weird symptoms after coming off depo provera

I was on the depo injection for 6 years (from 14 - 22 years of age) with no gaps in injections. From the very first injection I stopped getting my period. My last injection was due in November 2006 (it is now June 2007) and I decided to come off Depo back in November.

I got my first period in April 2007 (so it took 5-6 months for my periods to return). Since then, I have been getting monthly periods (last month I had two periods), so they definitely aren't regular. But so far they are not terribly heavy (normal) and last about 2-4 days.

Fertility hasn't returned to normal, my boyfriend and I haven't been overly careful and I am not pregnant.

The worst side effect of coming off Depo for me has been very, very, very sore breasts. They start getting sore about 2 weeks before my period is due and I am not able to touch them (or run, or bounce in any way!) This current cycle has been the worst yet, I have a throbbing pain in my breats and they are very swollen.

My sister came off Depo last year (has been off for over a year) and she had the same side effect, which she said should go away about 6-8 months from when you first get the side effect (my breast tenderness only started two weeks before my first period).

I hope this info helps!

I was due for my 3rd injection nearly 5 weeks ago and didn't go for it due to putting on a clothes size in the 6 months I was on Depo Provera. I had never had a weight problem in my life until that point (I'm 38 years old).

Luckily, I started my period within 2 weeks (was told it could be any time within 6 months!!).

But I started experiencing very tender, painful breasts very soon after I was due for my 3rd injection and they are still extremely uncomfortable every time I move. :'(

I've read a couple of comments on here that others have had the same kind of problem, but is there anything I can use to alleviate the pain? How long have others had to wait before
a) having pain-free breasts?
b) losing the weight (I've been eating salads and exercising for nearly 2 months and still haven't lost anything!)?

I recieve the shot in december, and quit taking it in march. I only got one shot. Now my breasts are tender..oh so sore, and I'm so moody that its causing problems. I thought I might be pregnant, so my doc. did a blood test and it came back negitive. I cry at least twice every day! I'm usually and always have been a happy person. What's going on?

Hi all... Here's my story...



I was on Depo for 5 years. My last shot was on Feb. 22, 2007. I decided to take myself off the shot (which as due on May 17th) when I found out that it's NOT recommended to be take this longer than 2 years without a break. Something my doctor NEVER told me.



During my last couple of years on Depo, I started spotting randomly for about a week to 10 days during different times of the 3 month shot period. When I told my doctor about this, she shrugged it off and said it wasn't anything to really worry about.



It's been exactly 134 days since my last shot in Feb. In those 134 days, I've been either spotting or having light bleeding for 78 of those days. As of today (July 6th) I've been spotting non-stop since June 10th. Since the shot due date of May 17th, I've spotted every day with the exception of 6 random days. Quite frankly, I feel like I'm supporting the tampon companies all by myself!!



As of yesterday, my breasts are becoming sore. Someone in an earlier post compared it to "sunburned nipples"..... I know exactly what they meant now!!



I'm not having some pain between my shoulder blades, but to be honest, I keep wondering if I "slept wrong" or pinched a nerve or something. I'm not positive the pain is due to coming off Depo, but after reading some posts, I'm more open to that idea.



One odd sensation I've been noticing is a greater sensation to touch... Not in a good way. When I cross my legs or when my boyfriend playfully pokes me (as if to tickle me), it seems to hurt now. The only way I can think of to explain it is to say it seems like my nerve endings are closer to the surface of my skin. Does that even make sense???



I'm also having the similar problems of lack of sex drive, no interest in it at all. (maybe partially due to the constant spotting??) I've become much more obsessive too. Once a thought gets into my head, I'm automatically thinking of the worst case scenario and no matter what I do, I can't stop thinking about it. This alone has caused quite a few sleepless nights!! I have days where I get super depressed and want to cry all day, with no reason. Usually within a day or two that subsides... until the next bout.



I haven't had hot flashes, but there are times when everyone around me is cold and I'm hot, or everyone else is hot and I'm putting on a heavy sweater.



