Can't lose anything thanks to Depo Provera!!!

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Replies

  • silvip
    silvip Posts: 2
    I've been on Depo for approx 3 years & I did gain weight. Unfortunately this was just because I was overeating!
    My doctor told me that the shot alone won't make me gain weight but it could increase appetite like any other form of BC.
    Ive lost 32lbs whilst still on the Depo with no issues though...
    You said in previous post you are eating 1100 cals/day. Like other posters I would say that definatley isn't enough. I found upping my cals a little bit when I'm not losing helped :smile:
    Good luck losing! :flowerforyou:
  • PRMinx
    PRMinx Posts: 4,585 Member
    I HATE birth control. Ugh.

    I've been on so many different types of birth control throughout the years and each one of them affects me differently. Right now, Yaz is the lesser of all evils (although I hope I don't die of a stroke). If I didn't have problems with acne, I would be off the pill in an instant. Years ago I went off completely and I lost 10 pounds in two months without changing a thing.

    I haven't been on Depo, but I did try Seasonal. Like Depo, Seasonal is also a birth control that makes you not have a period for three months. I started gaining a lot of weight and immediately jumped off of it. I'm assuming it had something to do with the high dosage of hormones in that style of BC.

    Weight gain is definitely a side affect of hormonal birth control. Of course, different people are affected in different ways, but it is an established side affect that is discussed in the drug implications and risks portion of the pharmacy write up. Read the packet you get from the pharmacy. It's all in there.
  • SDkitty
    SDkitty Posts: 446 Member
    ^^ Every single birth control on the market has a possible side effect of weight gain, it all depends on the person, the eating habits, the body's reaction to the hormones etc. The shot itself does not actually prevent you from losing weight. I was on Depo for years and didn't have any problems.
    Translation:

    "It didn't happen to me, so it can't possibly happen to you."

    That's not what I said at all, I said every person reacts differently. Some people (like me) have zero problems, some people have a lot. You have to test different birth controls. For me I had tons of problems on just the regular pill.

    You said:
    The shot itself does not actually prevent you from losing weight. I was on Depo for years and didn't have any problems.

    Yes. Of course if you read only two lines of what I wrote.

    SOmeone seriously woke up on the wrong side of the bed today, you don't need to be so hostile to everyone. Take a chill pill.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    ^^ Every single birth control on the market has a possible side effect of weight gain, it all depends on the person, the eating habits, the body's reaction to the hormones etc. The shot itself does not actually prevent you from losing weight. I was on Depo for years and didn't have any problems.
    Translation:

    "It didn't happen to me, so it can't possibly happen to you."

    That's not what I said at all, I said every person reacts differently. Some people (like me) have zero problems, some people have a lot. You have to test different birth controls. For me I had tons of problems on just the regular pill.

    You said:
    The shot itself does not actually prevent you from losing weight. I was on Depo for years and didn't have any problems.

    And YOU said the shot itself causes weight gain regardless of calorie balance or appetite.

    This is pure speculation. And, really, poor speculation since you posit no actual biological mechanism for the gain.
  • laurawilfong
    laurawilfong Posts: 45
    When I was on that, my doctors actually told me it in and of itself won't make you gain weight, at least not any more than any other birth control. It actually just increases your appetite which leads to over-eating and that's what causes the gain.
    Your doctors are either liars or idiots.

    What a delightful comment in the Motivation and Support forum. Jeez.

    I did just want motivation and support and some people are debating! So sorry!!
  • missjojo31
    missjojo31 Posts: 150
    I was on depo for 3 years and lost weight, then i went on the pill and well, here I am :(
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    And YOU said the shot itself causes weight gain regardless of calorie balance or appetite.

    I said that it CAN, not that it always does.

    Until you are a woman and taking hormonal BC, you really need to stop. I usually agree with what you say on the boards, but in this case you just don't get it. Not your fault, but you don't.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    When I was on that, my doctors actually told me it in and of itself won't make you gain weight, at least not any more than any other birth control. It actually just increases your appetite which leads to over-eating and that's what causes the gain.
    Your doctors are either liars or idiots.

    What a delightful comment in the Motivation and Support forum. Jeez.

    I did just want motivation and support and some people are debating! So sorry!!

