Depo Provera... anyone having issues losing weight?

spyder_rose
spyder_rose Posts: 193 Member
edited October 5 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi Guys,

My gyno has suggested I go onto the Depo Provera injections... I did some googling and discovered a lot of girls say they gained weight and ate more on it... Is anyone on it here and if so, do you struggle to lose weight? I already have an underactive thyroid (medicated) and am gaining weight despite reducing calories and exercising BEFORE going onto this injection. My only fear is, this injection may be my only solution :( ...

Any thoughts or hints or comments would be most appreciated. I have a week to decide...

Thanks,
Hayley :)
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Replies

  • babykanguruh
    babykanguruh Posts: 53
    Have you thought about Mirena or another IUD? I did two shots of Depo years ago, and it screwed my hormones up big time. I was already overweight at the time, so I don't know about weight gain, but hope someone else will. Good luck!
  • skierxjes
    skierxjes Posts: 926 Member
    I was on it for 3 years. In the first 2, I gained 6 lbs. During the 3rd year, I gained 27. I don't blame the depo for one ounce of that. Before I got off the depo and started exercising, I gained at first then started losing. Just don't give into the extra cravings. I wish I was back on the depo, to be honest.
  • sunnybrunette126
    sunnybrunette126 Posts: 200 Member
    I would not recommend going on this. I gained alot of weight on the shot. It was nice not having to take a pill everyday but I feel much better on the pill. Once I found the right one. Plus my harmones felt out of whack on the shot. I just didn't feel myself.
  • val205
    val205 Posts: 50 Member
    I only just got it two weeks ago. I've lost 3 kgs in that time but I've been really tight on my diet and working out vigorously at least 60 minutes a day. Only just stopped spotting - hope it doesn't come back. Maybe do some more research before you decide?
  • charityateet
    charityateet Posts: 574 Member
    Here you go. This has been asked today so it was easy to find :flowerforyou:


    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/404430-question-about-the-birth-control-shot
  • dmpizza
    dmpizza Posts: 3,321 Member
    Almost every day som women post horror stories of gaining 60 pounds in just a few months after getting on Depo.
    I have no experience with it.
  • oldy76
    oldy76 Posts: 185 Member
    I've lost over 30kg and have been on depo for over 10 years. Hasn't seemed to affect my weight loss at all quite frankly.
  • sangelic
    sangelic Posts: 207
    I was on it years ago for a year and a half. I gained a TON of weight on it (like 30+ lbs). However, I think depression played a part in that also. I would think you'd be OK as long as you continue logging what you're eating but if you continue gaining a lot of weight maybe talk to your doc about other options.
  • FatassFairy
    FatassFairy Posts: 166 Member
    i have been on it atleast 3 years now, i am currently unable to lose any weight, though i have a hard time blaming it on the depo , as last year i lost 50 pounds.

    i have had absolutely no side effects
  • friskyfidget
    friskyfidget Posts: 4
    Hi Hayley,

    I've been on depo for about 10 years and I have gained weight. Do I blame that entirely on Depo? Absolutely not! My weight has fluxuated due to my diet and lack of exercise. I was successful on Weight Watchers, but as soon as I stopped tracking what I was eating, I gained it all back. Thank goodness for MFP (the cost of WW was the problem for me). I've lost an average of 2lbs per week and I think thats the recommended amount so I wouldn't say Depo is hindering my loss.

    I do want to tell you a little bit about my experiece when I started Depo. My cycle was crazy for about a year. I always had "protection" on me because I never knew when I was going to need it. I'll admit the first year wasn't that great. However, after that my cycle stopped entirely and I've been completly free of it ever since. That has been WONDERFUL!!! No mood swings, no worries about forgetting to take anything, Depo works great for me and I recommend it whenever anyone asks me about birth control. For me the hurdle was just getting past that first year, which may seem like a long time but it was well worth it. If you think Depo may be a solution for you and if your doctor thinks its ok, I say try it...you can always go off it if you don't like it. Good luck!
  • efweston
    efweston Posts: 2
    I have been taking the depo shot for like 9 years. I love it. I have no problems! :wink:
  • spyder_rose
    spyder_rose Posts: 193 Member
    Thanks so much for the responses so far...

