Depo Provera and Acne: What Users Say (Page 3)

• KMF...
• August 24, 2016

For Birth Control "I have only had my first dose-4 weeks in, and I already know I'm never getting it again. My mood swings have been terrible... I feel like crying for no reason, worse than any other birth control I've taken in the past. To top it all off, my skin is reacting terribly. I have a rash all over my legs, and it's starting to break out on my arms too! Luckily, it's not red, but it's still uncomfortable. I'm terrified of how the next 2 months are going to be... Broke down crying to my fiancé, begging him to help me get through this. Wouldn't recommend it to ANYONE."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 29, 2012

For Birth Control "I'm 22, and I've been on the Depo shot since I was about 16 or 17, so about 5 years now. I haven't had any side effects whatsoever. I don't spot too often, only when it's about time to get my shot again, which I think is pretty normal. My only concern is the osteoporosis. I am going to be going this next week to get a test done. It just worries me because I get all this negative feedback from people. I really don't want to be one of those. But I can say my sex drive is high, I don't gain weight, I don't get acne whatsoever, if anything, it has helped. So all in all, it's a pretty positive experience."

• Ksl...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 21, 2017

For Birth Control "I must be one of the few women the shot worked for. I’ve been on it about 4 years. No significant weight gain, no acne, and absolutely no periods or spotting. The reason I got on it to begin with was due to my terrible cramps, and now I have none. I love the shot, honestly."

• Ray...
• January 26, 2020

For Endometriosis "I was put on the Depo shot a year ago to help treat my extremely painful periods. It stopped my menstrual cycle, so for a year I've been able to avoid the terrible pain I was in every month. However, the side effects have been awful. My whole face is covered in painful acne, and I didn't have this problem before the shot. I've experienced terrible headaches, I've spotted the whole year I've been on it, and had other discharge as well. My anxiety is through the roof, and it has worsened my depression. My advice is to stay far away from the shot if you can avoid it. I can say it's been nice not having the terrible pain endometriosis was causing me every month, but the other side effects are almost just as bad. I just had my last shot and will never take it again."

• TMa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 23, 2019

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "BEWARE! This is the worst form of birth control! I got the shot thinking I absolutely would never remember to take the pill, but the next few months changed my mind. I bled nonstop for 4 months. I passed huge blood clots the size of tennis balls once a month. I never experienced acne, but after that shot, I developed huge cystic bumps on my face. Very, very deep and would leave horrible scars on my face. Lastly, I developed a beard. About 20 chin hairs on my face. 3 years later, I’ve gotten back to my regular face after tons of chemical peels and microneedling. The best form of birth control in my experience was the pills, the lowest amount of estrogen, and you can stop anytime if it doesn't suit you. DO NOT GET THE DEPO PROVERA SHOT!"

• MeC...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 17, 2021

For Birth Control "My hair has been falling out for months now, it's horrible. I'm lucky to have thick hair, so I can camouflage it, but it's just getting worse. So, after 2 years, I decided not to go back on the shot. That is just one side effect among the others: fatigue, brain fogginess, irritability, acne, unwanted hair growth on my chin and chest, sporadic spotting, constant bloating, and I gained 25 lbs after my last injection. I wouldn't recommend it, please stay away if you can."

• Anonymous
• March 20, 2014

For Birth Control "I've never had acne, and I cannot seem to get rid of it. I'm sure it's because of the Depo Provera, as it started shortly after my first injection. I am in my 30s and an active runner. My hips and knees seem to be much more sore after runs after I started the Depo. I also have osteoporosis in my family, and that is not helping my bone density situation. On the positive side, it's easy to take, stops my periods, and I lost weight on it. All that being said, this will be my last cycle, as the convenience is not worth brittle bones or a face full of acne."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 27, 2012

For Birth Control "I did one cycle of the Depo shot, and at first, I wasn't suffering any side effects. I felt fine, and really, it was so much easier than taking a pill every day. Naturally, on Ortho-Cyclen, I forgot all the time. So the shot was refreshing and just plain easy to be on in that aspect. After about a week and a half, I started to notice an increased appetite. I'm talking, I was hungry ALL THE TIME. Also, I experienced severe acne. I went from having a breakout maybe once a month to my face being covered in acne. I didn't experience any weight gain, but I was also doubling my workout time because of the appetite increase."

• loc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 14, 2015

For Birth Control "I didn't get pregnant, which is the only reason I'm rating this a 2. I have been bleeding for 56 days straight as of today. Since I got the shot, I have experienced severe fatigue, 1-3 hour long headaches, appetite issues, inability to get out of bed, and horrible cystic acne."

