Depo Provera for Birth Control User Reviews (Page 4)

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 6, 2014

"When I first got the shot, I skipped my first period and then had really light periods after that for a few months. Then my period started occurring more often. About 2 weeks of bleeding, then 1 week off, then bleed for 1 week, then 1 week off or less, then bleed for 2 weeks. Really weird! That occurred for a couple of months. Then I started bleeding nonstop for a while. It was really light, but who likes bleeding all the time? Finally, at about 1 year of sticking it out, I now am back to skipping the first period after getting the shot and sometimes skip the second or sometimes have light spotting. I do bleed a little heavier just before my next shot is due. Makes me think it's wearing off too soon. Had no other side effects though."

• Bri...
• January 6, 2014

"I have been on this birth control since I was 16, I am now 21. I was not sexually active till 17. I didn't really have any interest in sex until I was 19, referring to sex drive. Depo was the best decision I ever made the first 3 years, then my body started having random cramps from time to time. I could be walking and I would have to stop for 2 minutes. I wouldn't move. I would have discharge. I had 2-day periods for 2 years every 3 months right before my next shot. Now I'll spot for a couple of weeks. I started at 112, now I'm 121. I never had a problem with gaining weight. I'm still not pregnant. So I'll stay on this because the pros outweigh the cons."

• Bea...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 16, 2019

"I've been on Depo for 7 years because I couldn't remember to take pills regularly, it has worked, and I haven't had a period for like, 6 of those years. This is what scares me: that I won't be able to have a regular cycle coming off of it. I do want to conceive one day, and I'm worried that I won't be able to having been on it so long with no periods. I suffer from extreme anxiety and depression, but always have, and I don't believe that the Depo increased or decreased it. I have been with the same man for the past 9 years, so no protection nor 'pull out method' was ever used, and I have not ever gotten pregnant while being on Depo. It worked for me, but I am looking forward to coming off of it."

• Sar...
• May 7, 2015

"Honestly, everyone's bodies work differently, and I've heard horror stories about every type of birth control, but this one has been really excellent for me. I've been on the Depo shot for 5 years now (planning on switching soon). The shot does sting a bit, so be sure it's injected into your hip instead of your arm. The first month I spotted nonstop, but I haven't had a single period since. No pregnancy scares. Very gradual weight gain for me, 25 lbs over the past five years. Cleared up my acne, have plenty of libido. I give it 10/10."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 24, 2022

"The absolute worst thing I have EVER tried in my life. It has made my life a living hell for the past 6.5 months, and I still live in hell. I have gotten 2 shots of Depo and refused to go for the 3rd shot, which was due a little over 2 weeks ago. I have gained 20 lbs so far, and it’s gotten even worse since I stopped the shot 2 weeks ago. Depression, acne, and mood swings are horrible, but the worst of all was the constant heavy bleeding for 5 months EVERY SINGLE DAY! I became severely anemic that I could barely walk for 10 minutes due to extreme fatigue and exhaustion. No sex drive and no desire to do anything at all! Just sleeping half of the day and feeling tired without doing anything. This shot has been the worst nightmare for me. I wish I had done my research before getting it. I now regret it 200%."

• Tia...
• December 26, 2014

"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."

• Mel...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 16, 2019

"Read a lot of negative stuff about Depo after getting my first shot, made me paranoid as anything. For me, it's been perfectly fine so far, currently coming up to my third shot. No massive hormonal changes or mood swings, no weight gain, everything is working well."

• sil...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 25, 2012

"During the nine months I was on the shot, I had a constant period, sometimes heavy, sometimes light. I was tired all the time and began to have suicidal thoughts, which I've never had before. I had crazy mood swings and would start crying for no reason at all. I switched to NuvaRing, and all my symptoms have gone away. I know the shot works for many people, but clearly, it's not for me!"

