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

• Que...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 14, 2019

For Birth Control "The Depo-Provera birth control shot is the worst!!! I had taken it since last year, May 2018. When I got it the first time, I was okay, just myself. The second shot, the same, third shot, the same. But the fourth shot - it changed me. I don’t feel like myself, even my husband knew I wasn’t being myself. On Feb 2, when I got my fourth shot, the first two weeks I was fine till out of nowhere. I felt different, I was crying for no reason. I was super scared about what was going on because I never felt like this before. I was crying to my mom because I didn’t know what was happening, even my mom didn’t know. So I was talking to my sister and cousin about what was going on. I told them I felt so down, I don’t feel like me. They all said, 'Is it the birth control?' and if it is, after those three months, it would be over. I have been going to church, and I’m praying to God that I get back to my normal self again. Because all these side effects are not like me. I get it, every woman is different. A lot of people ask why I don’t try the pill or other things. Nope, no, I would never take Depo again."

• Mau...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 1, 2023

For Birth Control "This was honestly the worst experience I've ever had with birth control. For some background, I went on Depo in March of 2022 when I was 17. I am someone who is allergic to synthetic estrogen, and I only had three options for birth control: the pill, the Depo injection, or an arm implant. I was concerned I would be a careless teenager with the pill and forget to take it, but man do I wish I had. So, next, I tried the injection since, according to my doctor, it was less invasive. At the same appointment, they injected me with the Depo injection. I am a 5'9 competitive athlete pole vaulter who was always 140 pounds and super fit. Within less than two months, I gained 20 pounds and was diagnosed with bone thinning, muscle weakness, depression, and anxiety. I had NEVER had any issues regarding any of these things. I only ever took one injection, and it ruined the rest of my athletic season. I had to go on rest because of the intense fatigue that came with bone thinning. I still have complications more than a year later."

• Wor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 19, 2016

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I was on Depo for 3 months, was bleeding for 2 months, gained weight, no sex drive, weakness in my knees, depressed from all this... I was due for a second time in May. I'll choose anything else except this shot. The pharmaceutical company makes $$$$$, guess that's why they won't tell you the worst part of it. I suffered."

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 13, 2019

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I got the depo to help regulate my period. Worst mistake of my life, my period has been on all month! I got the shot in June 2019, had a month period in July 2019. My doctor said it was normal since I was in the beginning stages. I decided to give it another try and got the second shot in September, my period has been on the whole month of October 2019. This is awful, my hair is thinning, I’m depressed most of the time, and plus my sex drive is slacking up to the point my boyfriend will not even tolerate my moody behavior. Depo is awful, please, ladies, stay away from this birth control!!!"

• Kur...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 31, 2016

For Birth Control "I got my first injection of Depo Provera in March to help with pain from female-related problems. The first 2 weeks were okay, but I began to notice a lot of changes and abdominal pain, burning pain in my groin and legs, changes in bowel habits, mental changes, and I always felt uneasy and on edge. My hair began to fall out more, and I always felt really unwell. I have been to the ER a few times after the shot, and doctors can't really find anything wrong. Ever since the injection, I've had body aches, muscle spasms, broken out in hives, felt like my throat was closing, back pain, and I am tired all the time. I will not be getting the second injection or any others. I am in my mid-20s and feel awful and not like myself. Don't get the Depo shot!!!"

• Net...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 1, 2015

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "After I had my baby, my doctor suggested that I get on birth control. The depot is easier to take one every three months. So, I decided to go with that birth control method. I got the depot shot on September 6th, 2015. Come October, I get my period, it's an irregular period. I usually bleed for 3 to 4 days. Now I bleed heavier and longer. It's been 8 days and counting. I'm not due on December 6th for another shot. I'm definitely not continuing this depot shot. I've been depressed, very emotional, moody, and my attitude has changed since I've been on this shot. I constantly argue with my boyfriend. This shot has a lot of bad side effects, but I haven't been feeling like my normal self since I've been on this shot. I wouldn't recommend this shot to anyone. Please go with other options."

