Ladies Only - Female Question re: Depo and Weight Loss

MystiqueASAP

Maybe check your potassium levels and/or intake.

As in not enough or too much? I've been watching it - the thing is I don't really know what it was before, so I dont' know if I'm getting more or less, but I've been getting right around 2000 mg.

Diuretics causes low potassium. If you are taking diuretics for your blood pressure, then you may want to consult your doctor about taking them while on Depo. The RDA of Potassium for women is 4.7 grams (4,700 mg). Hope this helps.

susannahcooks

Yes, it's normal. Aside from depo causing spotting frequently, when you start losing fat, the fat cells release estrogen, which can cause spotting. That said, depo is really bad for your bone mass, among other things. I would recommend switching to implanon, or mirena for long term birth control.

Thanks! That's the best explanation of the hormone change I've seen yet. THANK YOU. That makes sense. Implanon has blood pressure effects that I can't have, and mirena won't work (we tried - see one of my previous posts.. OWOWOWOUCH! "No I've not had children, what do you mean you just assumed? don't you have my ENTIRE MEDICAL HISTORY ON FILE??" eeeesh. But I do think it's time to get off Depo, but not alot of options unless I go barrier instead of hormonal. I had a bone density scan done last year and I was in the 95 percentile, so hopefully I have some time still on Depo to get my blood pressure low enough to find an alternate solution with less side effects.

susannahcooks

Diuretics causes low potassium. If you are taking diuretics for your blood pressure, then you may want to consult your doctor about taking them while on Depo. The RDA of Potassium for women is 4.7 grams (4,700 mg). Hope this helps.

Huh - good to know. This tool says its alot less than that. I was aiming for 2000 thinking I was doing good! And yes, I am on a diuretic with the BP meds. I'll ask about that.

calliope_music

Depo scares the bejeezus out of me, party cause i hate shots and partly due to the side effects (although i myself take Yasmin). i know that when i lose weight, my periods are a bit wacky even when i'm on the pill - my OBGYN explained it that as i lose weight, my hormones are readjusting themselves are get a bit weird. this only happens to me every few months though. i think for me that it could be because once i hit a certain weight, i just don't get my period.


good luck!

masonjessica11162007

When I first started to speed up my runs I started to spot I recommend another form of birth control because, Depo is known to increase your appetite, thin your hair, and other bad beauty side effects.

skierxjes

I've been on it for 3.5 years and haven't had any spotting due to weight loss. Are you sure you're not just spotting when you get near your next shot? That has happened to me a couple times, when it starts to wear off, I might spot a tiny bit

IveLanded

Since we're talking about it, why do you even need to be on hormonal b/c at all?

Just throwing it out there.........I was done having kids and so I just got my tubes tied and I LOVE IT!!! The women in my family have a history of going into menopause late in life and as we've all discussed.......hormonal birth control is usually just bad for you. If you can avoid it all together, I for one can attest at how much easier life is not dealing w/ birth control at all.

susannahcooks

Since we're talking about it, why do you even need to be on hormonal b/c at all?

Just throwing it out there.........I was done having kids and so I just got my tubes tied and I LOVE IT!!! The women in my family have a history of going into menopause late in life and as we've all discussed.......hormonal birth control is usually just bad for you. If you can avoid it all together, I for one can attest at how much easier life is not dealing w/ birth control at all.

well, lets get personal! (LOL - thats supposed to be funny, I realize that I'm sharing all kinds of personal details out here!). Actually I hadn't considered tubes tied. I'm 40 and haven't had kids and certainly don't plan to (esp at this age), so it's an idea. Will insurance cover such a thing if it's not medically necessary? (Or can they argue that it is since it's to protect my health - bound to be cheaper in the short term than the long-term of paying for some other shot...) Is that an outpatient thing? Seems like it should be since gall bladder surgery is PRACTICALLY outpatient.

Thanks again!

SusanleeBee

As long as your insurance isn't through a Catholic company, they typically cover tubal ligation. If you're going for permanent sterilization, I'd recommend Essure. It's essentially non surgical tubal ligation. Your doctor will insert tiny coils vaginally into your Fallopian tubes. In a few weeks, the tubes scar down around the coils, and ta-da! permanent birth control. It's cheaper and easier than surgery, 100% out patient, and equally as effective as a tubal. No hormones involved. Please feel free to message me. I used to work in labor and delivery, and studied womens' health before moving to mortuary science.

juliegin

I was pretty much the heaviest I've even been while on Depo. Can't blame it entirely on the Depo, because Buffalo Wild Wings had a lot to do with it too, but I did notice some correlating effect on my metabolism.

