Depo-Provera: asking the FDA to investigate

Top 69. May 13, 2003 3:57 PM

» emugurly84 - Re: Depo is evil and should be taken off the market

In response to message posted by cbuckl:

You have to remember that depo is not for everyone. Just like the pill or patch is not for everyone. I have been on it for over two years now and it is the best thing that could ever have happened. I did gain a litte a bit of weight, but what has been explained to me it is water weight. And this was confirmed using a body composition anaylsis. My periods did stop and I have had no problems what so ever. The only difference is my blood has gotten alittle bit thinner which is why they don't give it to anemic people. What about the side effects that the pill causes people? Should they take that off the market too? You just have to be the right person to take this. I have read all kinds of horror stories, and you cannot be completly sure that it is directly related to Depo-provera. Depo does alot of good things. Did you know that it can help reduce the pain in people who have sickle-cell anemia? It is also used in sex offenders to chemically castrate them meaning they stop having sexual urges. I have had a wonderful experience with Depo, and the FDA would not have allowed it on the market if it was harmful. The drug has been around since the 70's. It has been tested on many animals and humans as well. And is the most effective form of birth control next to abstience. So please look at the postive stuff before jumping to conclusions.

-- posted by emugurly84

Top 70. May 15, 2003 2:40 PM

» talora_h - I LOVE THE DEPO PROVERA SHOT!!!

All of these bad experiences are posted and, of course, no good ones. They say when people have a bad experience, they are more likely to pass it on than when they have a good one. Well, for those considering getting the shot, I will say this: everyone reacts to it differently. A friend of mine didn't like her experience, but I love Depo. No periods, no cramps, and I had no weight gain. When I got off of it, I got pregnant within 4 months. My only issue with it is that once I had my baby, I immediately got back on it and it made it a little harder for me to lose weight. I have now been off of the shot for 1 1/2 years, and am about to get it again tomorrow, not even because I need birth control, but because not having a period is worth it. So, to the women considering it, I would say to look over all of the possible side-effects and decide if you're willing to try it. Not everyone has bad experiences on Depo. I LOVE THE DEPO-PROVERA SHOT!!!

-- posted by talora_h

Top 71. May 16, 2003 10:44 AM

» sexyliirebel23 - Depo Is Poison

Hi, I am A 23 year old...I took the depo shot in 1995 because (my mother didnt want he baby to get pregnant). When i turned 16 and it was my responsibility to get the shot I quit going...that was in 1996.I only had 3 shots.. since then i have had a long list of medical problems.. My fiance and i have been trying for almost 2 years now to have a child... I rarely if ever have a period...Im so afraid that depo has destroyed my chances of ever being a mother..I am very scared and confused...I felt like i was crazy until i started researching side effects after the depo shots...No i realize i am not crazy nor am I alone..I used to be a very outgoing teenager...I loved people and being the center of attention...now i hate to even leave my home...I am scared everyone is staring at me all the time... I was 133 pounds when i started the depo shot... I then went to 189 in about 2 months...after i quit the shot i starved myself for about 6 months...and went back down to 145... about a year later out of no where within 3 months i went up to 230lbs....i struggled for about 6 months and finally got back to 150 and just within the past 6 months i am now back to 200lbs... I feel like a blimp...and it is very depressing to me..I need some kind of help or answers..Reading everyones storys has helped me top realize that i am not alone but i still have no answers on what to do... I dont have the luxury or Haven medical insurance so i wait and suffer... besides everytime im so sick i cant stand it i run to the emergency room and they do a bunch of tests....and at the end of the horrible ordeal i am left with being told that there is nothing wrong with me"its all in your head"was what i was told by one doctor, and a huge medical bill i cant afford to pay...My biggest concern however is that i can conceive a child....me and my fiance want this more than anything and we keep thinking i am pregnant because i have side effects of being pregnant...but everytime we get our hopes up only to find out that were not pregnant... Please someone help me...Thank you...My prayers go out to you all...God bless... Alisha Anderson

-- posted by sexyliirebel23

Top 72. May 16, 2003 12:20 PM

» PicsDEW - My doc. advised me do to health reasons

I have have read allot of these post and its really making me wonder if the decision my doc made for me was the right one. I have endometrosis and my doc told me to have a baby so that I can have a hysterectomy, well I had my third boy April 7th, 2003 and we chose not to do the surgery since we do want a girl. My doc told me that we can try this shot that will keep you from having a period so that you won't feel any pain. Hmmm, no pain!!! Well since the shot I received May 1st, 2003 all I have experienced is pain, and bleeding of course I'm not sure if its do to the new baby and c-section or if its from the depro shot. I have experienced some odd things in the past 4 weeks that I can't even explain.

severe low backachee
headache, neck pain
dizziness
cramping
numbness in the legs and hands
bleeding that is dark and very thin
mood swings, feeling angry all the time
no sympathy for anything (feelings I have none)

I have two more months of this and I don't think I will be able to make it, But then I wonder if its just baby blues or baby aches from c-section (this is my third c-section). I really want the chance to try again for another baby but I don't think I will be able to handle this for to much longer. Does anyone have any adivce for me, please email me if you do..
thank you very much
Dawn

-- posted by PicsDEW

Top 73. May 16, 2003 12:36 PM

» jmlantz_0618 - Re: I LOVE THE DEPO PROVERA SHOT!!!