    My gyno has (results pending) decided this would be the best option for me, due to other issues. I've been on the pill for 11 years now and whilst that has been good. Something went horribly wrong 5 months ago and there has still been no change... I get some more results next Thursday and if I decide yes to the Depo Provera then she will give me the injection then and there (so long as I don't have something very negative come out of all the results). I'm just so worried I will gain more weight as I'm only 4 ft 8 and every kilo makes a massive difference!!!!

    I'm so undecided. If it solves my problems, then YAY, but side effects and weight gain equals BOO :'(
  • fridayjustleft04
    fridayjustleft04 Posts: 851 Member
    I've been on it for a year and have still lost weight. It's coming off slower than it was a year ago, but it's coming off. Other than that, I haven't had any negative side effects at all.
  • SassyCalyGirl
    SassyCalyGirl Posts: 1,932 Member
    I am on Depo as well. Loosing weight just fine.....
  • jrditt
    jrditt Posts: 239 Member
    I asked my doctor about it when I started it because i didn't want to gain weight either. She said that it increases your appetite so as long as you are watching it's fine. I would bet that all those people that gained a lot of weight weren't logging their food then and just ate more because of the increased appetite. In fact, I started that and another medication that was suppose to maybe cause weight gain and I have still been losing weight.

    I switched to depo because it's progesterone only, I was on the ring before and the estrogen was causing face discoloration on me and this is the only hormone birth control that doesn't have estrogen.
  • spyder_rose
    spyder_rose Posts: 193 Member
    Cool. Thanks for that. I've been looking into it and yes, cos it's the only one that only contains the one hormone is why my gyno has said that's the go for me (results pending...)... sigh. Just hope that I don't gain anymore weight.

    Thanks heaps :)
  • Amy_B
    Amy_B Posts: 2,317 Member
    I was on it for two years, the first two years of college. I gained 60 pounds. I was hungry A LOT. I will never go on it again because of this.
  • WalkingZero1
    WalkingZero1 Posts: 42 Member
    I didn't gain any, but I couldn't lose weight worth a damn.
  • Jorra
    Jorra Posts: 3,338 Member
    I started depo and MFP at the same time. No problems here.

    You all should check out the women's group "Periods, Period." There is a sticky topic about discussing birth control.
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/779-periods-period
  • pbaker8307
    pbaker8307 Posts: 60 Member
    I've been on Depo for 16 years. Love it! Never blamed my weight problems on it...I just didn't eat and exercise well. I started MFP the same week I was placed on thyroid meds...I've not had an issue so far...the weight took time getting on me so it will take time to come off.
  • Gabriall
    Gabriall Posts: 101 Member
    This is my first post, would like to say thankyou to the OP for posting it because I suddenly realised after 5 years on depo, I was actually ten days late for my injection!! first time ever.
    So managed to book it and get it done.

    Thing is, the first year on depo was not fun, constant bleeding etc, but the pain was significantly less than what I suffered anyway each month and the bleeding was greatly reduced, so I considered it a decent trade off and stuck with it. As somebody who suffered debilitating mind crushing soul destroying periods since the age of 8, for 17 days a month Depo has been nothing short of a miracle.

    I would not ever want to risk returning to the levels of pain that I suffered before that, but that being said, I also have no intention of having any biological children so that issue wasnt put into my personal risk assessment. These days, I suffer no pain, no wildly fluctuating emotions and certainly no bleeding at all.

    As to the weight loss thing, without going into a long story, 2 years ago I lost ten stone, and this was while I was on depo I put it back on again due to other personal issues but am working on it again now, and have absolutely no doubt in my mind that it is not only going to be possible but is going to happen. And since depo did not prove to be an issue the last time, I do not forsee any issues with it this time.

