Depo Provera and Headaches: What Users Say

• Cha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 20, 2021

For Birth Control "Took this in October. Started bleeding at the 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 every day 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 losing weight slowly, sleeping better, and had been having sex occasionally, 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!!!!!"

• Sup...
• 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 every day. 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 gotten a UTI, but since I got it, I'm constantly getting painful recurring UTIs 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 than get this shot again!"

• Eri...
• March 22, 2013

For Birth Control "I've been on Depo Provera for about a month now, and I absolutely love it! I haven't had ANY bleeding, no cramps, no headaches or dizziness, no mood swings, no swollen or tender breasts, no weight gain, nothing! I still have a sex drive and I feel perfectly normal. Most people with good side effects don't think to share their experience, so remember that everyone's body is different and your experience might be like mine!"

• Pip...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 20, 2014

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "This shot has caused me so many issues. I got it only once. Before the shot, I had abnormally heavy periods that lasted 6 days, and to be honest, I'd rather go back to that. My body has had so many issues. The first month, things were fine. The only issues I had within the first month were headaches and nausea (the nausea got extremely severe at times, I actually had to grip onto my boyfriend just to get stable or lie on the floor). Then came the second month, excessive spotting. I also got major depression and hated everyone. I am currently on my third month of the shot, and I am still spotting heavily and sometimes bleeding. Due to the shot, I am now anemic and facing heading to the ER, but I can't because I do not have insurance."

• al4...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 30, 2014

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I've been on the shot since the beginning of May. I've been bleeding constantly for 7 months, with very frequent headaches. I almost thought I was anemic at one point due to the shot. However, it was very effective in preventing pregnancy, but definitely not worth all the other symptoms."

• Sta...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 11, 2019

For Birth Control "This has ruined my life. Took my Depo-Provera first shot on April 12th, 2019, and being on it, I have massive mood swings, memory loss, headaches. I used to have 2 jobs and now have no desire to work. I used to be a very, very driven woman, and now I don't even want to leave my house/bed. I would never recommend this to anyone. I have never been in such a dark place in my life and have constant thoughts of death. My sex drive is gone, and my relationship is in danger, and so are my jobs. This makes me feel bad, evil, horrible, nonstop. It's hard to smile, laugh, or have any joy at all. Please do not take this medication ever. It is just not worth it."

• M D...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 25, 2020

For Birth Control "Got the Depo shot in August 2019. Had underlying general anxiety that was manageable. Now it is full-blown anxiety that required me to be on anti-anxiety medication for a year, then pending review. Do NOT take Depo-Provera. That is only one of the major side effects it caused. Now also have more painful periods after it came back and just a general feeling of being unwell. And take note that I only took one dose that lasted 3 months. Horrible experience. The entire 3 months on it, I also had constant nausea and headaches."

• kmc...
• October 29, 2009

For Birth Control "I am 29 years old, and I have had 3 jabs of the depo in the last year and a bit. MY PROS: No period pain every month. No babies (three is enough for us). No worries about tampons, etc. My CONS: headaches a lot, mood swings - I am a little depressed and snappy at the kids. I don't want to get intimate with my poor husband at all, and my face is covered in acne (not really, but for me, YES). I have gained weight!! (5 kg). I was supposed to have my next jab in June this year, and I didn't go for it, and I still don't have my period 5 months later!!! I think for me personally, it is no good."

• jez...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 13, 2015

For Birth Control "I am 28 years old, I have been on the Depo shot for 3 months now to regulate my periods. My first 2 months, I didn't get my period at all, no side effects except a headache for the first week. Now into my 3rd month, and I have had my period for going on 3 weeks straight, and it's really stressing me out. I have been irritable these past weeks, major mood swings, and lost my sex drive. And no changes in my weight, but pretty sure I will not continue this method of birth control."

• nen...
• November 5, 2014

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I had a miscarriage in August 2014, and in September 2014, I got on the shot to help with my periods, but it's not working. I started my period on October 20th, 2014, and I'm still bleeding heavily as of November 5. I have headaches, and the cramps are crazy, I've never cramped or bled this much."

• Rac...
• August 7, 2015

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I found this site and comments of great interest. My daughter had a shot earlier this year and complained of continuous bleeding (not spotting), feeling bloated, nausea, headaches, cramps, and very depressed and emotional. She went to another doctor who has put her on antidepressants and pills to supposedly stop the bleeding, a week on, still bleeding. My daughter is 24 and has changed from a lovely, bubbly, happy person into an ill zombie who sits on the sofa all day, fatigued and in pain. I certainly intend to seek legal advice."

• fel...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 9, 2014

For Amenorrhea "My first birth control experience was a disaster; I was taking Tri-Sprintec. Tri-Sprintec made me gain 20 pounds, acne, increased my periods, and did the exact opposite of what it was supposed to do. After one year of searching the internet for an alternative option, I came across the Depo-Provera shot. I have been on it now for 9 months (so this is my third shot), and I have come across no weight gain/no periods, and I think I am one of the few women who has been so lucky. The only thing is, for the first month of EACH shot, you have bloating, some pain, a little headaches, etc. It goes away for me after that. Nothing I can't handle compared to the periods I was getting before. Everyone is different though, but I highly recommend this!"

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

For Birth Control "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."