    People debate everything here. No worries. :-)
  • laurawilfong
    laurawilfong Posts: 45
    I HATE birth control. Ugh.

    I've been on so many different types of birth control throughout the years and each one of them affects me differently. Right now, Yaz is the lesser of all evils (although I hope I don't die of a stroke). If I didn't have problems with acne, I would be off the pill in an instant. Years ago I went off completely and I lost 10 pounds in two months without changing a thing.

    I haven't been on Depo, but I did try Seasonal. Like Depo, Seasonal is also a birth control that makes you not have a period for three months. I started gaining a lot of weight and immediately jumped off of it. I'm assuming it had something to do with the high dosage of hormones in that style of BC.

    Weight gain is definitely a side affect of hormonal birth control. Of course, different people are affected in different ways, but it is an established side affect that is discussed in the drug implications and risks portion of the pharmacy write up. Read the packet you get from the pharmacy. It's all in there.
    Thanks Paige! Right now I am detoxing from all birth control. I was hoping to lose weight before my husband and I have a baby. Since Depo, I can't lose weight AND I am not ovulating. So no weight loss and no baby. Thanks for your encouragement!! BTW: you are BEAUTIFUL!
  • MercenaryNoetic26
    MercenaryNoetic26 Posts: 2,747 Member
    When I was on that, my doctors actually told me it in and of itself won't make you gain weight, at least not any more than any other birth control. It actually just increases your appetite which leads to over-eating and that's what causes the gain.
    Your doctors are either liars or idiots.

    What a delightful comment in the Motivation and Support forum. Jeez.

    I did just want motivation and support and some people are debating! So sorry!!

    Don't be sorry, it's the entertainment factor :wink:
  • laurawilfong
    laurawilfong Posts: 45
    Thank you so much! This is soooo true! So many people are insinuating I'm overeating or something but I'm not! I eat 1100 calories (fish, chicken, rice) and am exercising 1-3 hours a day. Obviously I'm doing everything right and the only change is the Depo. I'm not getting a period, either!


    *sigh* No. Actually, a lot of us are saying you're not eating enough.

    Also, if you're off the Depo, and still not getting a period, get to the doc.

    Doc said to keep waiting. There isn't anything he can do, short of giving me more hormones. And don't be rude.
  • missjojo31
    missjojo31 Posts: 150
    When I was on that, my doctors actually told me it in and of itself won't make you gain weight, at least not any more than any other birth control. It actually just increases your appetite which leads to over-eating and that's what causes the gain.
    Your doctors are either liars or idiots.

    What a delightful comment in the Motivation and Support forum. Jeez.

    I did just want motivation and support and some people are debating! So sorry!!

    back on topic, depo makes some women retain water, have you tried water pills, like aquaban?
    they have worked for me as i get monthly water bloating as normal,
    hope you find something that works for you :) xx
  • Nissi51
    Nissi51 Posts: 381 Member
    I feel your pain.. was there.
  • afanco
    afanco Posts: 15 Member
    My fiancee and I have been learning Natural Family Planning. It's a great alternative if you do not want to put any chemicals in your body that mess with your hormones. It takes a little more effort and some self control, but it's worth it!

    http://www.ccli.org/
  • laurawilfong
    laurawilfong Posts: 45
    When I was on that, my doctors actually told me it in and of itself won't make you gain weight, at least not any more than any other birth control. It actually just increases your appetite which leads to over-eating and that's what causes the gain.
    Your doctors are either liars or idiots.

    What a delightful comment in the Motivation and Support forum. Jeez.

    I did just want motivation and support and some people are debating! So sorry!!

    Don't be sorry, it's the entertainment factor :wink:

    OH girl! LOL
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    And YOU said the shot itself causes weight gain regardless of calorie balance or appetite.

    I said that it CAN, not that it always does.

    Until you are a woman and taking hormonal BC, you really need to stop. I usually agree with what you say on the boards, but in this case you just don't get it. Not your fault, but you don't.

    Women don't have a monopoly on scientific fact about female physiology.

    You made the claim that it's the shot itself, and not calorie balance or increased appetite, that causes weight gain.

    You have supported this claim with..... absolutely nothing whatsoever. I contend that it is a ridiculous, unsupported claim.

    Please, support this claim if you can. I'm just some crazy male who thinks that people should have some basis for calling a bunch of actual physicians liars and idiots. But I'm a male, so I don't count!