• Laa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 25, 2021

For Birth Control "What is the point of this depo injection? I wouldn't even inject my worst enemy with it. I took my first injection on June 9. I have no stop to bleeding at all. I sometimes feel like I will faint. I am soooo depressed. I left my partner as I found out he was married!"

• The...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 15, 2013

For Birth Control "I've been on Depo-Provera for about 6 weeks now. As for my period, it's been amazing. I haven't gotten my period once, and I've gotten spotting once, and it lasted around 2 seconds. Unfortunately, about once a week, I get excruciating migraines to the point where I can't see. Also, I am having such bad hair loss, I'm starting to get worried. I'm also finding some foods I love are making me nauseous, and I've become slightly claustrophobic. The worst of all, though, are my constant mood swings. I am constantly mad over nothing at my boyfriend. Almost every other day, I seem to get really mad out of nowhere. It's like I'm not myself. Depression isn't really an issue, but it comes with my mood swings. I also have no sex drive whatsoever."

• Tzh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 6, 2020

For Birth Control "I got the Depo shot again after being off birth control for 8 years. The doctor talked me into it, although I warned her I go crazy. By crazy, I mean extreme mood swings, severe depression, and suicidal thinking. I thought, okay, maybe now that I'm in my 30s, birth control would be different. I am the same person I was when I was a teenager. Depo and all hormonal birth control cause severe mental health issues for me, my mother put me on birth control as soon as I hit 15. Soon after, I was diagnosed and put on various psych drugs. It took many years to believe in myself and stop listening to doctors that hormones don't cause issues that severe. Well, they do. And I made the mistake of trying it again. I won't be getting my next shot this month. Do the rhythm method, ladies. Hormones are a disaster for your mental health and your body."

• idk...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 21, 2021

For Birth Control "I was on Depo Provera for 6 months. Prior to taking it, I was 130 pounds with a flat stomach and DDDs. I am a power lifter who exercises at least 3-4 times a week for about 2 1/2 hours. I am now 175 pounds with H cup breasts, covered in acne in places I’ve never had it before, exponentially more tired and depressed, constantly nauseous, the gastrointestinal issues I had prior were made 100 times worse, and now that I just passed the date I was supposed to get my 3rd injection, I’m on day 31 of my period. I was never warned about any of this except 'you may gain about 3 pounds in a year of taking this!' I’ve been on two other brands of birth control pills and never have I experienced this or anything similar. The Depo injection has ruined my body and my mental health. If I could negatively rate, I would."

• Kit...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 27, 2020

For Birth Control "I was on Depo-Provera for about nine months. I would bleed consistently for a month and a half... consistently. The other month and a half would go by fine. Sometimes the bleeding would start at the beginning month and a half, and sometimes it would start at the ending month and a half. This caused me to get so many bacterial infections (my doctor said the bleeding was throwing off my pH). I was cranky and depressed for no reason. Yes, it did prevent me from getting pregnant, but the side effects I could not deal with!"

• DJa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 16, 2021

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "Literally, the worst decision I could have made as a new mom was getting the Depo-Provera injection. Who invented this stuff? Because while “possible spotting” sounds like a minor symptom, if I were to tell a man that all he had to do to prevent pregnancy in his partner was to get a shot every three months and then intermittently, or, even worse, continuously, bleed out his butt for months on end, while feeling depressed and enduring headaches, I guarantee you he would not sign up for that. I cannot stress enough to NOT use this form of birth control. Save yourself the trouble and just stop having sex altogether because that’s what you’ll most likely do anyway once you’re on it and bleeding black sludge uncontrollably. I cannot speak more lowly of this BC. I’m sorry if you’re reading this after having already taken it like it did."

