bleeding non stop and it’s getting very overwhelming because I can’t have sex with my boyfriend or if I do I have to take a shower first it’s really annoying I don’t recommend it to anyone you’ll be depressed for months"

1 / 10
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57 Report
  • breebug
  • December 6, 2014

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I received my first dose of the shot in the beginning of May, and I have been constantly bleeding every since! I was told at after my 3rd shot the bleeding would stop, but it hasn't. I'm considering switching to the pill at the end of this month. I cannot take this bleeding anymore."

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116 Report
  • Chan
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • April 20, 2021

For Birth Control "Took this in October. Started bleeding start of November and still consistently bleeding now 7 months later. Only took one injection. I gained weight everywhere even though I'm active and healthy, lost my sex drive which has always been very high. Nausea everyday to the point of throwing up. Insomnia for weeks on end. Raging emotions, sad and crying one minute, angry and shouting the next. Hot flashes, blurry vision, throbbing headaches and joint pain. I was not told any side effects in the clinic only that it stops periods and lessens cramps. I wish I was given a leaflet to make an informed decision. 7 months later and I'm loosing weight slowly, sleeping better and had been having sex occasional but it's a bloody mess and hit and miss if I climax at all. I just want the period to end. I would recommend ginseng as a mood booster and evening primrose oil to regulate your hormones. These brought back my libido a bit and made me less suicidal. Never again!!!!!"

1 / 10
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48 Report
  • Harley
  • July 13, 2021

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I have been taking the Depo-Provera for over 20 years, never had a period until a little over a year ago and now it comes and go's whenever it feels like, I never know when to expect it, i just thought this was normal due to the fact I had been on it so long, but then I went for my last injection a few days ago and I brought this up with my doctor and he told me this was not normal and is quite concerned and is now sending me to have a bunch of tests and freaking me out wondering what could be wrong and now I am reading all these reviews and thinking myself they have changed the product as everyone seems to be having similar issues, time to change to something different I think!"

1 / 10
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44 Report
  • Super...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 1, 2020

For Birth Control "I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS AT ALL! It is effective at preventing pregnancy but the side effects for me are not worth it at all. I have been on it for about 2 months now and I am suffering everyday. Before the shot everything was fine with me but about 2-3 weeks after I got it I started getting terrible stomach pains, headaches, bad acne on my back which I've never had before, and before the shot I've never got a UTI but since I got it I'm constantly getting painful reoccurring UT’s no matter how much water I drink, I even had to go on antibiotics twice and they came back. My sex drive is so low now because when I have sex I am in so much pain, and I know I don’t have diseases, infections etc. because my doctors even did tests and they all came back negative. THIS IS JUST THE ABSOLUTE WORST THING I HAVE EVER DONE!! I WOULD RATHER GET PREGNANT 10 TIMES THEN GET THIS SHOT AGAIN!!!"

1 / 10
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56 Report
  • Adonn...
  • February 21, 2020

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I got this shot back in July. I went to the clinic for depo provera and I really thought this was gonna help. I guess I was wrong. Ever since August, I have had irregular bleeding but not a period just spotting and bleeding that happens at random times and I always get blood on my underwear and I don’t want to wear pads every single day. It’s been 7 months now and I’m still having this problem. I know it’s normal to have irregular bleeding but it should have stopped by now. This shot has been no help and I’m always having cramps and bleeding and I’m miserable. And if I stop the shot I’ll bleed for even longer and I really don’t want that. I don’t know what to do to make my periods regular and make my long periods never happen again. I don’t know if I should switch to the IUD cause I’ll probably have more side effects and I’m sick of it. Never should have gotten this shot. Big regret."

2 / 10
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56 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • June 10, 2020

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I got my first Depo-provera shot third week of October 2019. It is now June, I've had 4 shots and I’ve bled almost everyday. Sex is painful because progesterone makes me dry and I’m bleeding all the time. Almost 9 months straight of bleeding. I want to stop but I’m trying to wait for the 12 month mark where they said bleeding stops. We will see."

1 / 10
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48 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 10 years or more
  • March 4, 2021

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I have been on depo for TWENTY years and today have a full blown period. I mean, horrible cramping and all. I have never once had breakthrough bleeding or even a drop in 20 years. I received my injection on Jan 4th."

10 / 10
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41 Report
  • Upward...
  • Taken for 10 years or more
  • October 13, 2013

For Endometriosis "I have been on Depo now for over 20 years - I should be paid to be their poster child. It was the miracle medicine for me and my body. After 10 horrific years of monthly hell, I started Depo. Immediately, the periods went away, my hormones balanced and I literally regained my life. I have had no long term effects, no weight gain, no side effects at all. For the right person, this works amazingly well. For others, it does not. But it IS worth a try!"

10 / 10
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102 Report

Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.