Vegetablearian

Suggestion time! Try the implanon

Can't do combination hormonal contraceptives like Implanon because it increases blood pressure. Or at least I can't do them until my blood pressure is maintained without a medication. Hopefully that will come in time, because the derm one sounds much less invasive than the cervical one

Implanon is not a combined contraceptive, it doesnt have eostrogen in ... im a headache sufferer and cant have combined :-) its fab and cheap too really for 3 years and no nasty 3 monthy jabs!

autumnk921

I have been on the Depo on & off for 15yrs & have only had periods when I first started back on it...Otherwise a little spotting on occasion especially when I was stressed or changing my diet...I have used this so often b/c it is the easiest for me & I have no periods...Thank goodness...I am on it now after having my now 3yr old (was not on depo when I got pregnant) mainly b/c I am over 35 & smoke which has less risks of heart attack & high blood pressure than any other options...Any spotting with the depo is just fine from what I understand & from 15 yrs of being on it....If you are very concerned just call your doctor or obgyn.... I hope this helps you..


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stew774

I gained a lot of weight on Depo and had a neverending period. I actually ended up getting pregnant on it, which eventually did stop the period :-)
Hated the depo, love the boy I got in the end :-)

Livin_Large

This happened last time too, but its happening again this round. I'm on Depo Provera and pretty much immediately stopped having periods. So it's been like 5 years maybe more? But during periods of weight loss, I spot occasionally. Is this normal? Should I call my doctor? I know spotting can occur with Depo, but I've never had it except when I'm losing weight. Any insight or others on DP who want to chime in: your response would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I was on depo years ago, I had very bad side effects. I gained 40 lbs, had migrains, mood swings, awful stuff. I spotted occasionally. It's just not very good for you overall. I have been using Mirena IUD for almost 10 years now and I don't have a period now either, but none of the side effects.

Beezil

Depo shot has a list of side-effects that requires a booklet. Pretty insane if you ask me... I don't think it should be allowed to be on the market. I was on it once, gained about 20lbs, felt horrible the entire time. I didn't have a period for about a year. (From one shot.) I also grew hair in weird places, and my skin pigment changed in little spots on my face. Thankfully those things went away when the shot wore off...

jenlarz

There is a new procedure called Essure that is female sterilization that is not surgery. I'm looking into it right now as my husband and I are done with kids and I'd love to stop putting extra hormones into my body.

Beezil

This happened last time too, but its happening again this round. I'm on Depo Provera and pretty much immediately stopped having periods. So it's been like 5 years maybe more? But during periods of weight loss, I spot occasionally. Is this normal? Should I call my doctor? I know spotting can occur with Depo, but I've never had it except when I'm losing weight. Any insight or others on DP who want to chime in: your response would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I was on depo years ago, I had very bad side effects. I gained 40 lbs, had migrains, mood swings, awful stuff. I spotted occasionally. It's just not very good for you overall. I have been using Mirena IUD for almost 10 years now and I don't have a period now either, but none of the side effects.

Me too. Love my Mirena. lol I recommend it to anyone who asks about it.

dshelsten

I had a miserable experience with Depo. Weight gain, acne, loss of libido. The loss of libido was the most disturbing side effect because I was newly married. Then when the weight came on, there was body loathing. I had one shot and never went back for another. I don't know that everyone responds this way but certainly it was not good for me. It's hard enough to lose weight, and its complicated and wracked with individual mind games and issues. I believe Depo made it much more difficult. Now I'm over 40 and I feel my metabolism is already inclined to be challenged. If I had to do it all over again, I'd go with a different birth control, even if it were less convenient.

ColleenDeBeasi

I also love my Mirena- periods have basically stopped, and hormones are isolated to my uterine area. I haven't had any children either, but my PCP was comfortable prescribing it- she actually encouraged it over the Implanon for me. It did hurt like a B**** when it was put in, but the cramping subsided.

The only thing to note is that the failure (i.e. it falls out) rate is higher for women who haven't had children.

I understand where you're coming from. I have HBP as well, so my options were also limited. DH and I weren't going to start trying for children for a while, so it made sense for us.

Livin_Large

I also love my Mirena- periods have basically stopped, and hormones are isolated to my uterine area. I haven't had any children either, but my PCP was comfortable prescribing it- she actually encouraged it over the Implanon for me. It did hurt like a B**** when it was put in, but the cramping subsided.

The only thing to note is that the failure (i.e. it falls out) rate is higher for women who haven't had children.

I understand where you're coming from. I have HBP as well, so my options were also limited. DH and I weren't going to start trying for children for a while, so it made sense for us.

It didn't hurt at all for me, felt like a pap, uncomfortable, but not painful. I had the first one taken out too,and a new one put in almost five years ago, no issues.

taboo711

I've been on Depo for 12 years now, gained no weight the first couple, right about the time I turned 20, I've put on weight consistantly. I have now gained 50 pounds. I started working out in February, 4-5 days a week, 1-2 hours a day, and watching what I eat, 1200 calories a day. I've only lost 5 pounds. I am due for my shot next month. I just relocated, so I'm looking for a new doctor and will be finding another method of birth control!

jadedlili02

I have used Depo off and on over the years. However, this time I have gained 20lbs while on it. In the past it would just stop my cycle but now that I have started working out regularly I'm spotting with it. As much as I hate to say it I think I'm going to be switching to the pills when it's time for my next dose of Depo.