Ladies, how do you like the Depo shot?

[NickB79]

My girlfriend is considering getting the Depo shot for BC rather than condoms, but she's worried about the potential side-effects. In particular, she's worried about weight gain.

Just how common is weight gain when going on Depo, and how much does a woman commonly gain? My girlfriend isn't exactly a stick-figure, but not at all fat either, just a good healthy weight. Is it something that is fades over time, like water weight, or will she have to put work into getting rid of it? Thanks.

[Th1onein]

1. I worked with a woman who had that shot......

Poor thing, she said that she felt like she was losing her mind. I don't know why, but I think sometimes hormones can do that to you. I'd look into that as a side effect, first. She was absolutely miserable.

[murielm99]

2. I have a friend with long, black glossy hair.

The shots make her hair dull, and lots of it comes out when she washes it.

[flamingyouth]

3. I would seriously advise against it

I put on tons of weight, it made me very irritable. It's convenient but has tons of side effects. Have her PM or email me if she wants more info, but I'd really tell her not to do it, having taken it myself.

It took me years to get the weight off... and I still haven't gotten rid of it all - it's been 11 years.:eyes:

[CandyCrim21]

4. Well........

I was on the shot for a while and I had a lot of weight gain even though I was active. Tell her to follow her instincts but has she thought about the pill? I've heard really good things about Ortho-LO. Good luck to you guys!

[leftofthedial]

5. my wife went nuts

became a different, very nasty person

during the time she was on it. Don't know that's what caused it. Might just have been me. But the change was abrupt and drastic. Ruined a transcendant relationship.

[WindRavenX]

6. I would suggest Ortho-Cyclin (28); aka, pill form BC

The Depo shot has some pretty nasty side effects, as mentioned by several Duers. Personally, I am on OrthoCyclin, a pill. It is FANTASTIC. I did not gain weight, my cycle is now regular to a T, my skin is fantastic, and oh yeah, not preggers :)
I have not had any ill side effects.

[ChoralScholar]

7. Ortho really messed with my wife's head

and caused her to gain a lot of weight. It also threw off her cycle for about 4 years when she went off of it. (interrelated)

After we had our little boy she went to something called 'Marina' or maybe it's 'Merina'

It hasn't seemed to alter her mood any... yet.


Aaah.. the irony of birth control... if you take it, then you're too irritable to want sex, or too irritable for your partner to be around you.

[slutticus]

8. My Ex GF used something called "The NuvaRing"...

It used a slow steady release of hormones so it cut down on the side effects. She LOVED it. Like the patch, but you only need to insert it once a month. She hated the pill.