My self esteem and self confidence seems to be suffering as well. I find I don't want to even go to the grocery store because I don't want to be around people. I have days where I feel like I have no reason (or even a right) to be on the planet and that I don't "fit in" anywhere! This is not like me at all.



I've never had a bone density test. I know I should get one, but with no health insurance and no spare funds (I've been unemployed for about 2 years now), that will just have to wait.



Has anyone else experienced the constant spotting? How long will this last? After almost 2.5 months of constant spotting, I keep feeling like I'll stop spotting only when I run out of blood!



I'm amazed our doctors have never told us the complete story about Depo. "It's perfectly safe".... "MAY cause minimal bone loss".... "Your body is just adjusting". And I'm supposed to trust these people with my health? I'm becoming seriously doubtful!



Sorry for the length of this post.... but thanks for "listening"!

I was supposed to get my last shot on June 5th. Since I got married June 5th and I have endometriosis we decided to come off the shot.... WELL now I find out what all of you are finding out... IT SUCKS.... I have gotten my period twice in the last three weeks after two weeks of severe pms symptoms. And with endometriosis the two periods a month should be GREAT!! I already had too much pain to function(the reason I went on depo) and now I get it twice a month... I was never told this..... WTF.... I am just wondering if anyone can tell me how long to expect the double periods.

I've been on the depo shot for a total of 6 years. It's was the best birth control I've ever used. I had no side effects what so ever(weight gain, mood swings ect). The only effect was no period for around 5 years. I decided to go off the shot because of unexplained pelvic pain about a month before my next injection was due. I had multiple tests done but no conclusive reason behind my discomfort. The pain went away on it's own after a couple of weeks. I'm not almost a month off the shot. I realized that it was not natural or healthy for you to supress your natural hormones and ovulation. The shot was so convienient and I feel that a lot of other women went on it for that reason. I'm still waiting for my 1st period, this forum has really helped clarify that it could take months return. I was getting a little worried. My doctor was always very clear about family planning and if I wanted to get pregnant it would probobly take around 2 years to even consider. Since my last shot was due I have expereinced more emotion, and some hints of ovulation but I think that's natural when your hormones are injected into you every three months. Just wanted to share my experience.

Thank goodness for this thread. After finally coming off of depo after 3 years, I'm experiencing much of what you ladies have. My husband is thinking I'm pregnant because of the symptoms! My last shot would have ended around June 20th of this year.. I got off of it because of a 30 lbs weight gain in less than 6 months. Not to mention, I've missed having a period after 2 and a half years of being dried up..I've also missed having my libido almost dead due to this. Since I've left the shot, sex hurts (as if certain nerves are being 'jabbed'), my breasts have been tender as all get-out, I have had heartburn and have been generally fatigued all day long. There's also been mood swings ranging from depressive, crying at everything to just wanting to be alone. Don't even get me started on the rest of the mood swings.

I do have one question though: Would getting placed on Lupron or Pergonal speed up the returning of ovulation?

Guest wrote:

I had been on depo for about 6-7 years and I decided to come off it after my partner had a vasectomy (neither of us want children). I had my last injection three months ago. Still no bleeding, but Im getting lots of stomach cramps, sore neck, aching at the backs of my knees - all the things I used to get with my period.
I had no interest in sex, I am moody, my boobies absolutely ache, and I have a general feeling of impending doom all the time! Ive also been having an extra heartbeat which I saw the cardiologist about and was told it was nothing to worry about...I struggle to force myself out of bed in the morning and find it hard to focus at work.
Feel this will never end! Im only 35 and really think at my age I should be feeling a lot better than this!

in response-
I also have been on depo for aprox. 7years. Came off to clean my system out of all the hormones just to find I apparently really put my body through hell. No period for 7 years was great! Then about 2-3 years in I had mysterious symptoms no one could identify- first response was lupus after many inconclusive tests, next was you may have cancer. Neither was acceptable to me- I had EXTREME joint pain ( couldn't even lift my arms to drive my car w/o severe shoulder pain) many meds later and about 8 months of terror and pain they went away. Now with last shot 4/07 and no period/tender breasts/EXTREME fatigue/muscle aches/tachycardia (doc or cardiologist say "no reason found") This all seems to now fit together as awful and terrifyng effects from a drug given to healthy young women that should have had more extensive testing before marketing.Quote:

