Depo Provera and Cramps: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Ken...
• October 23, 2016

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I had my first Depo shot in July 2016, and I have never had periods, which to me was great because I hate the cramps I get during periods. For the past 3 months, I have been having terrible mood swings. No sex drive, but the worst was the past week: painful cramps that I couldn't get out of bed. I don't recommend this to anyone."

• Ugh...
• October 12, 2016

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "Got my first and last Depo shot in September. I got the shot during my usual spotting that happens right before my period. After the shot, spotting stops, period is a no-show, and my PMS symptoms go away. Sounds great, right? Ten days after the shot, I start getting brown discharge that has gotten heavier and occasionally more pink with no end in sight (19 days and counting). This is accompanied by cramps, ache, and zero sex drive, but who'd want to have sex with all that nasty brown discharge? Now I know how the shot is so effective at preventing pregnancy."

• nec...
• January 28, 2014

For Birth Control "I am 4 weeks into the shot and feel horrible! My sex drive is gone, side pains, cramps, headaches, and so tired all the time. My mood swings make me feel like I am crazy! Oh, and now I have this metallic taste in my mouth. I just want to sleep all day because of the constant cramping. I feel horrible. My face is changing too! I am Black and my face looks so dry and discolored."

• Vic...
• May 5, 2015

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I first started the Depo shot about 2 years ago. I switched from the Mirena IUD because I bled constantly and sex was often very painful. Before the IUD, my periods were absolutely terrible with extreme cramping and back pain. For two years, I loved life with no periods, no spotting, and no pain. Then I missed a shot. I started again about a month ago, and today had very dark maroon/brown spotting? Not sure what that means."

• 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."

• Ano...
• September 7, 2016

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "If I could rate Depo in the negatives, I would. On my first round, I bled very little, but the cramping I experienced was so bad that I could not get out of bed. I would lay in bed at night sobbing because it hurt so bad. Near the end of the first shot, I began bleeding heavily and constantly. I went and received a second shot, hoping it would stop the bleeding, but it hasn't. I've now been bleeding for over a month, every single day. Some days it is light, others it is extremely heavy, but it is constant bleeding. I am also still having extreme cramps. I've also lost over 30 pounds. I would not recommend Depo to anyone. My life has been hell since receiving my first shot."

• Ado...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 1, 2020

For Birth Control "This shot has been horrible for me. I thought it would stop my periods or at least make them lighter. But I have been spotting that kinda looks like a period, but it’s not. Some days I don’t bleed, and it comes back all the time. I bleed almost every day, and I always have cramps, and I’m miserable. I’ve had this shot for seven months, and it should have stopped by now. Never getting this shot again. Biggest regret."

• Kor...
• May 25, 2016

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "Started Depo in Nov 2015. Wasn't too bad at first, but I did get the occasional spotting and bleeding. Which sucked because it always happened when I went to see my bf (long-distance relationship). Got my 2nd shot, and the doctor said after this the bleeding should stop. A day later, no bleeding. I was like, great. Went to Jamaica in April. 2nd day I'm there, I start getting these cramps, so I decide to go to the bathroom and check, and wtf do I see? Blood. Since April 19th, I have not stopped bleeding. It's now May 26th. It does say that if the bleeding persists for more than 14 straight days, to contact your doctor. Which I did. He said that this wasn't for me at all, and I'll be switching to the pill."

• Jan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 29, 2019

For Endometriosis "Please do NOT take Depo if you have anxiety. If you already have anxiety, Depo increases your anxiety to an unbelievable extent, and it becomes unbearable. My hair was falling out in big clumps. I had stomach issues for three months and lost a significant amount of weight. After meeting with a new gynecologist, my therapist, and dermatologist, we all figured out that it was because of Depo. It also did NOT help with my Endo. I had a 19-day heavy period, the worst cramps, and brown discharge for 49 days (not an exaggeration). Please be careful."

