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Suggest Treatment For Terrible Symptoms From The Depo-Provera Shot?
I am having terrible symptoms from the Depo Provera shot. I am experiencing marked depression, anxiety, backaches, cramps, acne, bloating, more frequent headaches, increased discharge, and most notably, my libido went from sky high to negative, and intercourse is now painful every single time I attempt to have sex. I did not have this problem until beginning the shot (I was on Norethindrone before because I don t do well on estrogen, but I switched because I wanted something more effective). I saw my GP and he performed a pelvic exam. He tested me for all STDs (again), yeast, BV, etc. and everything came back negative/normal. I have even taken several pregnancy tests, to be certain - all came back negative. Given the timing of the onset of symptoms and the reports I am reading from thousands of other women, I am 100% certain that I am experiencing these side effects because of depo provera. When can I expect these effects to wear off? I have read horror stories of women whose sex lives did not return to normal for a year or two. I am finally in a committed relationship (despite being 29, I was not regularly or frequently sexually active in the past due to being single and conservative), and I am devastated because this is significantly, negatively impacting my life and relationship (my boyfriend is very patient, but I WANT to enjoy sex with him, and it just hurts every single time, regardless of my lubrication). I only had one shot, and the next would be due in April. I am definitely not getting another depo shot, but I do want birth control protection. I m wondering if switching to an estrogen based birth control may help (since vaginal changes due to lack of estrogen may be responsible for the painful intercourse). Should I switch to a combi pill, go back on norethindrone, or go completely off of hormones for a while and just use condoms? Please consider that I have PCOS, my periods have always been irregular, and my hormones were imbalanced to begin with, so I m not confident that my body will repair itself. What is the average time for the side effects of this shot to wear off, if it s not immediate? I am desperate; between the mood changes and sex changes, I feel like taking this shot was one of the biggest mistakes I ve ever made.
Fri, 3 Mar 2017
Anonymous's Response
Anonymous's
Response
Hi,
Sorry to hear about your bad experience with Depo, it is unfortunately not uncommon.
All of the injectable contraceptive are grouped under the hormonal contraceptives with typically the highest side-effect incidence and lowest Pearl Index (effectivity at preventing pregnancy). The reason for the high incidence is that the entire dose of hormones are given at one time to last for 2-3 months of coverage.
The only reason then for using injectables is typically that patients are too far away from pharmacies and medical facilities (rural) or very poorly compliant with other methods (i.e. taking a pill everyday).
The best hormonal contraceptive method in terms of side-effect profile/incidence as well as Pearl Index (effectiveness) is the Mirena or levonorgesterol containing intra-uterine device or IUD. The IUD is typically inserted an out-patient procedure in your gynaecologists office without the need for sedation/anaesthesia. It lasts for five years and covers you for the entire period whilst you forget about its existence. It can be removed at anytime should you wish to fall pregnant before that.
The second option would be one of the implantable subdermal hormonal contraceptives. They are inserted under your skin on the side of your upper arm through a very small cut under local anaesthesia and last 2 years. Generally very well tolerated
The third option would be one of the most effective and best tolerated oral contraceptives. The best tolerated ones contain ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone e.g. Yaz.
Injectables are best left as last resort.
Barrier methods alone (condoms) are not effective enough as sole contraception.
Kind Regards,
Dr. J
Sorry to hear about your bad experience with Depo, it is unfortunately not uncommon.
All of the injectable contraceptive are grouped under the hormonal contraceptives with typically the highest side-effect incidence and lowest Pearl Index (effectivity at preventing pregnancy). The reason for the high incidence is that the entire dose of hormones are given at one time to last for 2-3 months of coverage.
The only reason then for using injectables is typically that patients are too far away from pharmacies and medical facilities (rural) or very poorly compliant with other methods (i.e. taking a pill everyday).
The best hormonal contraceptive method in terms of side-effect profile/incidence as well as Pearl Index (effectiveness) is the Mirena or levonorgesterol containing intra-uterine device or IUD. The IUD is typically inserted an out-patient procedure in your gynaecologists office without the need for sedation/anaesthesia. It lasts for five years and covers you for the entire period whilst you forget about its existence. It can be removed at anytime should you wish to fall pregnant before that.
The second option would be one of the implantable subdermal hormonal contraceptives. They are inserted under your skin on the side of your upper arm through a very small cut under local anaesthesia and last 2 years. Generally very well tolerated
The third option would be one of the most effective and best tolerated oral contraceptives. The best tolerated ones contain ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone e.g. Yaz.
Injectables are best left as last resort.
Barrier methods alone (condoms) are not effective enough as sole contraception.
Kind Regards,
Dr. J
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