Ladies Only - Female Question re: Depo and Weight Loss

susannahcooks
susannahcooks Posts: 293 Member
edited December 16 in Health and Weight Loss
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!
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Replies

  • IveLanded
    IveLanded Posts: 797 Member
    Depo SUPER messes with your system, so yes, that is normal for being on Depo. When you start to change your body chemistry, it's going to affect how the Depo interacts with your hormones.

    I was on it for a long time, and I found out that on top of everything else it messes with, Depo also causes significant long-term bone loss. I have a family of women with osteoporosis problems so that made me quit it right away. FYI.
  • sevencallmemom
    sevencallmemom Posts: 505 Member
    Made me spot all the time and I gained a bunch on it. Don't know if that was about the DP or just what was going on in my life at the time, though.
  • beckylawrence70
    beckylawrence70 Posts: 752 Member
    When I was on it, my period completely stopped, my daughter is now on it and she spots regularly, it's normal to stop or spot, everyone is different. I gained about 15 lbs on it and my daughter too. Felt hungry all the time.
  • Shweedog
    Shweedog Posts: 883 Member
    I'm not real familiar with Depo but when I started my weight loss program my period became irregular. I have been on the pill for 15 years and my cycle was like clockwork prior to changing my diet. Doc said that was totally normal and it regulated after a couple of cycles.
  • susannahcooks
    susannahcooks Posts: 293 Member
    Depo also causes significant long-term bone loss. I have a family of women with osteoporosis problems so that made me quit it right away. FYI.

    I've been considering going off of it. I've heard just awful stuff about it, but it's worked for me.. It was one of the few options that didn't have a side effect of raising blood pressure. Hopefully I've come down (or will soon) enough on Blood Pressure to switch to something else. On the plus side - I did have a bone density scan, and at 40, I have the densest (I pretend heaviest) bones on the spectrum).
  • Leahnh
    Leahnh Posts: 30
    I gained 20 pounds on the Depo and spotted for almost 6 month straight. It was terrible! I'd bet it's the cause of your spotting.
  • twinsanity
    twinsanity Posts: 1,757 Member
    I had the opposite issue with depo...the day after I got my shot I got a period and it didn't stop for 22 months....long after the depo was out of my system. I also found that it made me gain a ton of weight, as it did with my sister as well. With depo, anything is possible.
  • lambeas
    lambeas Posts: 229 Member
    I was on depo for 8 years, and yes weight-loss, major hormone fluctuations and stress can make you spot.
    If it keeps up, talk to yoru dr.

    my OWN opinion.... while i LOVED the no period thing... getting off depo has cause me major issues with having a normal period. The bone density loss issue is not something to overlook or think may not happen.. please be careful!
  • lyddsmom
    lyddsmom Posts: 96
    I hated depo. I did not spot but I had a room mate that spotted a lot on it. The worst was I gained like 10 lbs. I did, however, lose it all when I went off of it.
  • futuresize8
    futuresize8 Posts: 476 Member
    I would notify your doctor so that she/he can note the information in your chart, just in case this isn't caused by Depo.

    I would also make a note of it on a personal calendar so that you can track when in your would-be cycle this is happening. They may be able to recommend some other kind of birth control for you that works better for you without the inconvenience of spotting.

    And finally...not to get in your biz, but consider whether or not Depo is the only/best option of birth control for your particular situation. It may be, but if not, I'd explore others. Everyone is different, but for me, taking extra hormones into my body for the purposes of controlling symptoms/preventing pregnancy was a mistake, and I wish I'd known more about alternatives sooner. (I took variations of The Pill for 20 years.)

    Good luck, m'dear!

    p.s. (or should I say, p.m.s....ha!) there must be something going around because I just wrote a blog post about my own cycle today! Big changes since starting my weightloss...
  • MystiqueASAP
    MystiqueASAP Posts: 747
    My experiences and opinion on Depo (11 years) when I used to get the shot is that anytime I would try a diet or water pill (especially the later with Diurex), I would start spotting; otherwise, I normally didn't have a cycle. Maybe check your potassium levels and/or intake. Hope this helps.
  • SweetSammie
    SweetSammie Posts: 391 Member
    Yikes! That stuff made me crazy. I also gained weight like crazy on it. (As in 5 lbs in a week when I was eating 900-1100 calories a day).

    I also spotted at times.
  • susannahcooks
    susannahcooks Posts: 293 Member
    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.
    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.
    I would notify your doctor so that she/he can note the information in your chart, just in case this isn't caused by Depo.

    I would also make a note of it on a personal calendar so that you can track when in your would-be cycle this is happening. They may be able to recommend some other kind of birth control for you that works better for you without the inconvenience of spotting.

    And finally...not to get in your biz, but consider whether or not Depo is the only/best option of birth control for your particular situation. It may be, but if not, I'd explore others. Everyone is different, but for me, taking extra hormones into my body for the purposes of controlling symptoms/preventing pregnancy was a mistake, and I wish I'd known more about alternatives sooner. (I took variations of The Pill for 20 years.)

    Good call on notifying the doctor. I actually don't even know when my regular cycle is/would be (unless I count now with the spotting) since it's been more than 5 years; so not sure how I would mark it on a calendar.

    Last, yeah - I've heard such terrible things about depo, but at the time it was the only option (may still be) that doesn't impact my blood pressure. (I tried the implant, but it wasn't until they tried to open my cervix (OW OW OW G*&()*&$ OW!) that my doctor said "wait, you've not had any children? ohhhh, those are your STEP children." that we ruled that out.)
  • EmCarroll1990
    EmCarroll1990 Posts: 2,832 Member
    I have been wondering about the spotting too. I've got a friend that's on Depo and she loves it, which is why I tried it out as Tri-Ceclyn Low (sp?) was too annoying and I loved the idea of not having a period. But I never would have correlated my spotting with losing weight.
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    Depo is the ONLY birth control that has been proven to cause weight gain. I have heard of many people experiencing weird side effects from it...