I just want to let you know, sometimes it takes longer and more shots for depo to react with you. It also reacts differently for all different people. Have you ever thought about how depo is causing you to not have a period?? Do you really think this is good for your body? You said it became harder for you to lose weight on depo the second time. Well, let me know how it goes this time.

-- posted by jmlantz_0618

Top 74. May 16, 2003 6:46 PM

» emugurly84 - Re: Re: I LOVE THE DEPO PROVERA SHOT!!!

In response to message posted by jmlantz_0618:

I can say I have been on depo for OVER TWO YEARS. I have not experienced any of these symtoms except weight gain, but that is because I broke my femur in a car accident and I was bedridden for 3 months. Not having periods can be very good for your body. And there has been studies that show being on birth control actually preserves your ovaries and uterus so you actually become MORE fertile after you go off. With depo, yes it can take up to a year and half to get your period back and to get pregnant, but that is so your ovaries can start releasing eggs and for your blood to thicken again. Did you know that depo is not given to anemic people because it causes the blood in your uterus to thin and sometimes even stop being produced? IT is perfectly NORMAL for people that cannot concieve, that does not mean it was directly related to depo. A guy wearing briefs instead of boxers lowers the sperm rate. And also doing drugs causes the sperm to be less active. And like I said in an earlier post and someone else did, everyone's body reacts differently to it. And I find it very hard to believe that a doctor could be ignorant or ignore your medical problems. After I broke my leg I had shortness of breath, and when I told my gyno that when I went for my yearly, she stopped my shots until I had a chest x-ray and blood tests to rule out a blood clot in my lungs from the shot. And I went to the health department for my shots and gyno appointments. I don't think you could go to a lesser quality place. I think that there are other contributions to these medical problems than depo provera. This product has been tested since the 1970's. I think if these symptoms were caused by the shot then the FDA would not have approved of it. Believe it or not they do care. Now I love the shot. I see it as a safety net that I will not get prengant until I am married. To me it is THE most EFFECTIVE birth control besides abstience. So, please don't diss it. What about all the guys that are taking the shot for chemical castration? Do they have any of these symtoms? So please do all your research and talk to a crediable doctor. By the way I do not have health insurance and I get the help I need that is no excuse.

-- posted by emugurly84

Top 75. May 19, 2003 6:23 PM

» skeeta00023 - Confused about depo

I was on depo for about 3yrs, I liked it when I was on the shot for the simple reason I had no cycle. But after getting off the shot, getting married, and wanting kids I realized it wasnt the best thing to do. I have been off the shot for about 2yrs and a couple of odd months. We have been trying to become pregnant and nothing ever happens. I have the side effects of a prgnant women but no pregnancy. So I have decided to go see an infertilty specialist. ARE THERE ANY OTHER WOMEN OUT THERE THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THE SAME THING I AM if so please contact me www.skeeta00023@aol.com

-- posted by skeeta00023

Top 76. May 27, 2003 9:58 PM

» geekgirl77 - Endometriosis Depro Provera, etc.

I like many of you have been suffering from Endo since my very first period. After about five years of being told it was "all in my head", exercie, lose some weight, the pain would go away. I luckily stumbled upon a Reproductive Endocronologist who ater surgery told me I had Endometriosis, PCOS, uterine fibroids, which was causing all the pain.
My right ovary was removed because that's where the pain was and a huge tumor (benign) was on that ovary causing the pain. I then went through about a year of Lupron injections, which helped for a few months. Now I'm on Depro Provera. I had my second shot in April and due for the next on ein July. I called the doctor refusing the shot due to the side effects. Extreme nasea to the point of having to lie down at work, weight gain, depression, constant spotting and break thru bleeding. A day hasn't gone back that I haven't hurt worse now than before. Now it seems my uterus is causing me excruciating pain which I don't know is from the shots or what? My question is whether anyone else has experienced this and if there are any treatment options to alleviate the pain short of a hysterectomy. I am planning on trying to conceive as soon as possible. If anyone knows anything that can help, please let me know. Also, my doctor ordered a Liver Panel on me today. Does anyone know why that was ordered and what it's purpose is? THank You.

-- posted by geekgirl77

Top 77. May 28, 2003 7:08 AM

» wardgirl311 - Re: Confused about depo

I was on depo for about 2 years. My last shot was June 2002 and I was supposed to go in for another shot in September. I talked to my Dr about wanting a baby...she said that's great and you can start trying immediately. Here we are, almost a year later and I still don't have a period. I was never informed that it could take up to 24 months before fertility came back. I will be sure to never, ever recommend this shot to anyone unless they have been fully advised. It seems that the doctors prescribing this crap have yet to do the research themselves to be able to inform their trusting patients. I am very disappointed. At this point it's just a waiting game...no one can tell you when things will return to normal. If I knew then what I know now....
I'm sorry for all the women who were deceived like I was.

-- posted by wardgirl311