[
well i just went off it too some of that could be like pms i have been very moody and ill and wanting nothing but sweets...but as a nurse i am telling you that you cant wait till jan go see your regular doc or go to an er cause some of these sounds like they could be from a heart condition i have fibromyaglia and i have alot of these complaints every day but still with this degree of complaints i would go to an er i would not wait another month much less till jan










quote="Guest"] I haven't been back to get my depo shot (due in August) after having been on it for 9 years and I'm having scary health symptoms lately and other than some life threatning cond. I have no idea what could be other than maybe some sorta withdrawl from the depo. Any others experience similar, please let me know.
My whole body hurts/aches, radiating/shooting pains ranging from my chest to my head and arms, hands, wrists ,legs etc. Cramps (abdominal), scary depressing thoughts, general feelings of illness, breast tenderness off and on, pulsations in my legs (mainly around knee area) and some more but the chest pains and shooting pains and pulsations are really scaring me and i cannot get a doc appt. till Jan. 07. any advice or anyone with similar experience would be appreciated

I've been on Depo for 11 year with no break. I was never told that I should come off the jab as I've been having it for so long. Now at 36 I've decided not to have my next jab (Due 31st August) as my Husband & I were planning to start a family. I knew it could take upto 12 months for everything to settle back to normal, but now I'm wondering if Ive left to late !!

Those of you that are reading this that are on the depo shot or have ever been on the depo shot and plan for future pregnancy see your health care provider immediately.

My story:

I was on depo for 7 years with only two breaks where I missed one shot. My last shot was due in September of 2003 and my husband and I had talked and decided that instead of going in for the appointment to get my shot I would go in for a pre-pregnancy check up. I was told that it would be 6 months to a year before my husband and I would be able to actively try to conceive. In September of 2004 I went in again to have testing done to ensure that all my body’s hormones had returned to normal and see if we could start actively trying for conception. In June of 2005 I went in because of infertility issues. It had been 18 months since coming off the shot, my periods were very irregular and we were having no luck with natural conception. My doctor, who has been wonderful through the whole ordeal and was not the one that started me on the depo in the first place, put me on what is called Clomid. It is a prescription drug to aid the body in increased ovulation. My husband and I were pregnant by September of 2005. However, because of the hormone replacement that is done by taking depo my body did not react properly causing a tubal pregnancy. I had to abort. I started back on the clomid following my next "irregular" period. We got pregnant again and have two more times in the last two years. All three pregnancies have ended in the first 6 weeks because of low progesterone, the hormone that Depo replaces. I am not on a low dose estrogen pill. I will be taking the pill for 4-6 months then going back on the clomid following coming off the pill. This should increase my fertility and because I am not replacing the progesterone in my body I should be able to carry the baby with progesterone shots following conception.

Depo has been proven to have robbed at least 1% of its users of the ability to bare children. Do not become a statistic!! I am sure that as women have begun educating themselves about the "REAL" side effects that are associated with this drug that we will see that it is even more then 1% of users that suffer from indefinite infertility issues.

To top things off, most health insurance companies will pay 100% or nearly 100% to help women prevent pregnancy, but they will not pay a dime to help you get pregnant later. It has cost my husband and I nearly 5000.00 in medications alone, another 5000.00 or so in blood work and that is not even counting any fertility specialists that I might have to see should this new attempt to become pregnant end up unsuccessful.

i was on depo since i was 17 i am now almost 30 and i have been off depo this sept one full yr. and guess what i finally got my first real period..so it only took me one yr. they say up to one yr or a little later..the first month in 06 when i was suppost to get my shot i got a little period just spotted a little..this past aug 07 i got a little period just some spotting..now sept 07 i got the real thing..boy i know what i was missing all those yrs. i hate cramps.. not to worry you should get your period in one yr. months before now i started getting the signs that my hormones where changing..i went like 2wks at a time when my breast got real sore/swollen that sucked..i am happy i finally got my period but at the same time i am now on day 6 of my period hoping it will stop soon..
best of luck to you..dont worry though..it will come..