• Sam...
• October 18, 2014

"I was on the Depo-Provera for 5 years. It worked amazing for me. I never got my period after the third shot and never got pregnant. What I didn't love was that I got all the bad side effects that came along with it. But don't think this is a bad birth control because I got every side effect that came with it, I was just unlucky, my body is different than other people's. My friend got no side effects on this birth control. Just note that this is a short-term birth control, though. I think I was on it for too many years. I'm on something different now. I would recommend this birth control."

• udk...
• April 3, 2013

"It was very effective, and I didn't experience any weight gain (I lost weight). My periods were short/light, and it was nice not having to remember to take the pill every day. I did experience more PMS (also known as random crying), tiredness, dizziness, and light bleeding between periods. I heard your body starts to adjust to these symptoms after a while, though, but I got too nervous about not getting my period every month, so I switched back to the pill. If you're on the fence, remember, every person is different, so why not give it a try? It's only for 3 months at a time. You can always switch back to normal birth control if you have any issues."

• gir...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 9, 2016

"I have been getting the shot since I was 16 (now 22). No weight gain, no increased appetite for me, but everyone's bodies are different. I wasn't fond of the shot the first 6 months, but all of my minor side effects disappeared and my body became used to it. Once I wanted to conceive, it took only 3 cycles to become pregnant. Now that I have my daughter, I will be going back on the shot and hoping I still have a good outcome with it."

• Lis...
• July 10, 2019

"The Depo shot has ruined my life! I took the shot one time in February 2019. I was in school but had to drop classes because the side effects were so horrible! I suffered extreme anxiety and depression to the point of really dark thoughts. Before the shot, I would cry for my boyfriend because I missed him, and since the shot, I have doubted if I love him and feel indifferent. I was also very close to my family and had a very deep, tender love for them, and I also feel indifferent with them. I had very violent thoughts, a little paranoia, and weird dreams. I became physically ill due to the anxiety and loss of appetite. I lost 7 pounds in 3 days. It caused nasty back acne. I did not get another shot when I was due in May 2019, and it's been two months since I was due for the next shot, and I am still struggling. I don’t feel like myself, I feel like a ghost, and I just exist. I believe I am still suffering from depression."

• Amb...
• January 28, 2014

"Being a newlywed, I was looking for a birth control I could trust. I originally was on the pill, but I have cyclical vomiting syndrome. I'll basically have cycles where I vomit uncontrollably, so during a 3-week cycle, I realized the pill would not be a good fit for me. So I switched to the shot. The second month I was on my period for a full 30 days, which I was told was normal. After that, I haven't had a period at all. I have had no side effects, no weight gain, and most importantly, no pregnancy scares."

• For...
• May 9, 2009

"After 2 years on Depo-Provera, I decided to stop because I was concerned about not having my periods. My period didn't come back to normal until after 7 months. During this time off Depo, I realized that suddenly my mood had improved and I wasn't sad all the time anymore. I switched to Alesse and now realize how bad Depo was for me. It made me moody all the time."

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

"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."

• Jay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 11, 2019

"I would never EVER recommend Depo-Provera as a birth control option to ANYONE!! I had my first shot around 3 weeks ago. I’ve had crippling headaches ever since. Constantly feel sick, mood swings, and the onset of depression is QUICK!! I honestly cannot wait for this shit to get out of my body! DO NOT EVER TRY THIS! Condoms are the safest as no hormones put into the body and will save you a lot of hassle!!!"

• Mmm...
• June 13, 2019

"I took the Depo shot right after the birth of my baby, and then I had really bad anxiety and depression. I had to get on medicine, but I would go to the ER thinking my body is ready to shut down, just thinking I'm about to die. They did every test they could just to tell me everything is fine. I can't even drive without me going into a panic. And I've been bleeding for 3 months straight with blood clots that come every time I use the bathroom. I would never in my life get this shot again, it is so scary and it makes me dizzy too. I can't wait to feel normal again."