• Mua...
• June 18, 2015

For Birth Control "This was a huge mistake for me. Do not take it. I wish I read the reviews before I got it. I only got one shot, which lasted for 3 months, and only in three months I gained 10 pounds! My lifestyle didn't change, I was working out pretty much every day and eating healthy, still I got bigger than before. Everything got worse when I discontinued the shot. I got super sad and cried for no reason, my energy is 0 right now, I just want to be in bed all day. I am sleepy during the day. The acne seems to increase a lot, even in unusual areas like my scalp. My period is super messed up, I bled for two months. I don't want to have sex. I knew about the side effects before, but I didn't know that it gets worse even stopping the shot. This is too much to handle."

• Ken...
• April 10, 2017

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "To tell my experience to you girls would take a whole page. I do not recommend this birth control to anyone unless they research all the side effects. I had a miscarriage. Afterwards, my husband and I decided we didn't want any more children. We already have 3 kids and 2 miscarriages. Two weeks after my D&C, I asked my doctor for the Depo shot. Huge mistake, I didn't ask for the pill because I had gotten pregnant before on Sprintec. My experience has been horrible acne. I usually have very good skin. I have gained 7 pounds, and my hair is shedding like crazy. The worst part is I have been bleeding for 10 weeks. My doctor gave me a pill to stop the bleeding, but it hasn't helped. As soon as I think the spotting is done, I get a gush."

• Don...
• January 10, 2017

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "Save yourself the frustration and choose something other than the Depo shot! I've been on it since November, and I cannot wait to have this drug out of my system. I have been bleeding for three weeks straight, and it's not a regular period. It's thick and dark and just clumps of nastiness. My periods used to be light, 2-3 days long, and no cramps, so this is torture! I get random cramping, awful acne, gain weight, mood swings, and zero sex drive. Please, please do not get it!"

• Joe...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 15, 2017

For Birth Control "Let me start by saying I understand I absolutely hated this medicine. It made me gain tons of weight (60 lbs in the first 6 months), made hair grow darker on my body, caused acne, and lost every ounce of my sex drive (every single ounce). Basically, how this birth control works is by turning you into a grumpy, ugly troll (from my experience). The only good thing that came out of it was no period, and I didn't get pregnant. And speaking of periods, since I've been off this medication, I have an abnormal cycle. I will get a 2-3 warning period, then it will be gone for about a week, then the real thing will start and last another week. Didn't have that problem until after this medication, so I can only assume it is to be blamed."

• Kyl...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 11, 2016

For Birth Control "So after the initial wave of sickness, I went to school. I honestly thought I had picked up some kind of sickness! Then came the hormone disaster. I've felt like I've been PMSing x100 constantly. It NEVER stops. I'm an emotional wreck, I don't feel like I can function or make any rational decisions! I'm scared! It's going to be an insane challenge to deal with this for 2 more months. God help me! In addition, I've gained a little weight and had a huge increase in acne (again, like being on your period x100). But hey, at least I'm not pregnant... would never recommend or do this EVER again."

• No...
• December 27, 2016

For Birth Control "Hair loss, weight gain, deforming cystic acne, hot flashes! At 32, after 2 years on Depo, I was told by my gyn that my symptoms weren't Depo, but that I was 'in a new season of life.' I no longer trust that doctor, I will never take birth control again. I'm now 10 months past my last shot and just beginning to see signs that my hair is growing in, my acne is getting better even though permanent scarring has already taken place. This drug is the worst choice. Doctors don't tell you that you'll get osteoporosis, lose your hair, get acne, hot flashes, and gain weight. They tell you it's safe and they tell you to take calcium and vitamin D. It is not safe!"

• Sco...
• May 2, 2015

For Birth Control "I have been on the Depo shot since October 2014. After my first shot, I bled for 2 months straight. I consulted with my doctor, and she said it was normal. I got my second shot, and I bled for 6 weeks straight. Within the 2 shots, I started noticing acne, headaches all the time, and lots of anxiety, fatigue, dizziness, and I find myself being hungry all the time. I told myself that I would not get a 3rd shot. I have severe cramps, and I have not bled since the 6 weeks after I got my 2nd shot, so I was happy about not having a period. I decided to go ahead and get the 3rd shot. I have not had any bleeding, but the acne and headaches, anxiousness, dizziness, and fatigue are all still happening. I don't like what the shot is doing to my body, therefore, I"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 11, 2013

For Birth Control "I'm 23 and was on the shot for 6 months. Before, I was on the pill but didn't like the side effects and remembering to take it every day. The first month on the shot was great! Then slowly things went downhill and got bad. I was getting acne on my back, which I never got before and was really insecure about, and my periods were getting longer. I decided to get the second shot because I knew my body had to get used to the hormones. Then I got very intense cramps that would wake me up in the night and make me feel sick. My period would last 2 weeks! Before, I had a very light and short period and light cramps. These new changes are too much for me, so I didn't get the third shot. Going to try the patch."

