?? about Depo-Provera

[BabyMuscles]

Is or has anyone been on Depo-Provera birth control? I've been on it since about April and was due for my next shot September 3-10th. I just remembered! I know, I know... how can I forget to get my birth control shot. I'm not currently having sex and with school and a new job, its not the first thing on my mind. I'm going to call the Dr. Monday morning, but until then, does anyone know if I should be able to just get my shot, or would I have to wait until I start my next period? That would suck considering that I don't have a period anymore. Any input is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[wilson6]

If I were a chick, Depo Prov is the last chemical contraceptive agent I'd consider.

W6

 

[Daisy_Girl]

I *am* a chick and it is the last contraceptive I would chose!

Sorry, BabyMuscles, I don't have an answer for you...I'd just ask your Doc on Monday.

Why chose Depo? (and don't say convenience, because you already forgot your 2nd shot! )

 

[BabyMuscles]

I've been on the pill several times, but it always caused me really bad breast tenderness all month except for a couple of days during my period. I tried about 4 different low dose pills to see if it would help, but no luck. With the shot I don't have this pain.

 

[MissChris]

I'm pretty sure you don't have to wait, but double check with your doc.

I had the same question about starting the pill several years back (since I am really irregular, I didn't know how long of a wait I'd be in for before I could start), and the doc said it's fine to just start taking it -- and that they usually ask women to wait for their period to ensure that they aren't pregnant, going on the assumption that if a woman is interested in the pill, she is more than likely sexually active, thus there's a chance of pregnancy always there. I, on the other hand, was put on it to induce/regulate my period, and wasn't sexually active -- sounds similar to your situation -- so she said go right ahead and start it anytime.

 

[KEL]

Get your shot ASAP you do not have to wait for your period to come.

If depo works for you - keep at it

 

[Nonerz]

I was on Depo in high school and it screwed up my hormones really bad for about 2 years. Daily spotting and lack of sex drive...but I suppose it worked--no sex, no pregnancy! I tried oral depo for a little while, attempting to get some sort of regular cycle back...but that didn't work. Finally I just stopped all hormone BC and after about a year, my periods came back to some semblence of regularity. This is just me, but I've heard other nightmare stories from others...do a search on the web--there is a lot out there.

 

[Ceebs]

KEL is right on the money, as usual.

I'm curious though why you'd want to use birth control if you were not sexually active at this time. Seems like an awful lot of hormonal wear and tear for no reward.

 

[BabyMuscles]

I guess you could say I am sexually active, but my man lives in Atlanta and I'm in West Virginia, so we only see each other ever few months. I got my last shot in June, went to Atlanta at the end of June/beginning of July and was due for my next shot this month. Since I'm not having sex on a regular basis, I forget about my shot sometimes.

 

[Ceebs]

I guess you could say I am sexually active, but my man lives in Atlanta and I'm in West Virginia, so we only see each other ever few months.

Gotcha. Good luck with the long-distance thing, I've never been able to hack it. Hope you have better luck.

 

[Smurfy]

I've been on the shot for 1.5 yrs and so far I love it! I was late for my shot by 4 days on one occasion (they gave me the wrong date), and they made me abstain from sex for 2 weeks (yah right) and come back to take a pregnancy test before they would administer another shot just to be sure i hadent become pregnant while i was unprotected for those 4 days. But, since youre not having sex, you might not have to worry about all that.

 

[BabyMuscles]

Update

Well it looks like no birth control shot for me. I called the health department and they said I have to wait until my next period starts, which could be forever.

 

[superqt4u2nv]

When I was on depo they had a service that would call you to remind you before your shot was due. I was on it for a year and I hated it. I got terrible headaches on almost weekly bases. I could not lose any weight at all what ever I did. Plus the worst part is I went from being a sex monster to almost a prude. My sex drive has never returned to its peak but I don't know if that has do to with age as well.

 

[superwife]

I am with dayna4u2nv... I am still recovering from the effects of the depo shot and i have been off for over 2 years... lack of drive, hair loss...I still have not returned to pre-shot levels... I would seriously find some other form of BC...

 

[BabyMuscles]

Sorry to hear about your experiences with Depo. I spoke to a friend yesterday who got off Depo 3 years ago and still doesn't have a period. I guess I am just lucky as far as the side effects go. I'll probably discuss other options with the Health Center at school. Not sure what to consider since the pill doesn't agree with me. Thanks for all your input.

 

[KEL]

Re: Update

Well it looks like no birth control shot for me. I called the health department and they said I have to wait until my next period starts, which could be forever.

Those people are full of crap! all you need to do is take a blood pregnancy test- then get your shot. You might have to wait 24 hours for test results.

 

[BabyMuscles]

The woman was kinda short with me at the county health department, so I just said forget it. I'm gonna get a copy of my last shot and pap and take it to my school health center and she said I could discuss my options with the Dr. I don't see the big problem either as long as they can give me a pregnancy... its just more work for them.

 

[BabyMuscles]

Back on Depo

Well I got my Depo shot today. I had my records transferred from the county health department to the school health center and she said all I had to do was take a pregnancy test and I could get my shot. I decided to continue with this method since I can't take the pill and haven't had any problems with it yet.