Depo provera and weight loss?

rosielatch
rosielatch Posts: 1 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi there.
I'm 18 years old a just yesterday got the contraceptive injection depo provera, I foolishly didn't research my desicon and am reading all sorts of horror stories about people gaining massive amounts of weight. I'm currently 148lbs and have been trying to lose 8. If I eat well and exercise will Be able to lose weight?
Thanks :)
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Replies

  • Maxematics
    Maxematics Posts: 2,287 Member
    edited April 2016
    Depo can cause water retention and changes in your hormone levels which may cause a temporary spike on the scale. However, it also has a tendency to increase appetite so the horror stories come from people who started eating more hence the weight gain. If you eat well and exercise you can lose weight but it's not about eating "well"; it's about eating at a calorie deficit.
  • chandanista
    chandanista Posts: 986 Member
    I lost 40-ish pounds in 2013 while on Depo. Different contraceptions affect people differently, but they cannot make excess fat if excess calories are not eaten. If they could we'd have the solution to world hunger.
  • samwiserabbit
    samwiserabbit Posts: 153 Member
    As others have mentioned, you may feel hungrier. That's not nothing. Counting calories may be just what you need to make sure you're eating the right amount for your weight loss plan. If you count on strategies that may have worked for you in the past, like just eating a little less than you want, you might gain weight.

    Sorry. Depo totally messed with my head, I never went back for a second shot. Everyone is different, though.
  • shaybee377
    shaybee377 Posts: 42 Member
    Depo didn't cause any noticeable changes in my hunger levels (maybe a day or so after each injection, but that could have just been all in my head), and I didn't have any extra trouble losing weight on it. If anything, it actually helped by doing away with PMS cravings. I was on it for two years. Birth control can't make you "gain fat" UNLESS you eat at a calorie surplus, which is true for everyone, regardless of contraceptives.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    I am currently on depo again (used Mirena for 7 years) and no issues for me.

    some of the side affects are noted as weight gain and increased appetite.

    you might retain some water and notice you want to eat but those can be controlled.

    The only issue I had on depo with weight loss was when I ate too much and that wasn't due to depo that was me being fat and lazy and liking to eat.
  • jesoverley
    jesoverley Posts: 25 Member
    I have been on it for 5 years. I have no issues, because I monitor my food intake. You will be fine if you manage your food. We are women, and we eat salt, so our water retention is always going to fluctuate.
  • jessica22222
    jessica22222 Posts: 374 Member
    I find I gain a bit (like 1-2lbs) before my shot. I can feel the increased appetite about a week or two before I'm due. It comes off though soon enough once I get my shot. Figure I'm the same right before periods due and I only get Like this every 3 months so it's not so bad. Just be aware of your food intake and all will be well.
  • jessica22222
    jessica22222 Posts: 374 Member
    edited April 2016
    jesoverley wrote: »
    I have been on it for 5 years. I have no issues, because I monitor my food intake. You will be fine if you manage your food. We are women, and we eat salt, so our water retention is always going to fluctuate.

    Is it OK to be on it for 5 years? My doctor wants me off it soon because I'm reaching the 2 year mark. She told me not to take it longer than 2 years.
    I really like it and would rather stay on it!
  • racheljonel
    racheljonel Posts: 400 Member
    I never had a weight issue with depo, but I wouldn't take that shot again for anything. I was on it for years and it was fine, then new research came out about not being on it long term and my doctor took me off it. I started having severe panic attacks, irregular and extremely heavy bleeding, constant breast tenderness and nausea. A year later and I'm only just now starting to feel normal again.
  • chandanista
    chandanista Posts: 986 Member
    jessica22222 wrote: »
    jesoverley wrote: »
    I have been on it for 5 years. I have no issues, because I monitor my food intake. You will be fine if you manage your food. We are women, and we eat salt, so our water retention is always going to fluctuate.

    Is it OK to be on it for 5 years? My doctor wants me off it soon because I'm reaching the 2 year mark. She told me not to take it longer than 2 years.
    I really like it and would rather stay on it!

    I was on it 2 years after my daughter, and 4 years after my son. I'm on Mirena now, which is the same hormone but good for 5 years at a time.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    chandanista wrote: »
    jessica22222 wrote: »
    jesoverley wrote: »
    I have been on it for 5 years. I have no issues, because I monitor my food intake. You will be fine if you manage your food. We are women, and we eat salt, so our water retention is always going to fluctuate.

    Is it OK to be on it for 5 years? My doctor wants me off it soon because I'm reaching the 2 year mark. She told me not to take it longer than 2 years.
    I really like it and would rather stay on it!

    I was on it 2 years after my daughter, and 4 years after my son. I'm on Mirena now, which is the same hormone but good for 5 years at a time.

    I used Depo for 10 years then Mirnea for 7 now back to depo...it's my 3rd year.