• Ano...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 23, 2019

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I have been on the Depo shot for about 8 months now. My doctor decided to put me on a form of BC to try and control my overactive hormones. I chose to go with the Depo shot as I knew it would help me gain weight (and I was underweight before the shot). I started gaining weight within the first 3 months of being on Depo. Which was a great thing for me at the time! On the downside, though, I did start to have night sweats and hot flashes along with a decreased sex drive and depression/anxiety."

• Vic...
• July 26, 2019

For Birth Control "I’ve been on the Depo-Provera for 7 months, and I haven’t stopped bleeding since. I’ve actually lost weight rather than gained any. I’m 20 and weigh 109 lbs when I got the shot. Now I’m 21, weighing 93 lbs. I know I’m eating, but my appetite just isn’t as normal as it was before. When I first got the Depo shot, I didn’t bleed for a good bit, it felt like I was backed up, and my tummy felt bloated, and I just felt sluggish. A month after I was supposed to get my period, BAM! I started bleeding and am still bleeding now. I’m experiencing heavy periods and horrible cramps. Besides the long, agonizing period pains and stains, I’ve also dealt with eerie mood swings and depression, I’d really feel so many emotions in one day. I stress so much over things that can be fixable, and I jump the gun a lot too. What I’m saying is I don’t feel like myself at all. The Depo-Provera can affect people in different ways, but for me, I probably won’t go back to get my 3rd shot, which is this August."

• A...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 7, 2019

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I got this shot in November 2018. It is now September 2019, and let me tell you... I suffered a whole year on this medication. I had very bad period cramps, and Depo caused no cramping at all! But on the other hand, I have been bleeding on Depo for a year straight, every single day. Everyone has different bodies, and I understand that, but Depo made my uterus lining too fragile, so I wasn’t able to work out or lift weights without heavy breakthrough bleeding. The doctors didn’t have much to say and just told me to switch to an IUD, which I refuse. I’m in a situation now where I can’t get off of it because of my period cramps, but I cannot stand this medication making me bleed every day. It started to hold me back from a lot of activities and made me depressed. Please, please, please don’t let the doctors tell you differently if you have any of these problems. We are all women who are trying to find solutions through birth control and don’t deserve backlash."

• sha...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 28, 2019

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I got this shot in March 2019. It is the worst mistake I ever made in life. It is now September going on October, and I am still bleeding. At first, it was every single day for about 3 months. I didn't get a second shot. I started to spot every now and then after 3 months, and then I stopped bleeding for a few weeks. Now I bleed for 2 weeks straight and get a few weeks break, and then 2 weeks again. Currently, approaching my second week of bleeding while typing this, and the bleeding is very heavy to the point where I am afraid to even sit down. Highly not recommended. No sex drive, cramps, moody, depressed, weight gain, and the list goes on."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 12, 2013

For Birth Control "I have been on the Depo shot for almost 10 months now, and it hasn't been too bad. The only problems I've had are severe mood swings, nausea, and headaches daily. I'm a sick person anyway, so I'm not sure if I've gotten other side effects, but I do know those are from the Depo. My periods are now pretty much gone. My second shot, I had a period for about 2 months, but it wasn't heavy. I plan on getting off of it, though, after this shot wears off because I have been reading a lot of bad things about the shot. Severe mood swings, depression, anxiety, hair loss, osteoporosis, infertility, etc. I eventually want to get pregnant, but you can lose all options if you continue the shot for an extended period of time, and I don't want that to happen."

• Lal...
• July 5, 2016

For Birth Control "I was on the Depo Provera shot for 2 years. Absolutely hated it. The two years that I was on it, I had rapid weight gain and gained 30 lbs in two years. My mood swings were awful and became much more depressed. Also caused my anxiety to become worse. Wouldn't recommend this birth control to anybody."

• SiW...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 9, 2014

For Birth Control "It was great at first. No periods and no hassle of taking a pill. However, I was so tired all the time that I would sleep 12 hours and want to go right back to sleep. It also made me very depressed and moody, almost manic at times. Not to mention, it made my breasts smaller."