• Mou...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 10, 2021

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I can’t believe how many other reviews I am seeing about how many women loved Depo-Provera and how recently it has changed since then. I really loved it too years ago, how I never had a period, and now I also got it again and have been bleeding heavily for 12 days. I am also wondering what they have changed in it!? I spotted for a bit the first time I got it years ago, then it stopped for good after that! That is why I liked it so much. Now, just got it again and heavy bleeding, cramping, aches. What the heck happened????"

• Nik...
• March 23, 2016

For Birth Control "The depo shot went really well for me. The first time I got the shot, I did bleed for about a month, but for the next year and a half, I did not bleed at all. After that, I never really had any cramping or anything like that. The only bad thing is that you can only take it for up to 2 years, so now I have to find a new birth control."

• Cin...
• May 3, 2015

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I have been on the Depo shot for about two months. About 3.5 weeks ago, I started having a lot of pressure around my tailbone area, horrible cramps, way more emotional spotting, then BAM!!! Mother Nature hits with a vengeance, nonstop period. Yes, the Depo is awesome because I'm not getting pregnant, but not having sex is having the same effect."

• Cle...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 7, 2017

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "My experience is definitely not common, but after my first shot, I bled for 7 days (shortest and lightest period I've ever had), and I haven't had a period since. I tried this after a nightmarish experience of months of nonstop bleeding and cramping on the pill. My periods were usually ridiculously heavy and lasted for an average of 11 days (why I started birth control in the first place), and Depo has given me a normal/gone period for the first time ever. I love it."

• Kck...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 16, 2015

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I was on the shot for 2 years straight about 3 years ago. I absolutely loved it, and I would have recommended it to any of my girlfriends. I didn't have one period and no cramping for 2 years! Loved it! Not even 2 weeks after missing my last shot, I became pregnant. My daughter was born in 2013, and about 2 months ago, I started the shot again. Worst decision of my life! I have not stopped spotting! Every damn day for almost 2 months, and I'm starting to get really crampy, and I've had terrible migraines. I've been having mood swings, and I've never experienced anxiety so bad in my life. I would seriously consider looking into the side effects and reading up on the shot before you get it."

• Poc...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 12, 2019

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I really do find this drug meets my needs perfectly. I’m a gay woman in my mid-30s. I have no intention of having any children. I went on this drug to treat painful period pain, we tried lots of different things, and it was causing me to call in sick for three days a month. The first shot I had was okay, until four weeks later when I had heavy bleeding and passed a huge clot. Since then, my periods have stopped, with no spotting. I haven’t rung in sick for this reason since. I occasionally get dull cramps, and my breasts get tender for a couple of days a month, but nothing that I would consider out of the ordinary. I have been on the drug for three years. The only thing that irritates me is every time I see the nurse, she always asks me about unprotected sex, and I always have to come out of the closet again."

• Mis...
• August 22, 2015

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I got the shot on July 2nd. The day I got the shot, I had experienced sharp cramps in my stomach! Not even a week later, I started bleeding, not like my normal light bleeding. This lasted for over a month! I stopped the heavy bleeding on August 15th!!! And now, I am still bleeding, just not as bad. This is like a brown slime. It's nasty as heck! This is the first and last time I will ever get that shot! It's ruining my attitude, I am never hungry, and I am dropping weight like no other! Not to mention my sex life!! I am going in on September 4th to talk to my doctor about trying something else and to see how we can stop the bleeding once and for all!!"

• Kur...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 14, 2015

For Birth Control "So, I've been on Depo for two years now. And I'll say, it has been the worst! I've gained 12 lbs. I have constant headaches and backaches. I'm very moody. I spot one month after getting the shot up until I get the next shot, then it repeats. I have bad cramps and lots of hot flashes. I'm getting off the shot next month because this just isn't the BC for me."

