Every day, many women start a birth control method that involves an injection. This method provides long term birth control.

Many of these women report drastic, debilitating side effects from this method.

Women report that the trade name of this drug is depo provera, depoprovera, depo-provera, or simply "depo". 

There is another shot that has recently become available under the trade name of lunelle. The best information available indicates that it uses the same active ingredient as depo-provera.
 

-Continuous or long term bleeding, (weeks and months).

-Huge weight gain, (40 lbs or more).

-Uncontrollable migraines.

-Severe depression and thoughts of suicide. 

-Complete loss of sex drive.

-Infertility for months or years after stopping taking the shots.

Information is power.

The women below tell their stories so that those considering getting an injection of depo provera can be better informed. In most cases, they report  possible extreme health problems, and do not recommend trying it.

Please read the stories, submit your own, and tell anyone you know to look at this and other sites before risking their health with depo provera.

You can submit your stories about depo provera in total privacy, no information is "required". However, many offer their email addresses so that others may contact them for support.

Two typical stories about depo provera have been selected to appear below. 

 
I was on the birth control pill for years with no problem. On a standard visit to the dr. I inquired about Depo Provera because it sounded so easy. My dr. told me that it was very safe and that she recommened it. 

She gave me a pamplet and told me to think about it. The only side effect she mentioned was that my period could stop. Well, the very small pamplet mentioned very little else. It also made it seem as though any side effects were very rare. 

I was also told that if I wanted to get pregnant that all of the hormone would be out of my body within 2 - 3 months of stopping the shot. I decided to take the shot. 

The first time I took the shot my period stopped immediately. I noticed that I gained some weight but not a lot. I enjoyed the freedom and the lack of the monthly visitor a lot. I decided to get the shot again. 

The second shot was much different. I again had no period but this time I felt bloated all of thetime. I started to get terrible headaches, get very depressed, and I really began to gain weight and my sex drive was totally gone. I didn't put these problems together with the shot though. 

About that time my husband and I decided we wanted to start trying for a baby. I decided not to get the shot again. I didn't know the total HELL I would go through in getting off. 

It took me 9 months to get a period back once the shot expired. That entire time I felt bloated, achy, VERY TIRED, depressed, and had terrible headaches. Most days I could barely get out of bed. After 6 months my doctor put me on a 10 day cycle of Provera to try to jump start my period. It did not work. Instead it only worsed my already painful symptoms. 

Three months later I got my first period. It was very short and painful. 

Six weeks after that I got my second. It was a little more normal.

TWO weeks after that I got a very heavy period. Things have still not become normal. 

The depression and headaches have now begun to go away. The weight gain and lack of sex drive don't seem to be getting much better. It's still a lot to cope with. I have to say that Depo Provera has really ruined the last year and a half of my life. The worst part is that my four year old daughter and my wonderful husband have had to suffer too. I feel so guilty for neglecting them sometimes. My body image is gone and I feel so UNSEXY because of the weight gain. I wish I could just reverse time NOT do it again. 

Virginia
virginiatate@yahoo.com 

 
First of all i want to express to everyone that i know and feel your pain and can relate to all who have had thier lives changed and ruined by Depo Provera. And if you are considering it for a form of birth control PLEASE DON'T CHOOSE DEPO PROVERA!!! 

Let me begin to tell you that my life has changed drastically since i have taken this poisonous shot for birth control. First of all i have the most unbearable back pain sometimes i cannot even walk. I have severe mood swings and am always moody all of the time. I cannot think straight and forget things. I am depressed all of the time and have headaches and feel like i can't even get out of bed some days. 

I was a normal person before i took this poison and this angers me so much!!!! I must be driving my husband so crazy,let alone myself!!! I can't even handle myself. I am suprised he can handle me!!!! I have gained alot of weight as well which is another frustating thing for me to handle. I also found out i may not be able to have children now which is so upsetting to me and devastating!!! 

I am so sick and tired of being sick and tired!!! I am now in a learning and healing process and trying to get myself back to normal hopefully there is a way i can rid this poison out of my system. I am trying to get my body back the way it was. 

I am so afraid i will never be the same which enrages me thinking this shot could do all of these horrible things to me and make me go from normal to a life turned upside down overnight practically!!! I am hopeful and have strength to get to the better side of this and all i can do is hope and pray that my life will be back to normal and i can be the person i was before. This is truly a nightmare for me!!!! If anyone else needs support please email me i would like to hear from you. Also stay strong to all who have been poisoned by depo provera. My heart goes out to all.

Kristy McKendry