• moo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 6, 2022

"It genuinely ruined my body. I no longer menstruate, I inadvertently gained 40 pounds. My mood has never been the same, with worsening mental health. I wish I never put this stuff into my body. Good chance that I'm infertile now, despite never having problems with my reproductive system-I used to have very regular periods and a healthy sex drive, now, reduced to nothing. Please, please do yourself a favor and stick to a pill."

• Amy...
• February 6, 2009

"I have used Depo-Provera since I was 16. It started to control my period as it was irregular and ended up years later as birth control. I have never had a period since my first injection, also never had any side effects. This is an awesome idea for someone who is irregular or just hates that time of the month. The only bad side to this medicine is I have lost a lot of bone density in the 8 years I have used it. My advice is to take lots of calcium while using this drug. Other than that, it's great, and I have recommended it to others in my years of using it and will continue to."

• Gir...
• September 1, 2013

"I have been on the Depo-Provera shot for a little over a year now, and I must say I love it! I did not have to pay a dime out of pocket since my insurance covered it, so it was free. Also, before starting this, I took the birth control pill Aviane, and I sometimes forgot to take it on time, so that's the reason why I chose to get on the Depo since you take it every 3 months. The Depo is very effective and is great at preventing pregnancy. I barely get periods anymore, and the unwanted hair on my body started going away. I noticed that my hair grew longer too, but I don't know if it was because of the Depo shot or not. Other than that, I will continue to use this form of birth control, and I highly recommend this to other women."

• Pol...
• June 1, 2014

"I am 17, 5'5" weighing 145 lbs. I started the Depo shot a little more than 3 months ago. The first time I received the shot, within 3 months I've lost 9 pounds. Normally I get nauseous from birth control, but the only con I've experienced was anxiety. I recently just got the second shot, and the amount of anxiety attacks is ridiculous. Lost my appetite for a week, lost a few pounds from that. Before I took the shot, I rarely had anxiety. Also, I spot once a month extremely lightly, rarely get cramps. No bad mood swings!"

• Col...
• November 4, 2019

"Despite reading some of the horrendous reviews and comments, I can honestly say this Depo-Provera injection was the best thing for me. I tried a few variations of the pill, which made my skin terrible. I suffer from acne, but my skin became a lot more oily and harder to manage while on the pill. I had the injection for 4 years, and my periods stopped almost immediately. I experienced no cramping, no spotting, I didn’t really notice any drastic change in my mood, neither did my partner. I worried a lot about conceiving, as I had read that it can take almost a year for things to return to normal, and my partner and I got married in September 2018 and had discussed a baby for many years prior to getting married. My final shot ran out in October (after our honeymoon), and on the 4th of January 2019, I found out I was 4 weeks pregnant with our first baby! She is now 7 weeks old. The injection was marvelous for me, and I am hoping to recommence the injection now that my body is settling back to normal."

• rik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 21, 2014

"I took this shot about 2 months ago and was excited for it. I had read many good things about it, and I am quite a forgetful person, so a shot once every three months was great. Little did I know, though, that it would not be great for me. I had my period for 17 days. It finally went away, but now I have my period again, hoping it won't last 17 days again... Just like a previous reviewer stated as well, I was super energetic and lively, and this shot has made me quite withdrawn and quiet. I really hate that. I also feel myself becoming a little more emotional over small matters that I would laugh at before. This wasn't the birth control for me."

• Spy...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 5, 2019

"Depo saved my life. My period cramps were so bad during my cycle I couldn't work, walk, eat, lay down, sit up, drink. I couldn't do anything. My GP or my OB couldn't figure out what was happening. They finally sent me for an ultrasound during my period, and it turned out when my uterine lining was shedding, it would tear away from my uterus. I've been on Depo for 4 years, and I never want to go back. It stopped my period completely, I still get occasional cramps, but it's worth it to not have my body ripped apart every month. Everybody's body reacts differently to the drug, some people told me horror stories about never stopping bleeding. But for me, it worked amazingly. Thanks for reading."

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

"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."