• Yea...
• May 27, 2015

For Birth Control "I started the shot around Feb and went into the clinic not knowing what I wanted. I decided on the shot there and then, but then read more reviews after I got it that freaked me out - depression, loss of sex drive, anxiety, etc. I'm pretty moody as it is, so I was terrified of what I had put in my body. I did bleed and spot for about 3 weeks after, which I think is totally normal because that has happened to me in starting any new birth control (pill & patch). Then I started to realize that my body was taking really well to it. I never noticed any major mood swings aside from the emotional being I already am (know yourself!). Got the second shot & still going good! I'm sure there are long-term effects though that could be considered."

• Cat...
• May 4, 2017

For Birth Control "I am 18 years old, and I've been on this since I was 15, two months before my sixteenth birthday. I have done loads of research on this shot, and after taking it this long and reading everyone's complaints, I have reached a final conclusion that this shot has deteriorated my health tremendously. I have always had problems with feeling depressed, but ever since I got on this shot, I've been feeling so horribly suicidal and anxious, my mood has been affected so badly too. I am always stressed or not really sure about what or how I feel. I have really bad abdominal pain, and not to mention the worst headaches and dizziness of my life. I am constantly dizzy and fatigued, and I gained lots of weight. It prevents pregnancy, yes, but not worth it."

• Twa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 26, 2016

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I hate the shot. I've been on it for four years, and this year I stopped. I didn't take it at all. I've been bleeding nonstop since August 22, 2016. I went to the doctor, he gave me meds, but that's not helping. I wish it would stop. I have no sex life. I lost my weight, and the last guy I was with was so grossed out he didn't want to have sex with me anymore. The bleeding comes and goes, but it stays, just some days are flowing, some days it's spotting. I do feel depressed. When I think it stops, I would dress however I want, then I get stressed, and the blood comes down. It's embarrassing... story of my life."

• Alu...
• November 5, 2019

For Birth Control "I got a total of 3 Depo shots. So in a few weeks, I'm due for my 4th, and I decided to not take it. First of all, YES headaches, depression. I wouldn't say mood swings because I only was sad/upset/angry/tired, never wanted sex, always complaining about something. I was very unhappy for the past year and just NOW realized that the hormone shot was the reason. Did not help me gain weight like I wished (maybe a couple of lbs). Very bad abdominal pain, yes, period for the whole first month. I would not recommend it. Moms, stay away, this makes you a ZOMBIE!"

• Ste...
• December 19, 2012

For Birth Control "I've been on the Depo shot for over three years now. I was so happy to get rid of my period. I've had none of the side effects that people have mentioned, such as depression, migraines, or loss of libido, actually, I think it increased mine. Haha. But the only thing that I've noticed was the weight gain, and it was only maybe 5 lbs a year, so it wasn't that noticeable. The only thing that I've noticed is that as you are ending the year and getting your first shot for the new year, you tend to bleed irregularly for a week to two weeks. But I've had nothing but positive things from this shot."

• MiM...
• September 18, 2019

For Birth Control "I'm sharing this with everyone who is considering the Depo-Provera shot. I have been bleeding constantly for 8 months straight, and every shot I've taken my doctor told me, 'Oh, just wait for the next shot,' over and over. The spotting eventually became a heavier flow of bleeding and big amounts of blood clots. The cramps are so bad that I couldn't walk, it feels like all the area below my belly button was slowly ripping apart. It has changed me emotionally too. It increased my anxiety and depression and just really dark thoughts. It has changed my personality drastically. It also caused me to pass out twice. The cramps' symptoms are usually sweating, shaking, and a lot of pain. It has caused emotional and physical pain and risks to life. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THE DEPO SHOT. One of my friends also took the depo shot and now she can't get pregnant anymore, ever. So please do yourself a favor and try different birth control methods and not risk using this one."