depo-provera weight question

This is for the women out there -

I've been on Depo-Provera (birth control shot) for years now. Yesterday was my three month shot - it was also the worst binge day I've had since I started calorie counting.

Could that injection of hormones be related to my out of control eating? Does anyone out there take depo, and if so have you had the same weird problem?

I am no longer on depo but I beg any of you who have been on it for more than 2 years to get a bone density test done by your doctor. 

"Studies released in 2004 show that Depo Provera is associated with a loss of bone density resulting in an increased risk of osteoporosis. The bone loss appears not to be reversed when the woman goes off Depo Provera. Depo is not recommended for long term use and especially not recommended when the young woman is still growing her bones. Women on Depo are advised to exercise and take in plenty of calcium. If you have taken Depo Provera for more than two years, you might want to get a bone density test."

Hi this may be a silly statement, But I am 21 years old and I weigh about 110 now, I have always had a problem gaining weight, I just recently lost 8 pounds from stressin, I made an appointment to get on the shot on wednesday the 15th , because i heard that it puts weight on you, but now that i am reading the other side affects i am kinda scared, I have a 2 year old son now, so i don't want any kids anytime soon, but i need some advice, i have tried everything, i eat, but no weight gain?

please stop me if u feel that i am making a wrong decision by wed...

Hey, no matter what any doctor tells you......hormones can make you gain weight.  You aren't crazy. 

Screwing with your hormones is definitely NOT a good idea.  Don't do it. You may regret it someday.  How tall are you?  I was always extremely thin, tried to gain weight and never could until my hormones got messed up.  Now a constant struggle.  DON'T DO IT!!  Keep trying to improve your diet and maybe add some protein powder to your diet......

Depo is no guarantee of gaining weight.  I never gained while I was on it, and I have been on it for about 6 years off and on.

(yes, I'll get the darn bone density test!!  ;-)

I have a question relevant to the depo shot.  Have any other ladies experienced what seems to be a bump in the area in which they received the shot.  I got it in my stomach and now i have an indent in my stomach and what feels like a little bump inside of my stomach.  I was just wondering if anyone ese had experienced that.  I've been on the shot for about 6 months now and this is really the only change i've seen in my body.  Another question for those women on the shot was it as effective as said to be

I caution women against using this shot.  I was on it for almost 2 yrs and liked it just fine while on it...if fact it was great...no PMS, easy maintenance.

However...I've been off it since Oct of 2006 and my period has still not shown up.  At first I wasn't too concerned because it can take a while for it to come back.  But my mom was giving me a hard time and I went to the doctor.  We did what was called a "progesterone" challenge...meaning I took a progesterone pill for 10 days...this was suppose to "shock" my body into it's normal rythym....well, it didn't work.  Now we are doing a "progesterone and estrogen challenge"...it's the progesterone for 10 days and the estrogen for 21 days.  I have about 6 days left on the estrogen....and it still hasn't showed up.  At this point I'm getting worried...my Dr says the next step is an MRI, more blood work, and possible being referred to some kind of specialist.

Now this may not have too much to do with the Depo itself...but the depo could have been "hiding" a problem.

Anyway...now I'm soured of it...and just don't recommend the shot.

I was on the Depo shot for 2 years. My last shot was in May- so 32 wks. I have now been off the shot.

I started at the weight of 115 and now am 133 pounds. I do have to say that my lifestyle has changed and my diet has also, but I have tried for a year now to loose the weight and had only continued to gain. I think that the shot has some to do with the gain and then my eatting pattern the second contributor. I have yet to see any weight loss since not getting the shot- I just have had to work even harder to remain the same and to loose the weight- which makes me think that the Depo has yet to really leave my system.

I too have yet to have a period since getting my shot last May. I am rather worried about now trying to have a baby. I LOVED not having a period and I loved not having any of the regular symptons that I usually had with my monthly periods, but now that I am 33, if it takes 2 years for my body to cycle off of the shot, I don't know if it was worth it in the long run and after reading rdgatewood 's posting. I am rather scared.

So to answer your question-- YES! I gained weight- was it worth not having a period-- I would have said yes 12 months ago-- now I would say no! I wouldn't recommend the depo-shot till after having your children...

I gained about 50 lbs. on Depo.  Lost it as soon as I went off of it.  From what I've read it not only reduces calcium absorption, it also increases hunger.  From WebMD:

Depo-Provera can cause a number of side effects, including:

• Irregular menstrual periods, or no periods at all
• Headaches
• Nervousness
• Depression
• Dizziness
• Acne
• Changes in appetite
• Weight gain
• Excessive growth of facial and body hair
• Hair loss
• Loss of bone mineral density

Most of the side effects are not common. Change in the menstrual cycle is the most common side effect. You may experience irregular bleeding or spotting. After a year of use, about 50% of women will stop getting their periods. Their periods usually return when they discontinue the shots.