• Dw8...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 23, 2015

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I've gotten the Depo shot 4 weeks ago, a week before my period was to start. I didn't get my period, then I got it a week later. For 2 1/2 weeks, I've been bleeding with clots and have a headache non-stop. I've gotten the Depo shot before and was on it for years and never had problems. I have no idea what is wrong this time, but I know that I'm not getting it again. I feel horrible. I'm moody and irritated, I just can't take it."

• Tia...
• December 26, 2014

For Birth Control "Depo as a birth control, I guess it worked, everything else just went wrong! I only had one shot and don't think I will ever go back. Within two weeks of getting the injection, I got really bad headaches, depressed, abdominal cramps, flash bleeding, vomiting, unstable gait, memory loss, my face broke out, lost a bunch of weight, optic nerve damage. I went into SVT, and the list goes on. My whole life turned upside down. So yes, it may work for some people with no side effects, but it has damaged my life."

• Wor...
• November 8, 2015

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "Depo stopped my period when I got my first shot. Almost a week later, I started spotting. I had been consistently spotting for about three weeks. Then I just started bleeding more. It wasn't bad, but it's progressively gotten heavier with large clots. Been over 8 days now. I've had headaches, acne, increased appetite, no sex drive, painful sex, fatigue, chills, abnormal bleeding. Worst decision I've ever made."

• Mrs...
• December 12, 2015

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "So I get on this shot to control my bleeding since I was going on vacation, and I didn't want to be on my period while on vacation. I was so crazy to get on this shot because my tubes are tied, but my period was out of control, so I got on the shot. Why did I do this to myself? I took my first shot on 9/11/15, started bleeding 10/14/15. I kept bleeding, so I called the doctor to ask her what to do. She said to take 4 ibuprofen pills 3 times a day, and it should slow it down... Nope, never stopped, so I decided to get another shot... What was I thinking doing that? To this day, 12/12/15, I'm STILL BLEEDING SINCE 10/14/15. My attitude is through the roof, my marriage is suffering, I'm depressed 'cause I've gained so much weight, I have constant headaches, etc."

• 49e...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 11, 2015

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I've only had 3 shots from Dec 2014 to my last one May 2015. After the first shot, my periods stopped completely, no pain, nothing. Also took care of my cyst problems. Used to get horribly large cysts that didn't erupt properly or in a timely manner. So that has been really nice, not having to go through that pain for weeks. Second shot, still going strong, no problems, just a little boob soreness at times. Third shot, here we go - weight gain, lots of hair loss, cramps with bad shooting pain, boob soreness/pain when bending over, brown spotting to heavy brown, which I have never in my life had (I'm 30) for weeks now. Headaches, mood swings - very emotional at times. Going to the doctor 7/22/15, I might just get off the shot. #Listen to your body."

• Anonymous
• July 30, 2009

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I have been bleeding for six months now! I was on the Depo for three years, then I went off of it. I am 35 lb heavier, and my eating habits and workouts never changed. I felt horrible all the time: headaches, back pain. As birth control, it sure works great."

• Cha...
• November 18, 2011

"I've been on Depo for a little over 6 months now. After my first shot, I had my period as regular, which worried me, but after that week, I've never had it again. I weigh about 115-120 pounds depending on how active I'm being. I have gone up a cup size in my breast, but I'm not complaining. My only concern is that in the future I might gain weight or I'll have weak bones. I'm planning on taking the shot for at least 7 or 8 more years, but I don't know what effects that will have on my body. So far though, it's a 10/10. No headaches, no more periods. I still want to have sex with my boyfriend more than ever, and I love the fact that I feel normal and like myself, and not moody and in pain. I love Depo, and I hope it works out for me in the long run."

• Moa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 18, 2019

For Birth Control "I have been on Depo for just under a year. I am due for my next injection on the 22nd of December, and I will definitely not be going back for it. It did what it was supposed to do, prevented me from becoming pregnant, but the side effects were horrendous. I have had headaches every day, I have pains in my arms and my legs, extremely tired, and spotting all the time. I hope I am not the only person experiencing these side effects. I do not recommend this form of contraception to anyone!"

• Sam...
• January 3, 2014

For Birth Control "I have been on DEPO PROVERA shot for about a year and a half. It works, of course. But I have recently decided to quit with the shots because of the horrible side effects. I have headaches every single day. I just want to sleep, and that's all I want to do. I'm a very active person, so that was easy to notice. Also, I get horrible shooting pains that are in my lower stomach and back."

• 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."

• jen...
• November 26, 2011

For Birth Control "I have been on this shot for almost 3 years now, starting out just to help with abdominal pain and now for use of birth control. I love that I have never had a period, let alone spotting, no cramps, nothing. Just recently, I have been having terrible headaches that make me nauseous. I have gained at least 15 lbs, which is very depressing, and sex drive... well, that's long gone (which seems very odd for a 20-year-old). Reading the reviews helped a lot, thank you!"

• Lim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 26, 2023

For Birth Control "I'm 17, and this is the first birth control I've been on. I had 150 mg of the Depo injection at my OBGYN office. I've only been on this injection for a few weeks, and side effects are already kicking in. The first day I even got it, I had abdominal pain, body aches, and piercing sensations around my body. My arms and legs have started to ache, I've had mood swings, a feeling of emptiness, increased feelings of depression, severe anxiety, and headaches. I was not told all of the side effects, and this injection was almost glorified by my doctor. She only told me I might retain water weight, lose hair (I haven't), and miss my periods. She never spoke of anything else I've been experiencing, as well as everyone else it seems. I don't recommend this injection, I'm planning on switching to a different method, like the Annovera ring, after research."