Considering going on Depo as I am on a medication that I should not get pregnant on.
Has anyone had experience with this?
Was conceiving afterwards ok?
Depo has a bad wrap… I wouldn’t use it. It has nasty side effects, and a long recovery time once you cease using it. I know women that have used it and it has taken them months to have a break-through bleed, let alone a proper cycle.
I will always suggest non-synthetic / hormonal modes of birth control first, such as sympto-thermal methods. Any birth control containing hormones will damage your body over time - implants and shots seem to be the worst for this.
[name_m]Don[/name_m]'t know anyone who’s had a good experience on the shot. Absolutely terrible side effects.
I’m on depo right now for my endometriosis, the pill no longer was working with me. If the pill did work for me I’d still be taking it. I’ve gained 17 pounds since starting taking it 2 months ago and I sleep all the time. Can’t get through the day without an hour nap at least. I’m not sure about long term effects, I’m kind of scared to know as I really want bio kids. Sorry, this may not have been helpful! I’d personally pick the pill over this.
I was on deppo for 5 years and never had any problems.
I don’t know if it affected my ability to conceive, since I was off of it for about 6 years before I even tried
I may consider staying on the pill.
Awwwh my heart is with you honey!
My twin cousins (both girls) have Endo and PCOS. And they went through IVF in the long term.
My nutritionist is getting me on the Mediterranean Diet as it helps with fertility and cell health as well as taking [name_f]Rosita[/name_f] Cod Liver Oils, a special Bs vitamin and [name_m]Wild[/name_m] C. I am worried about my fertility due to having 2 M/Cs and I have had a lot of unprotected in 3 years with my partner yet only one pregnancy which ended in M/C.
I think I am oversharing so will stop myself - I am in a Bipolar Mania rn and I tend to want to talk A LOT and spill 
[name_m]Will[/name_m] have to google what non-synthetic / hormonal modes of birth control are as I am not sure D: I am a total Birth Control know-nothing … is that a word XD
I never had birth control until needing Lithium (Mood Stabiliser)… wait, I have taken [name_f]Estelle[/name_f] once but I threw up each dose over a week, came off it and had a period for a month and a half when I was 22-ish.
God I am bad and timelining my life XD
Of the non-hormonal options, I would recommend a sympto-thermal method such as the Fertility Awareness Method. Any method that does not combine all your fertility signs will be inaccurate (and ignore any method that involves calendar predictions - they’re rubbish). If your interested in learning about these methods, I highly recommend books such as “Taking Charge of Your Fertility”, and “The Period Repair Manual”.
[name_m]Even[/name_m] if you do want to use a hormone based birth control, these books will help you understand what the birth control is doing to your body and how to heal it for conception later.
I will look those books up!
Thank you very much
Finally got these two books!! And Wow. So informative and eye opening.
I was on Depo for around a year until last [name_u]August[/name_u]. Things were really good for me on it until suddenly, early last [name_u]August[/name_u] I got my period after not having it for a couple months (normal for the shot, according to my Dr.), and my period persisted to last for almost 7 weeks. I had low iron levels, felt like I was going to be sick, and missed the equivalent to a week of work because of it. Apparently, this was a side effect of the shot that I hadn’t been told about, and it was honestly terrifying.
Also, immediately upon coming off of it, I found that I’d gained upwards of 40lbs, I was 195 when I began the shot, then was 212lbs when I came off and in the months following coming off, I’ve continued to gain weight, according to my Dr, also attributed to it.
However, my [name_m]SIL[/name_m] was on Depo for ten years, and was completely fine.
Everyone’s totally different, but due to my own experience, I wouldn’t recommend it.
[name_m]How[/name_m] do you feel about the coil (either copper or hormonal)?
I know they’re not popular forms of BC in the US but they are over here, and are generally extremely safe and effective. They will protect with over 99% efficacy against pregnancy for anything from 3-10 years (depending on type), but can be removed whenever and fertility returns immediately.
[name_m]Just[/name_m] another option to consider.
Took the words out of my mouth, katinka! I was literally about to suggest the copper IUD as it has no hormones and remains effective up to 10 years (but can be removed at any time).
wow D:
In my books I got they say hormonal birth control can really F up your metabolism so maybe try metabolism boosting foods? I gained about that much on the pill plus a lil more due to major depression last year where I couldn’t get out of bed for a few months.
Thank you [name_f]Katinka[/name_f] and Lemur
An update, I actually went off the medication needing birth control. And consequently off birth control.
When I was having my babies, I got fed up with pill side effects, so during the off years of not wanting babies my forer husband and I used condoms. Very safe and no ill effects or failures.
I have a copper IUD fwiw. I have really bad cramping sometimes, and my periods last about two days longer than they did before. Those days are very light though. No other side effects.