I am supposed to get an appointment soon to get a Depo shot. Back story-I’ve been on low dose birth control for years. I’m 51. I’ve been on to solve difficult cramps. It worked. My regular dr. told me to stop taking the pill because, though I was already on blood pressure medication, it went too high.
I stopped in mid September. Now I am spotting and my gynocologist told me she would give me the shot which would take care of the pain and flow problems without messing with my bp.
Who else has taken this? How do you like the results?
Depo was the first method of birth control I tried. I lasted two shots. I don’t imagine that the side effects are much different than starting any other method of hormonal birth control; however, if this combination of hormones turns out to give you crappy side effects, you’re stuck with 'em for three months.
I was a moody little bitch, and I got migraines. Also, I was one of the ones who, instead of having a real period or no period, had something like a month of moderate-to-heavy spotting. That being said, I can’t imagine that Depo would necessarily, 100% certainly be better for your BP. It’s still hormones. IANAD, though.
My gyno said its estrogen which messes with blood pressure and said this would be fine. I do know someone who has taken it awhile and shes fine, even though she drinks regularly.
I LOVED being on Depo, it worked out great for me. No periods, no symptoms, good health overall.
BUT… I gained something like 60lbs in 2 years. Without significant lifestyle change, apart from moving from Australia to the USA. And getting it off again is taking a long time too.
I’m back on the Pill now.
If I do, I plan to use it for just the 3 months only. I am in perimenopause so its a temporary solution.
Calling Diosa…
I gained about 30lbs on Depo in a very short amount of time. I worked my ass off to get it off afterwards. Link. Lots of other dopers have had trouble with it too. Some people have permanently had the weight stay on, despite crazy efforts to get it off.
I do not recommend it, but YMMV.
I hated it. I gained tons of weight and I never felt “right”.
It was an effective birth control for my wife and I. It killed her libido plus made her gain weight which further reduced her interest.
After she quit getting shots it also took almost a full year before her cycle came back regular.
I hated it. I bled - not spotted, *bled *- for months and months and months with my first two or three rounds of Depo. Weight gain, dead libido, mood swings…yeah, it was effective as birth control. Who the hell wants to have sex when she feels like a frigid fat bitch bleeding like a stuck pig? 
(Actually, I did still have some sex while on it. Once, the bathroom and shower looked like a remake from Psycho with the blood splatters everywhere. Ick.)