Depo Provera and Sexual Dysfunction: 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!"

• 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!"

• Man...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 21, 2020

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I got the 3-month Depo Provera injection. I experience irregular bleeding (having periods after every 2 weeks and spotting in between). This occurred for 3 months 'on the Depo Provera.' I did not go back for another shot because I switched to a copper IUD straight after the 3 months were over. I bled every single day (and not spotting) for nearly 3 months and 2 weeks. I guess it took nearly three months for the shot to wear off for the bleeding to stop completely. Worst nightmare. Was always tired, hair started to fall, experienced depression, low sex drive. I discouraged all my friends from taking this."

• Anonymous
• April 12, 2009

For Birth Control "I had nothing but negative effects from the Depo shot that are continuing even after the duration of action of the Depo. I am now experiencing terrible migraines (I rarely, if ever had even minor headaches). They have been occurring multiple times per day including nausea and diarrhea. I experienced these same symptoms for the first time after I received my first shot. I also experienced neck stiffness, severe mood swings, bouts of depression that seemed to arrive from nowhere, no sex drive whatsoever, and worst of all menstrual bleeding for an entire month straight which was only counteracted by a high dosage of birth control pills."

• Ang...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 7, 2020

For Birth Control "On 9/13/19, the nurse gave me the 1st Depo shot, but she didn't say anything about the side effects. I spotted until 1 week before Thanksgiving. Then I bled every other day. I gained a few pounds, had no sex drive, experienced vaginal dryness, and had some strong cramps. On 12/29/19, I went to the ER, and the doctor said Depo is making me bleed, and it should stop within a couple of months. After that day, I bled heavier every day, and I was getting tired of it. I went online to see reviews about this, and I discovered a remedy. I took two 1300 mg Evening Primrose oil capsules each day, and on the 5th day, my bleeding stopped. The FDA should never approve this shot. I hope one day the FDA will take this off the market. No lady should suffer like this after taking a medicine that should help them."

• Blo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 29, 2017

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I wish I could give this a ZERO star. They warned me that I could have some abnormal bleeding, but nobody warned me that I'd be bleeding enough to support the Red Cross. My blood count is low, which it never has been before. Not to mention the acne, the attitude, the sore breasts, and the emotional instability to go along with it. The REAL reason this works as birth control is because nobody on this medication is doing anything even remotely related to sex (oh yeah, I forgot to mention - no sex drive). Even if you had a sex drive, it's a bloody war zone! Nope! Hopefully, someone, anyone really, will read this and think, 'nope, I'll go a different route,' and I will have saved someone some MAJOR heartache and struggles."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• January 7, 2010

For Endometriosis "I was very unhappy on this drug. My pain was not reduced as it should have been. I spotted for the entire 6 months I was on it. I was extremely depressed, had no libido whatsoever, and gained 20 pounds. This did not work well for me for this condition at all. Unfortunately, once it is in your system, you are stuck with it. It took a full year for my body to readjust once I was off it and to stop spotting. It was also hard to lose that weight afterwards."

• ris...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 8, 2015

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "This shot has temporarily ruined my life. I am close to my 3-month mark of this shot, which means another dose. I am strongly considering not getting another. I am currently typing this at 4 AM because I woke up after bleeding through my pad. Not fun. I've been bleeding/spotting for over half of the 3 months. I am always bloated, tired, and emotional. Sex drive gone, not to mention the constant inserting and deserting of tampons dozens of times a day. The only thing I ever see is blood. I'm constantly tired, I don't have the drive to do anything. This shot has consumed my life."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• August 27, 2009

For Endometriosis "Depo has been great for relief of pain from endometriosis. I am on my 3rd shot. No more period, but I do spot the whole month before the next shot is due. I am hoping that will stop as my body gets used to it more. The shot is painless, the only side effect I have noticed is minor weight gain, and my sex drive has decreased a bit. I am okay with that, at least the pain is gone. I got scared reading what everyone had to say about this drug and almost didn't get it. I am glad I took the chance to see how 'I' reacted to it. Everyone is different. I am very satisfied with it."

• Bee...
• May 26, 2017

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "Omg! Do not get it if you haven't already. I got my first shot like 3 weeks ago and lost all sex drive and have been bleeding constantly. My partner and I used to sleep together every time we were together, and now I can't because of this blood. My hair is falling out too, my face is breaking out, I feel cranky and have no energy, I have no sex drive and the bleeding. This man-made drug is clearly no good for us women and should be taken off the shelf!!!"

