I’m 35 years old and ready to use prescription birth control for the first time, and last month my doctor and I decided that I will try depo-subQ (a lower-dose version of Depo-Provera, administered subcutaneoulsy; regular Depo is administered intramuscularly). I’ve been putting off starting this thread because I haven’t really wanted to hear any horror stories, but I’m getting the first shot on Monday and now I’m too curious to not ask for thoughts/stories – even bad ones. :eek:
So, is anyone using either this or regular Depo? What has your experience been like? How bad was the irregular spotting/bleeding that they say might happen for up to a year? Were there any significant mood swings or changes in libido? Did the first shot bring any side effects that you weren’t prepared for? Has anyone had to stop using it? Has anyone switched from regular Depo to the subQ version, or vice-versa?
I’m also interested in hearing from anyone whose partner has used/does use either subQ or regular Depo.
I’m not expecting to have any adverse reactions (or I wouldn’t be trying it), but like I said this will be my first time with prescription birth control and I’m just wondering what other women who’ve used it have experienced.
Well, I take the regular depo, and its my favorite kind of birth control so far (better than the pill or condoms) I love the 3 month convenience! I only had spotting during the first two period times of my natural cycle, and I’ve been on it a year. However, I did gain 15 pounds, and I get the PMS-style crazies on the day of and after I get the shot. So, totals pro: effective, no bleeding, only 4x yearly crazies, con: weight gain, more severe crazies. I’m happy.
Also, if you ever get the regular style depo, being shot in the hip hurts less that being shot in the arm.
You can safely assume that my doctor knows the answer to that question.
Thanks for your reply!
Yes, the weight gain thing is something I’m definitely going to need to watch out for. I’m overweight as it is, so this particular side effect might just be the incentive I need to get more exercise.
Thanks for the heads up about possible PMS stuff the day of/after the shot! My PMS is pretty mild right now, so I’m hoping that I don’t get too scary. My boyfriend and I don’t live together, so most of the time I’ll only have to deal with co-workers the day of/after. They probably deserve some PMS, anyway. A concern about mood swings and libido changes is the main reason I chose to start with the lower-dose version.
I was on the regular Depo for about 5 years and consider it a gift from the gods. I had one regular cycle after the first shot; then no more. I had really bad PMS before I started it - no PMS. I would still be on it if I had my choice, but my doctor didn’t want me on it anymore because of my age.
If you go to the regular Depo, I second the comment about getting it in the hip, not the arm. I got it in the arm once and couldn’t raise my arm above my head for 3 days.
If it’s not too personal and you don’t mind, would you please elaborate on this? Was it connected to the bone density loss issues that Depo is known for?
Yes, that was exactly it. I am 46 and starting menopause and he didn’t want to take the risk. I would have happily taken the risk, because the cramps and PMS are even worse they they were before!
I guess I’m in a good age zone: not so young that my bone density is still forming, but still 10 years (or so) away from menopause. When I mentioned the bone density loss thing to the doctor she didn’t seem concerned. Maybe it’s something that will get revisited once I’ve been on it for a couple of years.
I got my first shot a little more than an hour ago. No scary side effects so far. A little light-headedness, but the package contained a warning about dizziness and I’m wondering how I’d feel if I hadn’t seen that. Also a little tenderness where I got the shot (which hurt more than I expected :(), but I know that’s normal and will go away.
One other specific question I meant to ask: has Depo affected anyone’s acne, either for better or for worse?
I was on regular Depo for about a year - I stopped using it b/c it made me incredibly moody. Otherwise, it was great. To answer your acne question, it definitely helped mine.
I had some spotting off & on for the first few weeks, and then again when it got close to my second dose. After that, I don’t recall having any at all, and I stopped getting regular periods. The shot itself hurt more than most shots, and I was sore the next day. I recall it being similar to a tetnus shot.
I did not gain weight while I was on it. About the time I started using it, I also joined a gym, so I was exercising regularly. I didn’t change my eating habits, but I lost some weight through exercise. The Depo didn’t seem to affect my losses, though I wasn’t really keeping track.
I hadn’t heard of depo Sub-Q before this thread, so I may have to look into that since I’m thinking of changing my bc pills anyway.