    It's hard on younger girls as it can cause issues for bone density but Im old.
  • erzadel
    erzadel Posts: 5 Member
    I started counting calories partly so I could prevent weigh gain on depo. I definitely felt hungry ALL THE TIME so I'm glad I did it. I didn't have a lot to lose in the first place but I did lose around 5 lbs while on depo.
  • kgirlhart
    kgirlhart Posts: 5,148 Member
    I had depo after my second baby and I did not like it. I didn't notice any weight gain, but I had lots of problems with my cycle being irregular. I bled almost every day of the month. And I was very irritable (probably from the continuous period) and I stopped taking it. But not everyone has problems, so don't let that scare you. See how you feel and if you don't like it you will know and you can do something else next time. As for the weight, most people who gain weight on hormonal bc is from increased appetite. If you make sure you either stay at your deficit or stay at your goal you should be able to lose or maintain weight without any problem.
  • erinc5
    erinc5 Posts: 329 Member
    I've been on depo for a few years and I have lost about 15 lbs so far this year (pretty even 1 lb per week). So, yes, if you eat at a deficit, you can lose weight on depo!
  • vanesacunningham
    vanesacunningham Posts: 3 Member
    I was on the depo shot for almost 8years with no weight gain issues. I also took a calcium vitamin (which I still take daily) to help with the lose of bone density that comes with taking the depo. Per an agreement with my doctor I got off the depo at the start of 2012 to give my body a break. Last summer I got back on the depo. Any weight gain I had came from listening to trainers tell me I needed to eat more in order to build my muscle mass ( I do a lot of serious weight lifting). I have sense stopped listening to them and am now working with another trainer and within the last three weeks I have lost 6 pounds. :) I am almost back to where I want to be weight wise and that is 165 (currently I'm 173).

  • jenniator
    jenniator Posts: 475 Member
    edited April 2016
    I've been on the depo shot for 2 in a half years and I've lost 33 kg (72.7 lbs!!) :D I find that the depo shot has helped me lose weight easier since I don't have to worry about my period, cramps, mood swings, bleeding, or anything like that. So it makes working out especially easier since I absolutely hated working out during my time of the month. The one thing I noticed is that while lowering my calories under maintenance level, I am extremely hungry a lot of the times and I have a huge appetite. But I'm not sure if this is a side effect of the depo shot or if it's just because I'm a huge eater LOL! To be honest I have no clue since I never successfully lost a huge amount of weight or have been successful at weight loss before I took the depo. I did try fad diets like the liquid diet and I starved the whole time since most of those diets are extremely low calorie. I've been successful with the depo since I learned about MFP, staying within your calorie goal, eating back exercise calories, eating what I want as long as it fits, ect. This is a lifestyle change I never discovered until recently. But I'm curious if someone did have excessive hunger with the depo shot, would it still be a side effect over two years later? Would it last permanently until you stopped the depo shot? Or is it just a temporary side effect that would only last a few months?
  • Dana_E
    Dana_E Posts: 158 Member
    I've gained 40 pounds on Depo, and I've lost 70 pounds on Depo. You can go either way.
  • SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage
    SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage Posts: 2,668 Member
    I was on Depo and while I didn't have an issue with weight gain, I was unable to conceive once I went off. I ended up going through menopause at the age of 26 (Premature Ovarian Failure). Nobody will admit that DP was the cause, but not having a period for a few years must do something, no?

    Not to freak anyone out, but do some serious research if you plan on staying on DP long term. IVF and fertility treatments are very expensive...
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage wrote: »
    I was on Depo and while I didn't have an issue with weight gain, I was unable to conceive once I went off. I ended up going through menopause at the age of 26 (Premature Ovarian Failure). Nobody will admit that DP was the cause, but not having a period for a few years must do something, no?

    Not to freak anyone out, but do some serious research if you plan on staying on DP long term. IVF and fertility treatments are very expensive...

    nope...was on it for 10 years....I can still conceive...on it again to prevent conception.

    Early menopause happens I have a few friends who went through it early...
  • Amerane
    Amerane Posts: 136 Member
    shelbyrose93 wrote: »
    Depo didn't cause any noticeable changes in my hunger levels (maybe a day or so after each injection, but that could have just been all in my head), and I didn't have any extra trouble losing weight on it. If anything, it actually helped by doing away with PMS cravings. I was on it for two years. Birth control can't make you "gain fat" UNLESS you eat at a calorie surplus, which is true for everyone, regardless of contraceptives.

    ^This. I've been on Depo for over a year now and while it did increase my hunger/cravings for about 6 months of taking it, I have been slowly losing weight due to careful management of hunger and calories.

