NEVER USE DEPO-PROVERA

by Amanda Lynn

My biggest mistake was taking a Depo shot nearly nine years ago. Within a week I gained 10 lbs, began losing hair, and developed saucer-sized whelps all over my legs.

The whelps went away after three months, once the Depo left my system. The weight gain and hair loss have never stopped. At the time I was 22, 135 lbs. I haven't seen that weight since. I never say anything good about myself, but the Lord had blessed me with beautiful, long, unbelievably thick and healthy hair. Because of my stupid mistake, it has never looked the same. I currently weigh 165 lbs.

I've seen countless specialists and have had countless tests performed. They all say I'm normal, of course, that I should just accept my weight problems and hair loss. Diet and exercise for the weight. They all said that the Depo-Provera had nothing to do with it. I believe the Depo-Provera sky-rocketed me into estrogen dominance and/or pre-menopause.

Since taking that ONE Depo-Provera injection, I have had ovarian cysts, endometriosis, cellulite, uterine fibroids, increased facial breakouts, hair loss, uncontrollable weight gain, follicularis on my arms. I have never taken ANY form of birth-control since. I tried to get pregnant for over a year, three years ago. I ended up having surgery. The surgeon said I had polyps, fibroids, cysts, endometriosis, and my insides looked like "melted chocolate." Six weeks after my surgery, and through the Lord's blessing and power, I became pregnant with my beautiful son, Joshua.

I have just begun the Progesterone cream once daily, about ten days ago. My hair loss worstened, but I believe it's my hormones trying to balance out. I have noticed, the breakouts on my back are beginning to clear up and my "bumpy" arms are clearing as well.

I dont' know whether to continue once a day or up it to twice daily. Through prayer, I know I will be healed of all these problems I brought on myself. I'm praying that this cream is the Lord's answer for me.

I ENCOURAGE ANYONE TAKING THE DEPO-PROVERA INJECTION TO DISCONTINUE IT IMMEDIATELY. As a medical assistant, I have seen the effects of the injection on many women. I unfortunately, received it before I began to see the side effects it caused these women. I just took my doctor's (who I worked for at the time) word for it that it was completely safe.

Thank you for listening. Please let me know what your thoughts. In Christ, Amanda Lynn.

Comments for
NEVER USE DEPO-PROVERA

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Jun 19, 2010
 NEVER USE DEPO-PROVERA
by: Wray

Hi Amanda Lynn I couldn't have put it better myself, don't use any drug based contraceptive in fact. The only safe one is the copper T IUD as it leaks no synthetic progestin into the system. Many, many women now have problems after taking an OC, as it can upset the ovaries and more. Understandably as it suppresses all ovarian function. For more info please see our web page Contraceptives Research papers. Wonderful you had a son after all those problems. Please use the progesterone at least twice daily, as the level drops after about 13 hrs. Unfortunately progesterone does have a stimulatory affect initially, but if enough is used, this phase passes relatively quickly. It's best to use between 100-200mg/day. Take care Wray
Sep 25, 2010
 DON'T GO ANYWHERE NEAR DEPO!!
by: Ellie

My body has been completely messed up following the use of depo for 6 years. I came off the injection in april 2009 and am still not back to normal and my partner and I are trying for a baby. I have consulted a homeopathist who is confident she can get my cycle started and start me ovulating again so fingers crossed, but I feel depo should NEVER be given to any woman who intends on having children in the future. My doctor doesn't seem bothered by my massively irregular periods and says I should just wait and see what happens, however I saw a locum the other day who wants me to have the 21 day progesterone blood test to see if I'm ovulating, fat lot of good that is as I think the answer is obvious considering I haven't has a proper period since before I went on the injection, before which they were regular as clockwork.

Since starting to try for a baby and given the problems I have from the injection I have searched the net and am horrified to find so many storied similar to mine as well as so many regarding loads of other side effects.

I think something should be done to highlight the terrible side effects of this awful drug and force doctors to present all the information to women.

My advice to all women is NEVER EVER EVER use depo!!!!
Oct 06, 2010
 DON'T GO ANYWHERE NEAR DEPO!!
by: Wray

Hi Ellie Thanks for putting this on the web site, it needs to said repeatedly by many women. In fact all contraceptives come with adverse side effects, as does HRT. Please see our pages on Contraceptives and HRT for more info. The only safe contraceptive is the copper T IUD, please see here. I'm pleased you've found a homeopath who can help you, you might also like to read our page on Pregnancy. Take care Wray
Jan 04, 2011
 Coming off depo....
by: Anonymous