Yes!! This came up when I typed in a search engine "Effects of coming off the Depo shot"! I am so thrilled to hear this! I was so worried that I might be pregnant due to my heat flashes, bits of nauseia, and tender nipples. I had only been on the shot for a year and my last shot was due around 9 weeks ago, but I never went. Glad to hear I am not the only one!

I was on depo for 8 years total. I got on right after the birth of my son, then went off for personal reasons, nothing to do with side effects. At first I didn't have any side effects except missed periods. I was thinking it would come back in a few months of not taking the shot, but then because I was sexually active and I didn't use birth control I thought I had become pregnant. I wasn't nauseated or have any of the normal pregnancy symptoms just a sense of feeling pregnant. I had waited several months before going to the Dr - which wasn't unusual in my family when a baby is concerned. But after 6 months passed, I started to bleed. It looked like a normal period. I was afraid that I was going to lose my baby only to find out in the ER that there was no baby, never was. I asked the ER Dr why did I feel so pregnant and why did my stomach grow and I even felt flutters in my stomach - he said it was the side effects of the Depo. I was very surprised as I was never told this could happen when going off Depo. 8-|

So, after 2 years of having normal periods and feeling "normal" again - due to my imbalanced hormones I started to break out with acne really bad. I had tried Proactive and everything and nothing would work permanently then I started to remember how nice my skin looked when I was on Depo, so I jumped back on board. After meeting my fiance we decided we would want another child so I stopped the shots again. This time giving myself at least 9 months until my periods started again. My last shot was in August 2006 and I started my period in Jan 2007.
So far so good. I didn't experience the same feeling of being pregnant until recently. June 2007 my period was shorter and just seemed different. Then in July, it only lasted 1 and 1/2 days. For sure, I thought this was a sign of pregnancy so I rushed to buy a pg test only for it to show negative. The next month my period was weird again lasting 2 days, so I thought okay, maybe I tested too soon last month so I got another pg test and you guessed it negative. Now it is September and my bleeding increased to 4 days but it was accompanied by achy breasts, nausea, leg cramps, round abdomen, pain when I layed on my stomach, horrible cramps off and on - I was feeling horrible so I made an appt with my OB/GYN and she did an exam and said there is no baby. I even did another Urine and Blood test only to test negative or normal to them. But since I was having all these symptoms of pregnancy my Dr became suspicious and ordered an ultrasound. The ultrasound showed no baby of course but that I have an ovarian cyst. She said it is most likely to go away on its own but she wants to have another ultrasound done in 6-8 weeks to be sure. She also asked me about going back on birthcontrol and recommended the pill. I don't think so - I have had enough side effects from all this c**p going in my body. I don't know when I will get back to normal but I hope it is soon because it sucks to have all these pregnancy like symptoms (suffer through them) and in 9 months there is still no baby to make it worth while. I agree with one of the other posts. Depo is the Devil. :-S

I was on Depo vera for about 6 years and recently came off after I was hospitalized with gallstones 2006. After my surgery i didn't want anything in me that wasnt healthy so I chose not to get my injection. Since then I feel like I'm falling apart. Symptoms include: abdominal pain, body aches, fluttering heart beat, pain in breast, mood swings, leg cramps, ovarian cysts, painful periods, cramps, chronic yeast infections the week before my period starts, severe stomach pain, bloating, irregular periods blood doesnt flow out the only way I know my period is on is when i go to use the bathroom its not coming out so where is it going?, Diarrhea the week before my period, stress fractures in my feet, facial hair. I'm glad to see that im not the only one expieriencing these type symptoms but what can be done about what depo vera has done to my body and my life?