Hello!

I gained a lot of weight while on the depo, and I’m still struggling to get rid of it. What are some of the problems people had with it?


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  • Other than weight gain, side effects you often see on the depo injection are
    Irregular menstrual periods or no periods at all, which is a safe benefit of the shot.
    Headaches.
    Nervousness.
    Depression.
    Acne.
    Changes in appetite.
    Weight gain.
    Excessive growth of facial and body hair


  • When I worked in psychiatry lots of female clients were on depo injections and indeed all suffered weight gain


  • I have always been afraid to try it because of all the stories i have heard about bleeding for long periods of time and how it takes you longer to conceive after going off it


  • I’ve never never been game enough to try it. It scares me to think what I’ll do if I have a reaction to it, it can’t be stopped or taken out :(


  • I got my period for 8 weeks after it :(


  • The day after I got the Depo injection, my period started 2 weeks early and then although light didn’t stop for the next 3 weeks :( Finally my GP agreed to give me medication to stop my period. It may be great for some women but wasn’t great for me.


  • im glad i no there is this side affect from taking it as i was considering it but i already have a weight problem as my thyroid doesnt work properly


  • I had 1 shot of depo and it took 9 months for my period to come back. We started trying for a baby as soon as my period returned but it took us 2.5yrs to fall (even though i had 2 children conceived easily). Had an early miscarriage and an ectopic then had to go through IVF. Took us 5 yrs all up after the depo shot to have a baby. Other side effects were the stray thick black hairs that appeared on my chin that i still pluck out to this day. I would not recommend this form of birth control to anybody.


  • I used to smoke so was terrified of trying the pill, I ended up on Depo for nearly 10 years and never had a period in that time! I guess I gained a little weight, but nothing dramatic. I guess you can only try and see how you respond, weight gain will be due to your moods not anything physiological.


  • Terribly. I had mood swings and lots of pimples.


  • it must be very frustrating for you, hope luck comes your way soon


  • Thanks for everyone’s answers..
    I put on roughly 20kg while on it, and have been slowly losing it since I stopped taking it but it’s difficult
    I also have to be careful with what contraceptives I use as I have a blood clotting disorder. For instance I cannot take the pill, these increase my chances of a blood clot dramatically, so that’s why my doctor suggested the depo
    We want another child, and have been trying for a year with no luck yet, but after my next child I need to find a contraceptive that isn’t going to do the same thing, or increase the chance of blood clotting, very frustrating


  • Ive not had it myself as ive had my tubes tied but i had a friend that was on it and like you she put on nearly 10kg she stopped it and now has the bar in her arm.


  • I have not taken it (been trying for successful pregnancies for 2 decades…) but I have heard it can cause minor weight gain. If you have put on a lot, it may be an underlying cause like thyroid issues. I would suggest get your GP to check it for you.


  • A work colleague had it and piled on the weight, said she felt nauseous a lot.


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