• Ano...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 14, 2019

For Birth Control "I loved the shot. So simple and worry-free. Consistently on Depo for over 3 years. Gave me no problems at all. Periods stopped almost instantly and haven’t had one since. No cramping, no bleeding. I did gain weight but also who’s to say that isn’t my own fault. I’ve had acne most of my life and it didn’t really get better or worse. The only reason I can’t give this birth control a full rating is because I saw that the long-term effects of the shot lead to substantial bone resorption and weakness. So I will be changing my method of birth control."

• Ron...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 14, 2021

For Birth Control "Depo Provera was a big mistake. I was on the injections for over 5 years. Everything was perfect at first. I was 19 years old and didn't want to get pregnant. No periods, it was perfect. But 5 years later, I started to have headaches, breakouts, mood swings, and I gained weight, so I decided to come off it. The GP told me it would take my body about 6 months to get back to normal. I remember that 3 months after stopping the injection, I started my period, which lasted a month, and eventually I had to go to A&E because it was getting worse, and I was very weak. It will be 4 years since I stopped the injections this year, and my estrogen is constantly low since, to the point where my GP is worried that I may start menopause early. My periods are late. I am only 28 years old. I regret taking Depo Provera, and because of my experience, I tell everyone not to take it. The injections prevent pregnancies, and I never got pregnant while on this, it definitely works, but I now pay the price."

• Avo...
• August 1, 2016

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I got my Depo shot the 27th and started bleeding the 18th, and it's been 2 weeks and still hasn't stopped. It cleared up my acne, but the bleeding is beyond annoying. What's the point of being on birth control if you're bleeding and can't have sex? I would not recommend this. I'm going to the doctor's tomorrow to see what I can do about the bleeding, and then as soon as my third month is done, I'm switching to the pill."

• jlw...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 9, 2012

For Birth Control "I was on the shot for a year. I spotted for months at a time, which didn't seem like a good trade-off for no period. I also experienced mood swings that I couldn't seem to control. My acne got out of control, and I had breakouts in areas that I didn't normally have issues with. Then, to top it all off, I gained about 15 lbs while on this shot. To me, the pro (convenience of getting one shot every three months) didn't outweigh the cons."

• jlw...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 9, 2012

For Birth Control "I was on the shot for a year. I spotted for months at a time, which didn't seem like a good trade-off for no period. I also experienced mood swings that I couldn't seem to control. My acne got out of control, and I had breakouts in areas that I didn't normally have issues with. Then, to top it all off, I gained about 15 lbs while on this shot. To me, the pro (convenience of getting one shot every three months) didn't outweigh the cons."

• Exp...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 6, 2019

For Birth Control "I'm in my 40s, and I started Depo after my son was born 25 years ago. It was fairly new to Canada at the time, so there weren't any long-term studies. I remember there being some spotting initially for the first few months, but after that, I haven't had a period or any PMS since. There may have been a small amount of weight gain in the beginning, but with diet and exercise, it's been easy to negate that side effect. My mood and sex drive have been relatively stable over the years, and really have only had the odd breakout every so often (may or may not be related to Depo). Over the years, there became concern for bone density loss, so my doctor had me have a bone density scan a few years back. Thankful to say that there has not been any bone density loss due to the Depo shot. Now that I'm getting older, I just make sure that I take a calcium supplement. All in all, I'm satisfied!"

• Nic...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 11, 2019

For Birth Control "Horrible experience. Was on Depo for a year, last shot ran out in May 2018 and I am still suffering now, October 2019, from the hormonal imbalance that it has caused. Rapid heart beat, fatigue, head pressure, acne, allergies... the list goes on. Stay away if you are considering it."

• Jes...
• May 8, 2017

For Birth Control "I had my baby the end of January, took the shot in February. It made me break out so much, lost some hair, and I am angry all the time. Aside from that, I never really got the bad symptoms, I barely even bleed. It's now May, and I'm due for my second shot the last week of May, however, I started feeling very lightheaded and nauseous. I took a pregnancy test, turns out I am pregnant. I'm so upset because I just had my first daughter and am unsure if I want to continue this pregnancy. It might have been my body, but I wouldn't trust the shot."