    Seriously. Support your claim. If you can.
  • laurawilfong
    laurawilfong Posts: 45
    I feel your pain.. was there.
    Thank you for your encouragement! Glad I'm not alone!
  • gigglybeth
    gigglybeth Posts: 365 Member
    Hormonal birth control effects everyone differently. I stopped the pill and lost 7 pounds in 2 days that never came back. Obviously that wasn't fat, but water retention.

    HBC tricks your body into thinking your pregnant so of course you're going to have changes to your system at that time, but it's hard to know what they will be until you try the different pills/shots/rings/patches/whatever.
  • laurawilfong
    laurawilfong Posts: 45
    When I was on that, my doctors actually told me it in and of itself won't make you gain weight, at least not any more than any other birth control. It actually just increases your appetite which leads to over-eating and that's what causes the gain.
    Your doctors are either liars or idiots.

    What a delightful comment in the Motivation and Support forum. Jeez.

    I did just want motivation and support and some people are debating! So sorry!!

    back on topic, depo makes some women retain water, have you tried water pills, like aquaban?
    they have worked for me as i get monthly water bloating as normal,
    hope you find something that works for you :) xx
    Thanks Miss Jo JO! Love the kitten!
  • TeachTheGirl
    TeachTheGirl Posts: 2,091 Member
    Seriously. Support your claim. If you can.

    'It could be that the extra progesterone lowers the body's metabolism, which promotes the storage of fat, or it could be that it increases appetite. We don't have the answer at this point.'

    (Source: http://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/on-women/2009/03/04/is-your-depo-provera-causing-weight-gain)

    So how about no one is right and no one is wrong because even medical science doesn't truly understand.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    Seriously. Support your claim. If you can.

    'It could be that the extra progesterone lowers the body's metabolism, which promotes the storage of fat, or it could be that it increases appetite. We don't have the answer at this point.'

    (Source: http://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/on-women/2009/03/04/is-your-depo-provera-causing-weight-gain)

    So how about no one is right and no one is wrong because even medical science doesn't truly understand.

    That would be nice, except our friend here is making a positive claim that it's NOT about appetite or metabolism, but it's the shot itself.

    I'd be happy as a clam if she came back and said "OK, maybe we really don't know and it's due to appetite increases or metabolism suppression instead of just the shot by itself."
  • PRMinx
    PRMinx Posts: 4,585 Member
    And YOU said the shot itself causes weight gain regardless of calorie balance or appetite.

    I said that it CAN, not that it always does.

    Until you are a woman and taking hormonal BC, you really need to stop. I usually agree with what you say on the boards, but in this case you just don't get it. Not your fault, but you don't.

    I'm going to agree here. I'm not usually one to pick fights on the board but, really, you need to let this one go. Until you take birth control and personally feel the way it changes your systems and your body, you have no place here. It's actually insulting that you think you know better than women who have experienced this first hand.

    Whether the weight gain is caused by a metabolic slow down, wonked out digestive problems, constipation, hunger, water retention etc. is irrelevant. These are all side affects that make losing weight more challenging and all that really matters is the conversation on how to work through these challenges.

    Sheesh.
  • TeachTheGirl
    TeachTheGirl Posts: 2,091 Member
    But she could still be right.

    If you Google 'depo shot weight gain' you'll find HUNDREDS of posts from women all across the world who are struggling with the same thing. If you KNOW you are eating within your calories, and using MyFitnessPal will help with this, then is HAS to be something else. And if it's not based on 'overeating' or 'increased appetite', what else is there other than something to do with the shot itself?
  • dare2love81
    dare2love81 Posts: 928 Member
    Thank you so much! This is soooo true! So many people are insinuating I'm overeating or something but I'm not! I eat 1100 calories (fish, chicken, rice) and am exercising 1-3 hours a day. Obviously I'm doing everything right and the only change is the Depo. I'm not getting a period, either!


    *sigh* No. Actually, a lot of us are saying you're not eating enough.

    Also, if you're off the Depo, and still not getting a period, get to the doc.

    Doc said to keep waiting. There isn't anything he can do, short of giving me more hormones. And don't be rude.

    How exactly was that rude?