    As for the scares about infertility and such, don't worry too much about it. Talk with your care provider about what forms of birth control are best for you and bring up any concerns then. So far the research says that the vast majority of women will regain normal fertility within about a year and a half of being off Depo.
  • heatherc369
    heatherc369 Posts: 1,555 Member
    I have had no negative effect in the 20 years I have been on it, as a matter of fact I gained all my weight after my doc said I needed to take a break from it (7 years ago) and I kept forgetting to take my pill so I got pregnant and couldnt loose the weight for the life of me...my son is now 6 adn I am FINALLY close to goal and back on depo
  • DaisyHamilton
    DaisyHamilton Posts: 575 Member
    I gained like 20lb and it gave me mood swings and a period that lasted 7 weeks. Also it sucks the calcium from your bones so make sure you're taking a vitamin.

    But as long as you're careful with how you're eating, you'll be fine. I lost the 20lb I gained after a few months. It just made me really hungry so I ate all the time.
  • sarabushby
    sarabushby Posts: 784 Member
    Hi, just to reassure you further I too have been on depo for around 10-12years, I lost around 2 stone, have kept it off and have no adverse side effects. If anything, not having a period each month means I can exercise more freely and burn more calories as a result.
  • lgoldfarb
    lgoldfarb Posts: 76 Member
    My dr took me off of it. He explained to me that depo keeps on any weight you gain and it's harder to lose that weight gain, especially in the belly area. I had my last shot 10 months ago and have yet to restart my cycle. I'm hoping that once my cycle returns the weight will come off easier.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    lgoldfarb wrote: »
    My dr took me off of it. He explained to me that depo keeps on any weight you gain and it's harder to lose that weight gain, especially in the belly area. I had my last shot 10 months ago and have yet to restart my cycle. I'm hoping that once my cycle returns the weight will come off easier.

    you need a new doctor...the only thing that can cause it to be harder to lose is eating more than you need to lose....
  • PaulaWallaDingDong
    PaulaWallaDingDong Posts: 4,641 Member
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    lgoldfarb wrote: »
    My dr took me off of it. He explained to me that depo keeps on any weight you gain and it's harder to lose that weight gain, especially in the belly area. I had my last shot 10 months ago and have yet to restart my cycle. I'm hoping that once my cycle returns the weight will come off easier.

    you need a new doctor...the only thing that can cause it to be harder to lose is eating more than you need to lose....

    I agree. Weight gain is listed as a "potential side effect" simply because some women gain weight while using Depo or any other hormonal birth control. That doesn't mean the bc caused it. Your body can't make extra fat if you don't give it the materials to do so. You need a doc who doesn't believe everything they're told without considering context.
  • NotGnarly
    NotGnarly Posts: 137 Member
    I had 2 shots of depo in 1999 and gained about 40ish pounds. This was long before calorie counting and websites like mfp came about. Heck I think it might of been before the Internet became widely available. I never had a weight problem before depo and would eat what I wanted. Depo made me super hungry but never ever having to count cals in the past I didn't realize how much it had increased my appetite. Been struggling with my weight ever since.

    My sister on the other hand lost a lot of weight on depo but she had her period non stop. Today if you are on depo you have more tools available to you when it comes to not gaining but for some of us those tools weren't available years ago. Good luck.
  • NotGnarly
    NotGnarly Posts: 137 Member
    Oh and might I add that I'm a raw vegan now and the weight is coming off. I personally believe that depo can screw your body up and as a matter of fact I never had hypoglycemia until depo. A lot of people think that just ignoring the hunger caused by depo will work but not if it causes your blood sugar to crash. Your body is demanding those extra cals for a reason. I personally wouldn't recommend depo or anything that can stay in your system long term. Sometimes it can take years after stopping depo in order to get pregnant or back to normal.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    NotGnarly wrote: »
    Oh and might I add that I'm a raw vegan now and the weight is coming off. I personally believe that depo can screw your body up and as a matter of fact I never had hypoglycemia until depo. A lot of people think that just ignoring the hunger caused by depo will work but not if it causes your blood sugar to crash. Your body is demanding those extra cals for a reason. I personally wouldn't recommend depo or anything that can stay in your system long term. Sometimes it can take years after stopping depo in order to get pregnant or back to normal.

    good thing it's just a personal belief and not a fact.

    the side effect of depo is actually "increased appetite" not hunger...and most people don't know the difference.

    and I read once where a women had POD but couldn't take metaforim for it due to hypoglycemia and they used depo instead...go figure.
  • ldowdesw
    ldowdesw Posts: 222 Member
    Hi, I've been on the depo for 6 years and my sister has just come off after 23 years.. For me my weight gain is due to over eating and I don't blame the depo for any increase. It has tamed my pmt from 'wild raging beast' to perfectly tolerable. Pmt was my motivation for having it initially, I'm losing weight slowly and steadily. I would rather be obese than have the horrendous pmt that I have suffered since 11 years old.. I wish you all the best and I do hope it works well for you. Any consolation my sister is a very slender 9st 2lb and she didn't gain with it either. Xx

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