    Everybody's different, I tried MANY different kinds of pills before depo, friend tried depo and it didnt work for her. Just got to find the right solution for you.
  • TraceyDonna
    TraceyDonna Posts: 60 Member
    Having read all these responses everyone clearly has different experiences with Depo.

    Personally, I had it for around five years. It was excellent for me and solved the gynae probs I had experienced in the past. However, I did gain a substantial amount of weight. The nurse told me it was due to the drug increasing my appetite and therefore it clearly was my own fault for not curbing it! If you're sensible Im sure you'll be ok on the weight score.
  • spyder_rose
    spyder_rose Posts: 193 Member
    Thanks so much for all your responses.. well I bought the script today and dependent upon the results I get on Tuesday and Thursday.... I'll be getting the injection on Thursday morning. I am planning on keeping an eye on my diet and limiting sodium as much as possible as well to limit water retention, etc...

    I'm hoping it will help me... I'm not expecting it to happen overnight... as this problem has been happening for too long already... anything will be a bonus...

    Thanks again guys :) much appreciated.
  • KaylaKilgore
    KaylaKilgore Posts: 160 Member
    I gained weight at the end of the first year on Depo. However, when I first went to get it they told me that I have to stay active exc. or else I would gain weight. I didn't stay active; so it was basically MY fault I gained weight. I just got back on it a month ago, and have lost 7 pounds so far.
  • healthypeoplearehappypeople
    healthypeoplearehappypeople Posts: 17
    I've only been on Depo for about three months. So far I haven't noticed anything drastic. It made me break out a lot at first, but that's calmed down. I did gain a little bit of weight a month or so after I got the shot, but I think that was just from getting off track.
  • 21katykat01
    21katykat01 Posts: 51
    I was on Depo for two years. At first I was fine, but after 14 months I literally started to go crazy.

    I couldn't regulate my emotions, was hungry, tired, grumpy, moody, etc *all the time*.

    If you have any other option, I really wouldn't recommend it.
  • 21katykat01
    21katykat01 Posts: 51
    Cool. Thanks for that. I've been looking into it and yes, cos it's the only one that only contains the one hormone is why my gyno has said that's the go for me (results pending...)... sigh. Just hope that I don't gain anymore weight.

    Thanks heaps :)

    Also - I used to have a problem with the combination pill (kept having migraines where I'd lose all vision), which is why I went on depo. However, while I live in the UK, there is a new single hormone pill available, but it might be different if you're in the US. Sorry you're having problems, hope it gets worked out soon!
  • katems_02
    katems_02 Posts: 3
    I was wondering how it was coming off of it. I have also had two shots and came to the conclusion that this year of trying to lose weight has only made me gain because of this stupid shot. I'm healthy, workout everyday and make almost every meal I eat not to mention the amount of fruits and veggies I eat everyday are like candy for me. I did a bit of research, some of the lbs for other people have just dropped completely and others have an extremely difficult time still losing weight. I was wondering how coming off depo was for you...

    If you could get back to me I would GREATLY appreciate it!
  • SassyCalyGirl
    SassyCalyGirl Posts: 1,932 Member
    I am on Depo and have had no problems losing.
  • Janshaz22
    Janshaz22 Posts: 1
    Well I do blame the depo. I took it because I was suffering hormonal migraines so couldn't take the pill anymore. I had first shot In 24 weeks I'd gained nearly 2 stone! Didn't take the shot in October and I reckon I've lost 7 pound and now it won't shift. I used to work out 10 hours a week, I know healthy eating. Normally it would fall off me, but it's not shifting. I'm going to get water tablets today and see if that helps. Now I'm on nothing to get everything out my system. Still not had a period, heard it's once you get that things start to change. Depo didn't affect my mum this way but it has me, never again!!
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