• Ihe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 22, 2015

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I got the depo shot in the later part of September. October, I didn't have a period. Comes November 4th, I had a brown discharge, the second week it was my period, and now I am still spotting (19 days later). I see why you have a 'decreased sex drive', you can't have sex. I'm definitely not getting my second shot. Would I recommend this to anyone? Ummmm, NO!"

• Nat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 8, 2013

For Birth Control "My first shot of Depo-Provera was almost three months ago, and I am due for my second shot in less than two weeks. I will not get that second shot and must say Depo-Provera worked very badly for me. I've been bleeding straight for two months now, awful mood swings and depression, extensive hair loss, and no sex drive at all."

• Cyn...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 16, 2015

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "Hate it, never getting another shot. I've had two, and I'm not getting my next one. I'm continuously spotting, then bleeding, and when I have sex, there's no sex drive. Like I have to force myself to do it. I hate it, never again."

• liz...
• November 17, 2014

For Birth Control "Two years on Depo... I have been combating depression, fatigue, and vaginal dryness since my third shot, hoping that I could overcome them or being in denial that it was from the shot, but it's definitely a side effect of the birth control. Though the shot is convenient, with no periods and strong hair and nails, I totally feel like I've been through menopause and am an old lady with NO sex drive. Switching to the patch in December, wish me luck."

• LX3...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 17, 2017

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "When I got this, all the clinic told me was, 'We have the Depo shot, it's a shot you get every 3 to 4 months. You won't have a period, and it is 99% effective.' Of course, that sounded appealing. But this was one of my worst decisions. It's not like the pill where if you feel side effects, you can just stop taking it. I took this shot in Feb 2017, it is now May 2017. It is about time for my next shot, but there is NO way I am getting it. I have bled every single day since Feb. Not a lot, but enough to where I have to wear a pad every day. I've never had acne issues, but now it is constant, my sex drive has almost completely gone away, and your period won't go back to normal for up to 12 months after the last shot. I would not recommend this to anyone."

• Wha...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 19, 2017

For Birth Control "On Depo for 19 months, began taking it after my second child. Had no period. Major mood swings, constant exhaustion, and trouble sleeping. No sex drive - after some research, I discovered why. Depo is used as a chemical castration drug for sex offenders in multiple states. My doctor did not mention that I was drugging myself like a convicted sex offender, did yours?"

• Tan...
• November 14, 2015

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I absolutely hate the depo shot. A few years ago I was on depo but was receiving the doses completely wrong. My doctor was having me take the shot once a month. After a year and a half of bad luck trying to get pregnant, I finally did and had my daughter in June of this year. I received my first shot in August. The first few weeks I was fine and had no bleeding, then it all started with some spotting here and there. Some days I wouldn't have it, and then I would go back to spotting, and then full-on bleeding. I have been bleeding for the past 2 months and I can't stand it. I don't have my life anymore. No sex drive, moody, always hungry. I will never get depo again, and I don't recommend it to anyone."

• Kan...
• December 10, 2016

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "I had the shot on October 5th, 2016, and I can honestly say that I would never recommend this shot to anyone. I have bled every single day since I received it, and it is now December 10th. Talk about low sex drive when you're constantly bleeding 24/7. Not fun. Not to mention that it has made me feel weak every second of the day. I don't know if it's from bleeding so much or what. It's also caused stage 1 acne on my face. I've never had problems with any kind of acne until receiving this shot. I've gained about 5 pounds since October too. Needless to say, I will never be on this birth control again once it wears off. It has made me feel absolutely awful about myself."

• Jan...
• February 28, 2013

For Birth Control "The shot is great for forgetful people like myself. Also, if you have bad cramps and/or heavy, miserable periods. I've been on the shot for almost 3 years, and it has been a good run; no period, no weight gain. However, I have absolutely NO sex drive. I feel out of touch with my body and emotions."

• 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."

• 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."

• Nik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 10, 2017

For Abnormal Uterine Bleeding "This shot is ridiculous. Do not get it, you won't stop bleeding. I got my first and only one in October 2016. I never went back for another one because I couldn't stop bleeding. I gained weight, no sex drive at all, it's awful. Please don't get it. I can't even have sex because I can't stop bleeding, so why the heck did I get it in the first place? Again, it's ridiculous."