Posts: 44
From: USA
Registered: Feb 2004

posted March 28, 2004 10:01 AM         

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I started taking the Depo-Provera birth control shot in Dec. and just took my second a couple of weeks ago. After the first one I started spotting a little and now after this second one I am having some BIG time bleeding and just feel like $#!t! Also have no energy, weight loss, memory loss, my thick head of hair is falling out, and getting some facial hair! Just wondering if anyone else has taken it and had any of the same symptoms I am experiencing.
Thanks much,
Kim

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Posts: 41
From: M, OR, USA
Registered: Mar 2004

posted March 28, 2004 01:37 PM         

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I just recently quit the depo....it adds hormones to your body and will take some time for you to get used to it. I stopped bleeding completly, had weight gain, and became very moody....I would suggest finding some other form of birth control = /

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Posts: 1046
From: maryland
Registered: Apr 2003

posted March 28, 2004 02:46 PM         

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* Sorry about this edit. See my proceeding post.*

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Posts: 1046
From: maryland
Registered: Apr 2003

posted March 28, 2004 03:01 PM         

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Are you taking the shot for birth control or abnormal uterine bleeding? Cause if you are taking it for the bleeding then what you are experience is called breakthrough bleeding. The facial hair is a side effect and so is the hair loss. And your lack of energy is probably due to anemia because of the heavy bleeding. I was on Depo for about three months. I had weight gain and a cessation of my period except for very occaisional light spotting. I also had severe vaginal dryness for a little while and nipple tenderness. If you are using it for birth control I think that I have heard of heavier periods being a rare side-effect for that. However when you say that you are having "big time bleeding" is the bleeding your period (coming at the time of your period)? If not, that heavy bleeding may be hemorraging and you must see your doctor. Even if the bleeding does turn out to be your period you should see your doctor for a consultation/check-up.

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Posts: 91
From: Oz
Registered: Oct 2003

posted March 28, 2004 06:49 PM         

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Does long term use of depo cause infertility?? My friend was saying they use it on her disabled sister because they are wanting to make her infertile.

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- Nothing can bring you peace but yourself - Emmerson

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Posts: 44
From: USA
Registered: Feb 2004

posted March 29, 2004 07:15 AM         

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The bleeding has been constant for over two weeks now and it is really heavy most of the time. My regular period is not expected for another week and the next shot is due in June, so I still have a while before this is one is out of my system. I just hope my body will return to normal soon after, and I do not plan on taking another one of these poisonous shots. EVER! It's just not for me.
Thanks,
Kim

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Posts: 1199
From: sleepy Rocky Mountain village
Registered: Dec 2002

posted March 29, 2004 12:24 PM         

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Kim,
Have you ever heard of Natural Family Planning?
If you are in a monogamous relationship with healthy open lines of communication and are willing to be periodically abstainant for certain times of the month then it might be a good birth control option for you.

It is not the rhythm method.
Natural Family Planning involves observing mucus and cervical changes and possibly basal body temperature changes to determine when you are fertile.

I would recommend going to the library and looking up "Natural Family Planning" and also googleing that, it brings up lots of sites.
Here's one to start- http://www.bygpub.com/natural/natural-family-planning.htm

I don't know the best website for it cause I learned from library books. It takes discipline but if done correctly it's 99% effective and doesn't involve any weird hormones being injected into one's body.

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Posts: 1046
From: maryland
Registered: Apr 2003

posted March 29, 2004 06:28 PM         

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OKANGEL if the bleeding is not your period which it does not seem to be you should really see your doctor. The manipulation of hormones with an effect like the ones you are describing should really be followed up immediately especially with that bleeding. Just to make sure. When I went off of the shot I was back in business in about one or two months. I don't think that it should be too long before you are back to normal - the body is very resilient and begins repair immediately.

majenta I never heard that it causes infertility. I actually think that I have heard that after getting off of the shot, women sometimes have "problems" conceiving for six months to a year. I think that is what I heard.

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Loneliness makes you strong, only love makes you free - Michael Franks

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Posts: 44
From: USA
Registered: Feb 2004

posted April 06, 2004 10:13 AM         

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Don't know if my body just needed time to adjust to the shot, or if it was prayer, but I am feeling much, much better. Me and Gemini Cowboy are having GREAT sex again! I'm soooooooo in love! Thanks bunches.
Kim

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Posts: 341
From: Alturas, California USA
Registered: Jun 2003

posted April 07, 2004 08:06 PM         

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My friend's on that. It just took her some time to get used to it. I think she said she gained 20 lbs and stopped getting her period altogether.

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Posts: 1046
From: maryland
Registered: Apr 2003

posted April 14, 2004 03:21 PM         

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Oh good!!

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Loneliness makes you strong, only love makes you free - Michael Franks

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Posts: 1868
From: ontario, canada
Registered: Aug 2003

posted April 20, 2004 08:22 PM         

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I started depo last November ( for birh control) I was so excited to just have spontaneous sex and no worries about makking babies.. possibly no period for months, and barely any responsibility,(one shot every three mnonths as opposed to a pill a day) and didn't like the way pills interfered with my libido.
Let's just say the excitement wore off the second week into it, when what I thought was 'normal breakthrough bleeding and spotting' turned into two and a half months of constant bleeding. I was miserable.
Yes. It is birth control because I couldn't have sex while on it.*grumble grumble* Well, I could, but man, not every 'kind' of sex( .), and ick! I got tired of the sight of red, let me tell you!!!
I also gained ten pounds. But I don't know if it was due to 'winter storage' or depo. ( I went to the gym today for my weigh and measure, good news~ Haven't gained any... bad news... haven't lost much either... but the woman said incredulously.. YOU had babies? I never would've guessed!!*BEAMS*)
No more for me. I am now going to look into IUD, simply because of it's non- hormonal capabilities, and long term effectiveness. I am scared of the implantation procedure, the last time I had an appointment set up, I got cold sweats and shakes, so I had to cancel. I mean, this is from someone who knows her body really well, and has had two babies already.... and I am afraid. I wonder why.

Point being.. ICK!!! NO DEPO-PROVERA FOR ME!!!!!

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Posts: 1199
From: sleepy Rocky Mountain village
Registered: Dec 2002

posted April 21, 2004 07:37 PM         

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i don't blame you for being freaked out about the IUD, pixel. The idea of having a foreign body just sitting in my uterus all the time freaks me out too.

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Posts: 388
From: outer space
Registered: Aug 2003

posted April 22, 2004 09:22 PM         

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Okangel, I went on the pill for a few months and developed HORRIBLE chest pains which turned out to be a blood clot (was a long ordeal in the hospital, I am still on blood thinners just to make sure I don't get any more). I am young, (22 years old), active, and don't smoke, so this is a rarity, but any form of hormonal birth control can cause weird things to happen in certain people. Some women can take them with no problems, and some women have a lot of problems. I obviously can't take the pill anymore, but my older sister had the depo shot and she had lots of problems with it too, so it might just be that the women in my family should stick with condoms good luck to you.

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