    And if you want motivation and support, be open to all the suggestions you've been getting in this post. I haven't seen anything in here that's been rude, just some people taking things a little too personally.

    If you want help in why you're not losing any weight, open your diary. I'm not trying to be rude, but you're likely not eating enough. Adult women should never eat less than 1,200 calories a day, and that's bare minumum for women who don't exercise, which you say you're doing 1-3 hours of each day. I would bet your metabolism has very likely slowed down. Again, not trying to be rude here, but don't just chalk it up to "it has to be the Depo". There are so many other factors at play here.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    But she could still be right.

    If you Google 'depo shot weight gain' you'll find HUNDREDS of posts from women all across the world who are struggling with the same thing. If you KNOW you are eating within your calories, and using MyFitnessPal will help with this, then is HAS to be something else. And if it's not based on 'overeating' or 'increased appetite', what else is there other than something to do with the shot itself?

    And she could be totally wrong.

    We don't know.

    And yet here she is, claiming that doctors are liars and idiots and that she has the right answer.

    That's pure intellectual dishonesty. We don't know what the mechanism is.
  • Leslie1124
    Leslie1124 Posts: 143 Member
    I've heard that about depo :\ I hate BC sooo much. I'm on it myself only b/c 3 is our max kids and I'm not getting pregnant again lol..I can't wait to be birth control free some day.



    Vasectomy. That's what we did the week after we married, no more problems.

    ours is scheduled next week.
  • PRMinx
    PRMinx Posts: 4,585 Member
    First of all, WebMD lists the side effects "weight gain" and "increased appetite" separately, which implies that the drug maker sees reasons outside of "increased appetite" that lead to weight gain.

    Also, there's this from Drugs.com:

    Metabolic
    Weight gain is more frequently encountered than weight loss during medroxyprogesterone (the active ingredient contained in Depo-Provera) therapy. In women using intramuscular medroxyprogesterone for contraception, the mean weight gain after one year of therapy is 2.5 kg. After two, four, and six years, patients gain a mean of 3.7, 6.3, and 7.5 kg, respectively.

    Data regarding the effect of medroxyprogesterone on lipid profiles have been conflicting. Some studies report possible negative effects on lipid profiles while others have documented a reduction in total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and an increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.

    Metabolic side effects have included weight changes (increases and decreases), glucose intolerance, and changes in serum cholesterol concentrations.

    Read more at http://www.drugs.com/sfx/depo-provera-side-effects.html#4Tlw5z8O5YAje4dC.99

    Next time do your own research.
  • laurawilfong
    laurawilfong Posts: 45
    I took Depo-Provera when it first came out, you actually sound better than me. I gained almost 40 pounds and tried to lose the weight. I was pretty much starving myself and exercising like crazy and kept gaining. I believe it helps you gain weight because pretty much as soon as the medicine was out of me, I lost like 30 pounds in a month without much effort. It was crazy. I was mad because I had no other problems with it except for the weight and at the time I was in the military and I had to stay within certain standards.
    Thank you for the encouragement! I sure do hope when it's out of my system, all this hard work will finally pay off! Thanks, Doll!
  • laurawilfong
    laurawilfong Posts: 45
    First of all, WebMD lists the side effects "weight gain" and "increased appetite" separately, which implies that the drug maker sees reasons outside of "increased appetite" that lead to weight gain.

    Also, there's this from Drugs.com:

    Metabolic
    Weight gain is more frequently encountered than weight loss during medroxyprogesterone (the active ingredient contained in Depo-Provera) therapy. In women using intramuscular medroxyprogesterone for contraception, the mean weight gain after one year of therapy is 2.5 kg. After two, four, and six years, patients gain a mean of 3.7, 6.3, and 7.5 kg, respectively.

    Data regarding the effect of medroxyprogesterone on lipid profiles have been conflicting. Some studies report possible negative effects on lipid profiles while others have documented a reduction in total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and an increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.

    Metabolic side effects have included weight changes (increases and decreases), glucose intolerance, and changes in serum cholesterol concentrations.

    Read more at http://www.drugs.com/sfx/depo-provera-side-effects.html#4Tlw5z8O5YAje4dC.99

    Next time do your own research.
    Thanks Paige for some cold, hard facts!! Bless you!
  • dare2love81
    dare2love81 Posts: 928 Member
    double post

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