Warning: Don’t read this if you weren’t serious about wanting to hear the bad stories
I was on (regular) Depo for one month. My doctor gave me one shot, then was going to have me come back a month later for another, then start on the three month cycle. He said this would minimize side effects because there wouldn’t be time for the level to drop before my next injection. Sounded good.
First, I got my shot in the arm. Don’t do that. For days I couldn’t figure out what I had done to my arm to make it sore - never occurred to me that little shot could be so painful! My doctor had not discussed the side effects with me, and when I read up on them online later they scared the hell right out of me. (Yes, I was stupid for not bringing them up myself. I learned my lesson.) I have a history of depression and so in my readings online discovered I really shouldn’t be on Depo in the first place. I was put on Depo when I was already depressed, (after a miscarrage - doc said Depo sounded like a “perfect” idea for me) and soon afterwards I I literally could not care about anything. I wanted to jump off a bridge.
At my one month checkup my doctor asked when Fearless Husband and I wanted to start having kids. I said not for a few years, and my doc said I should probably go off Depo anyway so I can be able to concieve when we’re ready. Gee thanks doc, you were going to wait until we wanted to have a kid in one year and then I wouldn’t be able to for five? :rolleyes: I refused to take my next shot - never again.
So, wow, I didn’t mean to get so mini-ranty in your thread! I hope the Depo works great for you. From what I’ve heard my experiences are in the minority, a lot of people love it. Good luck!
Thanks for the continued responses! For everyone warning me about the shots in the arm, I will definitely keep that in mind if I ever wind up switching to the regular Depo. The subQ is given in either the abdomen or thigh: I went with the thigh, and there’s still some soreness and a little bruise. The nurse lost his grip on the syringe right after the initial stick, though, so I wonder if that might be contributing to the bruising. For the next shot I’ll try my abdomen, and will see if there is any less/more pain.
Yay! The literature mentions acne as a possible side effect, but I break out every month and I’m nursing a tiny bit of hope that the Depo will help that.
Yeah, when I mentioned it to my doctor she looked it up to make sure it was FDA approved and available in the US. So I get the impression that it’s kind of new. I found out about it when I went to the regular Depo site and there was a subQ pop-up.
No worries! And I was serious about wanting to hear bad stories. Though, frankly, I think that the problems you had can be chalked up to the facts that a) you weren’t informed, and b) your doctor was a moron.
I did a bunch of research before mentioning Depo to my doctor, and she seemed to ask all of the right questions. I don’t ever want children (and, at 35, people are finally starting to believe me), I don’t have any of the risk factors that would contraindicate use, etc. There’s no turning back for the next three months, so I guess I’ll just wait and see what they bring.
I was on regular Depo from age 18 through 21. It was my first hormonal BC. The spotting wasn’t so bad at first but got progressively more frequent; by the 2-year mark I was wearing a pad every day.
My libido went away completely. I wasn’t anorgasmic, just not interested.
I was very dry vaginally from day one of the shot - even when I was horny.
I didn’t really gain weight, but for about a week the shot I would always be very hungry, with weird food cravings.
About the third year I started getting horrible cramps when I did have an orgasm.
I never had mood swings but I did get deeper and deeper into depression the longer I was on it. After I stopped taking the shots it took about a year for my cycles and moods to get back to normal.
I was on Allesse (a low-dose birth control pill) for two years after that and now I’ve got the Mirena IUD. I love it love it love it.
I felt confident getting Mirena because it has the same progesterone as Allesse, which I had no reaction to.
Once you get Depo it will stay in your system for 12-18 months, so you can expect any side effects to last that long. My advice would be to look for a BC pill that has the same progesterone as Depo-provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) and try that for a month or two.
Thanks for sharing your experiences on Depo – how horrible for you! However, it’s too late for me to try something else: I got the first shot 2 days ago. So far I haven’t experienced any of the immediate side effects that you mentioned. Here’s hoping that depo-subQ being a lower dose of the hormone (104mg vs regular Depo’s 150mg) will make a difference!
A concern about mood swings and libido changes is the main reason I chose to start with the lower-dose version.