Depo Provera-long term use caused Osteoporosis

Then you are one of the lucky ones aren't you???

I have been on it over 2 years, remain active, take a multivitamin and calcium. They recommend 2 pills a day of the calcium but my gyno said 3 wouldn't really hurt(might cause kidney stones) and help prevent bone loss. My bone scans have come back perfectly normal. My only problem is now I am on estrogen treatment because of non-stop bleeding, it thins out the lining of the uterus so much it starts to thin out the inner lining as well. I just started on the estrogen so I hope it helps. But as far as the bone loss if you do stay active and do the weight bearing excercises and take the calcium I have found I have lost no bone density :)

I am 20 years old and have been on depo since 2007 (5 years) I have not taken any calcium supplements while on the depo because I was just informed by my doctor Monday that I was suppose to. After reading these comments I have noticed that alot of the mentioned side effects apply to myself. I have yet to be tested for osteoporosis- and Im not sure I want to know. I have mood swings that I didnt have before- sometimes I find myself shedding tears over something really petty, for no apparent reason- I am really tired & weak alot of the time- which I pushed off as me working too much and I also have low iron to top it off- I wonder if that combined with the depo side effects might cause health trouble for me, I didnt realize how serious these side effects were. I just took it as the every day struggle of single working mother, what should I do?

Hello,

So I scanned through some of these comments and seem to see people I can relate too.
I realize this forum is old but I had kind of a basic question.
I took the Depo from 16yrs old to 23yrs (7yrs). I got a call today saying I have a significant amount of bone loss and osteoporosis.
Somehow, someway, for 7 years I was not aware that this could be an issue. My doctors never mentioned anything until my last appt where they did a bone density and what do ya know...

Anyway, my doctor suggested new form of BC of course. Thing is- I really am not comfortable with ANY of the options out there. Not the pills, the Nueva Ring has now been recalled. I've been looking into Nexplanon.

Has anyone on here switched from Depo to Nexplanon? I've read up a bit and I thought for a while it would be the best alternative but now I'm worried with all the horror stories all over the net. I did so well on the Depo and I LOVED not having my period for 7yrs.

Also- is there a medication or something to help with the osteoporosis so that maybe I can stay on the Depo?

Thoughts would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks much.

fitnessI would say get a hysterectomy....

I have. I was on Depo for 8 years, my dr. never told me about the side effects, I however have been taking vitamins everyday since I was 13, because the better your immune system the less you get sick and vitamins help with that (haven't been sick since I was 13) I take 1500 mg of Calcium, 1800 ui's of D3, 500 mg of C and iron. and I still got Osteoporosis, I am 26. Depo needs to be a drug, that you have to register to be allowed to use, they need to prevent you from being able to use it longer than 2 years.

I am 19 years old and took only two shots of depo. I bled heavily for over a year and became anemic. I then began to have severe back pain followed by sever muscle pains. Fibromialgia was ruled out by a nerve test. I thne began to have sever muscle and joint pain and i have been to many doctors who still cant tell me what is causing all of this. I am now being treated for the symptoms of Lupus and RA. The depo shot is what started all of this, but no doctors told me that this could happen before I started. Stay away from depo.

I have been on depo for about over 15 years. I now know why I get night sweats. No periods, no weight gain. I have not yet got a bone density scan but I know Im in for a big surprise. My doctor has requested fopr me to get one but I have been putting it off. I take vitamin D and calcium pills. But other than that I feell good. I do get somewhat pain on my legs and arms but I have suffered from this since I was very young.

I have been on the depo for about 20 years. I have always been very active and get lots of calcium intake. Due to various concerns of bone density, I also had the test done two years ago and everything was good and above normal for my age. I do not take additional supplements for calcium.

rckrgurl, most women posting are way too young to be getting osteoporosis. Late 20's? Early 30's? One even only 24 years old? Yes, all the things you mentioned help keep osteoporosis at bay later in life. It is now proven that depo provera CAUSES osteoporosis. I now have been on depo provera since my 17 year old daughter was born. Last bone scan showed up fine 2 years ago. However, I am having major mood swings and have been for so many years.....I now just realize it is because of depo, or at least related to it since one month before the shot I am so angry I post crazy angry emails and lash out at people to the point it has ruined my career and family relationships. It is DEFINITELY due to hormonal cycling disruptions since I ONLY get really mad like that exactly 4 weeks prior to the shot. Also, I have a herniated disc, osteoarthritis, and scoliosis. My relationships with family members are ruined. I recall that before I went on depo, I used to be a really nice person. Now my reputation is ruined and people hate me. I am seriously thinking of getting off depo but haven't wanted to for other reasons. I figure if getting pregnant ruins my life, then the flipside to not getting pregnant with using depo is ruining my life and health, then I must get tubes tied and get off this c**p. N'ough said.

I have been on Depo for 12 years, started when I was 20 in college bc of a hectic schedule taking pills was a pain and I would often forget.  I havent had my period in 12 years, which is a blessing since it was very heavy.  Now in the last 6-8 months I have started spotting after 2 months of the most recent shot.  This last one I took early as my OBGYN prescribed and I'm still spotting.  My OBGYN told me that due to the long term Depo use my uterian lining has thinned drastically and I may have to start estrogen. No way.  Since my uterus has a cogential defect I am pushing for a hysterectomy.  I'm tired of the spotting, possible weight issues (cant seem to lose any weight no matter how much I change my diet or exercise), and since I dont want to have kids/cant have kids whats the point in keeping a worthless organ.  Today I have an ultrasound just to make sure theres nothing else going on but hopefully I can schedule surgery.  I am really concerned about bone density loss after reading some posts.  Osteoporisis runs in my family and with long term Depo use I probably am in for a big surprise. fabulous!

I too got the same results being on depo for 15 years and no bone change but as of last week I have retired depo.

I am 37 & have also been on dp for over 15 years. I am in it also for health reasons. I recently took a bone density scan & pending my results I will also be debating a hysterectomy.

I agree with you Melissa. I have been on Depo for over 10 years and found that it cured all the female problems I was having including breast engorgement. My Dr also sent me to have a bone density scan and mine too came back better than it was previously. However I decided last week to go off it and see if I can manage without it. I am 54.

I am 25, have been on depo for 4 years... i have a heart defect...and i have bwen off of it for at least 6 months now...i had a heavy period and then i went in to see my obgyn (since im having fallopian tube removal surgery) so she decided to give me the depo again until everything is figured out..she wasnt conceened about any bone density