Prolonged use of Depo-Provera may result in loss of significant bone mineral density, increasing the risk of osteoporosis. This risk is more likely for those who have been taking it for longer than 2 years, particularly when other risk factors for osteoporosis exist, such as family history and chronic alcohol and/or tobacco use. Although there are no studies to benefit its use, it is advised that all women on Depo-Provera get adequate calcium and Vitamin D (through diet and/or supplements) to help prevent osteoporosis

I just wanna say thanks all for posting. I knew one of the side effects was gaining weight, but now that you all said it was through cravings I'll be better prepared. Kinda sucks, cause I just got my shot yesterday, and I just started eating healthier and exercising 4 days ago (trying to lose weight, here we go!). I did notice right away that I was craving sugar, a lot more that usual! It was insane how bad I craved it. lol, I told my bf, no matter how much I beg him don't let me have sugar (I'm trying to cut it out of my diet, it's a real catalyst for making me feeling like crap and slowing me down). I'll post in three months and tell ya'll if I've gained any weight and if I think it's the depo. I would have gone on the pill, but it makes me violently ill (puking, headaches, can't eat anything....etc.) and no kids here so depo was kinda my only shot. But yeah, thanks for the info ladies!!

 

So on a different note, I was talking to my bf and I told him about depo. How it stops your period, and it generally takes a year after stopping the depo before you can get pregnant. So he asked me, if you can't get pregnant for a year, how come we're all taking the shot every three months? Also, if it tricks the body into thinking that we're pregnant, how come there's no morning sickness, but we have the cravings? Sorry, never had a kid, so I don't know really what happens to the body. Just curious. Thanks!!

I only got through reading the first few posts, so this may have already been shared:

I was on the shot for a couple of years and gained A LOT of weight.  My family doctor suggested I get off of it b/c it makes you feel hungry all the time and people have a tendency to overeat.  I remember times I would sit down and eat a whole cheesecake and still not be full.  My doctor said some people are able to contol their eating while on it, but I was not.

I just got my 1st shot this morning at 10:30 AM..I have had the NovaSure procedure done in August 2007 and was on Lupron for 6 mnths..Feb 13 2008 the DR wouldn't give me another Lupron shot. My Estrogen returned forcefully over the weeks and I was irratable and depressed.. I begged for My Lupron back instead she gave me this..The 1st part of the day went well now it's 13 hours later and I feel so tired and drained, this started about 4 hours ago..As for the Hunger, I had to FORCE myself to eat dinner and have felt nauseous and hot flashes already..I'm going to rest for the night and see how I feel in the morning..I better not gain weight on this

I get the depo shot - have gotten it for several years.  I tend to get hungry and gain a few pounds right before I get the shot... after I feel great...

But - I have a hx of depression and get REALLY depressed about the time my shot is due.  I tracked it for a while and the bouts tend to come on about 1-2 weeks before it is due.

So- I'm seriously thinking about switching to a IUD. 

I have been on depo for about 8 years off and on. I have tried getting off of it several times but  it is really hard b/c I bleed for weeks! While on it I dont have a period at all. I have gained about 65-70 pounds. I have went through the depression spells,eating binges, and leg cramps. My mood swings were almost like a bi-polars. It never effected my sex life, but my tremendous weight gain has made it bad enough. I also suffered from terrible head aches that were similar to migraines. I have heard many women say that they have trouble conceiving. When you first get on "the shot" it does seem like a miracle, b/c come on NO PERIODS but in the long run there is a pretty big price you will have to pay. I do not care what anyone here wants to say depo provera will cause you to gain weight! It may not at first b/c it didn't me but please believe me it will catch up with you.I'm just hoping that when I get off of it my weight will start coming off. I would not refer anyone to get this and I plan to get off of it as soon as possible (I have 2 more months before my next shot) and even after that it still remains in your body from months to even years!!!Please don't get the shot!

I think everyone needs to understand that everyone's bodies will react differently. I have been on the shot almost two years, and I'm at my lowest weight ever, and still working to loose. Sure, I'll occassionally get some mood swings when it's due, but I have no complaints. No periods, no bloating, no bumps at the shot area, no weight gain. And I never knew leg cramps were a side effect. I do get small ones, like the growing pains from youth, but they're tolerable and usually at night. And the doctor who gave you the shot should tell you up front that it will take a long while before you get your period back. I read that online when researching it.
But anyhow, everyone's posting their horror stories, but it's really not a good basis to tell because your body chemistry is completely different.