    Suggestion time! Try the implanon ;)
  • susannahcooks
    susannahcooks Posts: 293 Member


    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 :)
  • ChristinaOlliver
    ChristinaOlliver Posts: 57 Member
    I was on depo for 2 and a half years, came off for two years, and I've now been on it again for another 2 and a half years. I've never had any spotting, and have not noticed any weight gain/loss due to it. Obviously everyone reacts differently and I've been lucky, but one of the selling points of depo is that it stops your periods, so I would recommend going to your doctor and finding out what you can do because this must be really annoying for you! Hope I've helped in some way :)

    Edit: Also, a lot of people that have posted have been on depo for quite a long time - I've always been told that the recommended is 2 years. Maybe after 5 years you should come off of depo and try something else?
  • castaliavt
    castaliavt Posts: 75 Member
    I gained 30 pounds on depo and it totally messed with my hormones. It was not due to over eating. I was on weight watchers and counting points like crazy and working out 6 days a week.
  • Myndi73
    Myndi73 Posts: 270
    I've been on Depo for many years. When I first started it, I had a period (very light) for the first 7 months. I haven't had one since and I've had no spotting. I would at least discuss it with your doctor.
  • iampam4399
    iampam4399 Posts: 81 Member
    I was on Depo years ago, and let me tell you......that particular birth control made me the biggest bit*h in the world!! I couldn't even stand to be alone with myself!!!!!!!!!! Once off the Depo, and bam! Back to my normal sweet self!

    Good luck to you finding a good birth control that does not have awful side effects!!!!
  • LHarders
    LHarders Posts: 28 Member
    Hi I am 45 yrs old and been on Depo for almost 19 years....I have never spotted and have not had a period for 19 years....I have tried to loose weight many times in the last 19 years so many friends told me that I needed to stop depo but I am not sure it is the cause of my weight gain...I am going to stop depo soon hopefully this shot will be my last....I have been walking on my treadmill for the last two months and have lost almost 20lbs and no spotting....like others have said depo does different things to different people my suggestion is talk to your doctor just to be sure nothing else is going on. What I would like to ask of you other depo users and those who have stopped it...how long did it take for your periods start back up?
  • 7funnygirl7
    7funnygirl7 Posts: 1,176
    I'm not on Depo but have noticed since I have been "dieting" & exercising that my cycles have changed. Sometimes lighter, sometimes later, etc... I was thinking it could be my age (over 40) or just a "shock" to my system as it ahs never been "really" healthy!..:bigsmile: Good luck on your answers!
  • eriemer
    eriemer Posts: 197
    I'm not sure what all the research shows but from personal experience using Depo and weight loss in the same sentence should be a crime! Only because it is notorious for making you gain massive amounts of weight, the longer your on it the more you gain, and not muscle either. The hormones have your body fooled into a pseudo pregnancy so your gaining in the middle and hips to feed your non existant baby.

    To answer your question, yes you can spot on Depo. Another important fact of Depo is if you are overweight it may not stay in your system as long sometimes requiring higher doses or injections more often (which in turn has you gaining more weight). The weight loss your experiencing could be changing you metabolism and hormones that may be why your spotting.

    There are a lot of birthcontrol options and lower dose pills you could use over using the Depo shot and it will be much easier to lose weight with them. Although, of course, this is something you should discuss with your Dr. and is your own personal decision.
  • eriemer
    eriemer Posts: 197
    One last thing I'd like to add- Condoms, sponge ,vaginal film, cervical cap (great if you've never had kids) and diapharm etc. do not cause any raises in BP. If your allergic or sensative to latex, some barrier birthcontrol methods are latex free, many you can buy OTC and use with or without topical spermacide (they are more effective with).

    I (heart) my diaphram! There are also non-hormonal options out there.
  • SusanleeBee
    SusanleeBee Posts: 144 Member
    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.
  • cazwillis99
    cazwillis99 Posts: 238 Member
    I'm on depo have been on and off for over 17 years now. Never had any obvious weight gain, other than when I came off it and got pregnant then I gained a whole load of weight which I am in the process of losing now. No spotting and never had any issues with it at all. The only reasons I ever came off it were because I kept forgetting to go back every 11 weeks to be re-injected but I am now better organised :-)
  • JanetLM73
    JanetLM73 Posts: 1,226 Member
    I ended up in the ER checking for blood clots in my chest because of the depo shots, I was the 5% of people that had this side effect. If you are concerned then you should see your dr.
  • kimr41
    kimr41 Posts: 219 Member
    I was on the depo for a couple of years and bled/spotted whole time. I also gained a lot of weight, approximately 15 lbs that just fell off when I went off of it. I have known several people on it and they all gained weight.
  • hstallings13
    hstallings13 Posts: 306
    I didn't spot with the depo I just simply didn't have a period, but i did gain 14lbs in a month even though my diet and lifestyle didn't change at all. I would talk to your dr and see what they think might be the problem and see about alternatives that might work better for you
  • bbysars
    bbysars Posts: 36 Member
    Oh god, depo assisted me in gaining like 25lbs, obviously I ate the food but I hadn't changed what I was doing before the shot. I was always around 140-140 then in the 3 months depo was in my system it was a huge gain which I'm working off now. About the spotting.. I don't know if it's considered 'spotting' but I would lose a scary amount of blood for like 2 days, just randomly. No time pattern just.. blood and I went to the doctor who said I had irregular periods when I wasn't actually having my period. My time on it was terrible and knowing now what I know, I would have never gotten the shot.
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