I was off & on Depo for 14 years. I loved being on depo as my breast swelling etc all went away however I didn?t link it to insomnia which slowly creeped into my life?after further research I now understand that depo lowers estrogen which is why my body reacted well to it (no breast soreness). I think my body naturally produces high amounts of estrogen hence bad PMS & breast soreness etc?not having a period & going through monthly cycles was (I thought) a god send. However, every time I tried to come off depo & give my body a break I would experience huge hormone surges (it felt like I was going through menopause). My breasts increased two cup sizes due to the surge of estrogen. I basically experienced estrogen dominance every time I tried to come off it & no doctor really understood. No amount of exercise, eating right etc fixes this. What I recommend is having a saliva test to find out what your hormone levels are & then trying to fix the hormone imbalance. I?m currently on progesterone cream (2nd month) & initially found that a small dose will make estrogen issue worse as it ?wakes up? estrogen receptors? I have also come across a supplement called DIM which is meant to be a natural estrogen blocker ? it can come in a gel form. I have ordered it online as I am desperate to fix this problem. We also need to take into account that women can be perimenopausal from the age of 35 years onwards where our estrogen levels start to gradually decline?I actually think depo completely stuffed up my hormones and I have also come off it at an age where my body is now in a perimenopausal state ? which is a double whammy?.

Eliza
Jan 12, 2011
 Coming off depo....
by: Wray

Hi Eliza All Contraceptives can cause problems, except the copper T IUD. Please read through this page we have. They also lower progesterone levels too, which exacerbates the problem. PMS and breast soreness is caused by excess oestrogen, it's an inflammatory hormone. Plus causing water retention, which also affects the breasts adversely. Using Depo you were making no progesterone, which counters this affect, as progesterone is an anti-inflammatory and an excellent diuretic. Progesterone can initially make things worse if insufficient is used, I recommend 100-200mg/day. The reason for this is Oestrogen Dominance, please read through this page as it explains why it occurs. Please make sure you are using enough. DIM does help the body excrete unwanted oestrogen. You are right, coming off the Depo in Peri-menopause would be a double whammy. Take care Wray
Apr 23, 2011
 Depo will destroy
by: Elisha

I was on depo for 5 years. I have stopped taking depo 6 years ago and it has been all down hill ever since. My cycle is still not normal. It took close to 2 years for my cycle to return. When it did return it was extremely irregular, and still is. I would spot, or go without a cycle or monnths, or it would be really heavy. So heavy to the point will I would pass large clots for days. I've had abnormal paps, severe mood swings and irritability. I have had many test. All my blood test say that my blood count, iron level, and thyroid function is normal. I've had a transvaginal ultra sound and my organs are healthy. All the doctors say is that there is no way that depo can cause there problems because I haven't taken it soo long. Depo has destroyed me.
Oct 20, 2011
 Depo is a Demon Drug
by: Melanie

I received my first (and last) Depo shot about 10 months ago, and I am still kicking myself for ever deciding to have that shot in the first place. I was told by several people (pharmacists and doctors) that the shot would last only three months, and my system should return to normal. Well, 10 months have gone by, and my system is so out of whack that it's not even funny. I have gained some weight, my hair is falling out by the handfuls, I have had very slight and spotty periods with terrible cramps, my IBS is worse, my breasts are so painful that I can hardly move, my scalp is excessively oily, I have varicose veins in my legs that have gotten progressively worse (thus putting me at very high risk of blood clots), I am extremely moody and basically feel like total crap. I am going to see a doctor so I can lay it all out for him, because I feel that I am dealing with estrogen dominance due to this demon drug. I do not recommend it to anyone - it is horrible and can cause a variety of health problems, many of which could be irreversible.
Nov 02, 2011
 Depo ruined my life
by: Another young woman

I took depo-provera when I was only 15, they said it was better for me because breast cancer ran in my family so it wouldnt increase my risk (since it progesterone based). I was young, naive and the doctors buffed it up like it would help with pms symptoms. It didn't. It caused me to bleed for months straight, caused weight gain, and back acne. I didn't realize how bad it was then until I went off of it less then a year later. Within six months of being off it (I was 17 at this point!) It through me into hardcore estrogen dominance causing near instant progressed gall bladder disease and gall stones. They took it out, of course back then, i had no idea it was all tied together. I went off and on other birth control pills, that kept me relatively regular, as soon as i stopped, back into estrogen dominance. Cysts, ovarian demoid removed at 21, hormonal migraines, rapid weight gain once off birth control, rapid hair loss, pcos, the whole works...It is now a struggle for my body to naturally create progesterone and i'm lacking an essential metabolic aiding organ to boot. I'm at risk for diabetes, breast cancer, uterine cancer, fibroids, endometriosis hypothyroidism....all of it because of that god damn stupid drug! NEVER TAKE SYNTHETIC HORMONES EVER! WARN YOUR DAUGHTERS! I have also been of course unable to conceive, tried unsuccessfully for 3 years. I'm now 25, I take chasteberry extract to help balance it out, and i pray that this won't be a battle for the rest of my life, but its likely always going to be a factor. Ladies, you are not alone in the struggle. I highly implore you to research as much as you can, and always take the natural route.

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