Sorry for the double post, but vaudeth, it tricks your body into thinking your pregnant so you have no lining in your uterus to recieve the egg and it comes out whenever. It's not really like your body is making arrangements for a baby.

Well I guess my expirience is different..I have lost 12.5 lbs since being on the shot.  (Almost 2 mnths now) I have changed my eating habits to more veg, less meat, changed to diet soda & more water, soy milk, yogurt..after reading all of the wieght gain horror stories, I forced myself to change things.

I skipped my last appointment for my 4th depo shot and I'm not going back on it. I am a personal trainer so I am very active and lead a lifestyle that is centered around healthy eating and weight management but since my first depo shot in Feb 2008 I have gained 12 pounds. That is with working out a minimum of 5 days per week on the average. And my eating didn't change for the worse, I didn't have an increase in cravings, I just gained weight, even when I increased the intensity of my cardio and cut back on certain foods the pounds just kept coming.

Everytime I got a shot for several days after I would have high pulse, nervousness and shortness of breath.

I also began having serious migraines and sinus problems a few months ago, they severely impair my daily routine and sleep when the headaches are there.

About once a month for a few days I became extremely emotional and moody, so much worse than my PMS was before the shot.  

I lost my libido immediatley after the first shot, not only was the desire not there but I actually found myself disgusted by the thought of sex. My natural moisture went away too, even when I am aroused there is nothing to lubricate so sex is very uncomfortable and my girly parts are generally dry and irritated every day. Not fun!

No more depo for me.

I was due to get my shot last thursday, today is Tuesday and I am already spotting and cramping. I hope this means my body is taking back control and I can get back on track with a normal life again.

 

Thanks for everyone putting in their comments, it's good to know we aren't alone

Depo is more detrimental to some than others.

I am deffinately one of the others. My doctor put me on depo because I have chronic anemia and slight hemophilia and CANT bleed-- otherwise Im in the emergency room. I tried the pill, but it just wasnt enough to stop the bleeding completely, I tried the ring, but I didnt like the idea of sexual intercourse with something like that up my... whatever. Anyway, the shot seemed like a good choice. I was underweight at the time, about 107 pounds, but very healthy (I am an irish dancer, and i work out at least for 3 hours every day, and over 6 hours on Sundays to teach class). I got on depo and loved it. No cravings, no nothing. Or so I thought. A little less than a year and a half later, here I am. At the beggining of the summer I started getting blood red stretchmarks on my thighs and calves. I had been gaining weight, but I just thought my body was maturing, or reacting to college life. I went to the doctor and my doctor freaked out. I had gained almost 60 pounds in a year and a half. Depo had caused my thyroid to become dormant. That is why I felt tired and depressed and lazy. I just got all my test results back, and apparently by the end of october the weight will start to drop off. My doctor says the only sliver lining is that most women loose the weight they gain on depo almost immediately after they get off it. I am switching to the implant that goes in your arm and lasts for 5 years. It has about the same weight gain side effects as the pill... thank god.

If you notice seemingly unnattural weight gain for your body, get off of it immediately. It can put your thyroid into a dormant mode. No matter how much more I excersized, I didnt loose it. Now its just a waiting game, Ill post in a couple months in response to how my body bounced back.

I dont recommend depo. I dont see why anyone would take something that could potentially detrimental to your thyroid.

I've been on the shot for just about a year and a half.  I have gained about 30 pounds.  I come from a fairly thin family and have been fluctuating between 130-140 lbs since I was 15, which was perfectly healthy.  I'm 19 now and weight about 165, which is slightly overweight.  The initial weight gain was rapid, and I thought it was the freshman 15 or just my change in lifestyle and living on my own, but then the weight just kept coming.  Its been creeping up slowly since and I can't be sure it was the Depo, but I think I'm going to switch methods after reading all these posts, because its a definite possibility that the depo caused it.  I do have insane cravings.  I never feel full, especially at lunch time.  I'm constantly searching for more to eat, but we don't usually have any snack foods around, which leads to me eating bizarre foods.  I try to throw anything together in my desperation. I've developed huge stretch marks on my butt, which makes me crazy.  When I first noticed them I thought I had broken out in a freak rash!  Also, I bought a calcium supplement, but haven't been keeping up with it, so I think I'd better not risk the bone loss.  I'm due for a shot next week, and I'm going to give the Nuva Ring a try instead.  Back to buying tampons for me!