• sar...
• June 23, 2018

For Endometriosis "I hate this shot, it ruined my life. I had very severe side effects that started the day after I got the shot and have not stopped. My old provider refused to admit that my pain was due to the shot. I have constant cramping, constant bleeding, migraines, my hair is falling out, my depression is worse than ever, increased anxiety, insomnia, muscle soreness, joint pain, and mood swings. I was told that this shot would stop my period, it did not, it just made my period last for 10 months, and it is still going. I will never get this shot again, and I do not recommend this shot for anyone."

• Rac...
• March 16, 2016

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "So I've been on the Depo shot for about 5 years now and have had hardly any problems. I still get period cramps, but no bleeding after the first year. The only issue I have with this medicine is that for about the first year, your period is all over the place and your sex drive is a little lacking, but otherwise it's pretty great. I recommend you get the shot every 11 weeks, though, because on the 12th week, you may start spotting and bleeding and having period symptoms-even if you had your period a week ago. So, I've had a pretty good experience with it."

• Kur...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2013

For Birth Control "I've only had my first shot. The first month was okay. I was always hungry, severe backaches and headaches, and a few hot flashes. I got my cycle a week or so late. I'm in my second month, and I've been having really bad cramps, constant bleeding, and diarrhea. No weight gain, at least not yet."

• Dis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 2, 2021

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "For the longest time, Depo was my go-to birth control. I loved that I didn't have to remember to take a pill and that I didn't have a period. My only side effect was when coming off of it. I'd get super moody, emotional, and downright irrational at times. I had stopped taking it because after my youngest was born, I had a tubal. I thought that I'd never have to use birth control again. But I was wrong, after my tubal, I started experiencing super heavy, long, and irregular periods. When I went to the doctor, I was told I could be on the PCOS spectrum. They didn't do any tests to confirm. Instead, they told me I had a few options: Depo, IUD, a pill, or an ablation. After some thought, I went with Depo. Past experiences told me I wouldn't have to deal with my super heavy, long, and painful periods anymore. Boy, was I wrong. 60 days and counting. I contacted the doctor's office and was told it was the Depo and it could last up to 6 months. There is no way I can have a period for 6 months, I'm anemic."

• Ang...
• September 26, 2009

For Endometriosis "I have taken Depo-Provera now for 4 years. It took care of the severe pain, cramping, and hot flashes. I have also not had a period since or even spotted. Although it has helped positively with these things, there are negative side effects. I gained and plateaued at a whopping 57 pounds. I gained the first 25 pounds in the first 3 months, keeping in mind that I had not changed eating habits or exercise, and now I have stretch marks from the rapid weight gain. All I can say is to try it yourself, this is just how it affected me."

• nis...
• October 15, 2013

For Birth Control "I have been on Depo-Provera for about 4 weeks. Started spotting a pink color. Then my period came a week late. I've been bleeding over a week as of now. Next shot isn't until next month. Cramps used to be severe, but now I barely feel them. Appetite has changed. Mood swings all the time and constantly feel nauseous."

• cie...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 25, 2018

For Birth Control "This drug is good for preventing pregnancy. But the side effects are terrible. I’m currently on my second shot, almost a month in. My first shot, I was moody as hell. I also had irregular spotting. I had even worse cramps than I had on my period before I got the shot. Pamprin and Midol didn’t even help. The second shot gives me IBS symptoms and depression. It’s like certain foods trigger diarrhea, gas, and bloating constantly. But before, I had no problem with this. I’m convinced it’s the hormones. Makes it difficult to get wet too. My sex drive is high as it’s always been, but I just can't get wet, and sex is painful. I’m not getting another shot. Can’t wait for the 13 weeks to be over!!"

• Nop...
• January 11, 2016

For Birth Control "I've been on the Depo shot for almost 8 years. The first two shots were the toughest to go through, but nothing compared to my regular period. I bled so badly before Depo I was wearing a pad and tampon, changing both every hour. Incapacitated by the painful cramps and back pain, mood swings. Between the 3rd shot and now, 7 1/2 years later, no period or mood swings. It's been amazing. The only time I spot is when I'm getting close to my due date for my next shot. So a friendly reminder."