Depo-provera pros and cons

[Greeen1]

Hi all, I’ve had a consultation this morning and my consultant has suggested depo injections. I have the mirena coil fitted but still getting a lot of symps - including sickness/nausea and huge hormonal imbalances. Has anyone else had the depo injections? Pros? Cons?

Thanks all!

[KBohrer]

Hi there! I’ll make this quick but please let me know if you want follow up. I had Lupron injections a few years ago and I remember being super irritable and not feeling the best mentally. My endo started to flare up again after 4 years and we decided to try that again. I will never do it again and I was in lots of pain. I’m usually a pretty chill, nice, happy person and I have zero patience with anyone, esp husband and son. Really bad hot flashes, joint pain, fatigue/insomnia, etc. Yes, took care of pain but this isn’t worth it to me. I do know many that have no issues but just wanted to give you one side of it!

[Greeen1 in reply to KBohrer]

Hi, thank you for taking the time to respond and I hope you’re ok! What is Lupron? And how long/often did you have to take it?

[KBohrer in reply to Greeen1]

Oh my! I am embarrassed. I am so sorry. Lupron is a hormonal therapy for endo and it is called Lupron Depot. I happened to wake up in middle of night (I am in states)and saw this post and automatically read it as the same thing. Do you know how the Depo-Provera works? Lupron can be given as a one month shot or 6 months but it spikes your estrogen and then essentially puts you into menopause!

[Greeen1 in reply to KBohrer]

Nothing to apologise for - thank you for your reply. Ah, we spoke about that type of injection too. Depo is basically contraceptive (progestens) injection - once every 10-12 weeks.

[LucyAM]

Hi, I was on the Depo for 3 years as a way to switch of my cycles in a hope to control Endo and pain. Let’s just say I’m pleased to be off them.The cons - I found that they made me impatient and angry alot of the time, I didn’t have much tolerance. I also found it affected my libido so I had no interest at all. Also if you are considering children at some point I wouldn’t go onto it as it can mess up your cycles for a long time after which is very frustrating when you want to start trying but aren’t having periods or ovulating. The reason it takes quite a while to work out of your system is that it is stored in your fat whereas something like the coil, the hormones are stored in the device. So when you remove the device most hormones are taken out at the same time. You have to wait time for the depo to work out of your body even after only 1 shot of it.

The pros - there are positives though which is why I stuck with it for 3 years. My periods ceased completely and so I no longer had Endo pains associated with my cycle. The pain was much better controlled as in I only got Endo pain on weeks 11 and 12 when the depo was wearing off and I was due the next.

I should say that I am quite sensitive to hormone based therapies and they generally affect my mental health so I maybe more sensitive to it than you. I think it depends on your situation and stage of life as to whether it’s worth a try.

I hope that helps, sorry if I sound overly negative about it. I believe for some, they get on quite well with it.

Good luck xx

[Coffeebeann]

Hi,

I have been on the depo injections for several years now and I have to say I don't really have anything negative to say. At one point I could barely walk and the pain was unbearable but when I was given a consultation with head of sexual health i was told that the best method was to completely stop my periods which is what the depo does. Its now so much easier to manage and I only get bad flair ups near the end of the 3 months when I'm due my next injection.

I definitely found it to be a positive in helping but everyone is different.

Good luck and hopefully this helps a little xx

[Hidden]

Hi I have been on Depo Provera since April 2018. On the whole it has helped me a great deal no periods is great but my main issue is chronic ovulation pain. At first it was great but over the last 2 years or so my pain has returned not every month roughly every 3 months I have a flare up that lasts the same length of time as if I wasn’t on Depo at least 10 days. I have been told that I am probably not releasing an egg but my body is just going through the motions. It’s very frustrating. Think I have just been unlucky. I always say anything is worth a try and you can always stop it if it isn’t for you but bear in mind the more injections you have the longer it takes to leave the body

[Reethi19]

Hi, depo provera has been great for me, very little bleeding and minimal pain. The main con is reduced libido. Good luck with it x

[Hidden]

Hi Greeen1

I've been on the Depo Provera injections now for over 6 years and have no endo pain or periods, which is a blessed relief. Unfortunately I had to have a colostomy bag last year as the endo growths blocked my bowel. My colorectal surgeon referred me to gynae and I've to start Decapeptyl injections a week today to control the endo. As someone else has posted, it's meant for women who have completed their families - it can mess up your periods for a while after you come off it. I guess I was just unlucky, it's worth a try. Take care xx