It's important to discuss the following information with your doctor before starting Depo Provera. Still, you may notice that you drop a few pounds (mostly water weight) after you stop birth control. However, understand that it may take several months to get pregnant once you end the shots and it could take as long as 12 months or more. To know you are the last of your line just beacuse the doctors and society told you to be safe and take the shot or pills. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. "At 47, all is fine, only very mild menopause symptoms," she told ABCNews.com. 9  The depo shot doesn't automatically take away cramps or headaches - I'm on it and I still experience some cramps and headaches monthly. The 30-year-old operations manager was on Depo-Provera from age 15 to 18, then again at 28. "Women should discuss with their healthcare providers the risks and benefits of taking Depo-Provera," Hamm told ABCNews.com. So my question is, can the shot prevent your period right away ? It takes an average of 9 to 10 months, and for a small minority of women up to 18 months, to regain fertility and begin ovulating after stopping Depo Provera. This means that it may take a while for you to get pregnant (even if you’re trying) – but if you don’t want to get pregnant, you need to use a new form of birth For most women, it will take at least a few days for hormone levels to return to normal after they stop taking most forms of hormonal birth control. I did everything that i could think of to stop having a monthly uti, but even bumping up my vitiamin c has not worked. https://www.healthline.com/health/birth-control/switching-from-depo-to-the-pill Since taking that shot I have had nothing but problems. To ensure you're not pregnant when you're injected with Depo-Provera, your health care provider will likely give you your first injection within seven days of the start of your period. The shot is designed to deliver three months worth of protection with one injection. How You Can Get Pregnant After Stopping Depo Provera Shots. You probably felt a few changes when you started taking birth control pills, like nausea or tender breasts.So it makes sense that you may feel different again when you stop taking them. This is not a problem for most women because the bone replaces itself when you stop the injection, and it does not appear to cause any long-term problems. Such may have been the case with Carrie, a Florida 34-year-old who did not want her last name used. This is how it should work, and many women do get pregnant within 8 to 10 months of their last Depo-Provera shot. Anne Vorderbrueggen of Martinez, Calif., who used Depo-Provera for three years then quit to get pregnant, told ABCNews.com that she worried reports of bad experiences would frighten women. You may experience irregular bleeding or spotting. My next shot was due on 23rd February 2013, but I did not go. In fact, many women enjoy the freedom of not having a monthly menstrual cycle. "I really felt like I was in terrible shape. Stopping Depo-Provera Many women experience difficulty when they stop taking Depo-Provera contraception - everything from heavy flow to amenorrhea , sore breasts, mood swings and weight gain. Learn more here. Because some women forget to get their shot on time, the … For continued protection against pregnancy, women must return every 3 months for another injection. Unlike the Pill, your physician will give you a shot, usually in the arm or buttocks. Read our, Medically reviewed by Jessica Shepherd, MD, Medically reviewed by Monique Rainford, MD, How Depo-Privera Is Used for Birth Control Over a Year, The Advantages and Disadvantages of Depo-Provera, 10 Common Myths About the Birth Control Pill, What to Consider When Choosing Birth Control, What You Should Know About Getting the 'Birth Control Shot', How Depo-Provera Can Be Used to Treat Endometriosis Pain, 4 Common Side Effects of the Depo Provera Shot. Like all the side effects of the shot, this goes away after you stop getting the shot. ", Going off injections just before menopause, women find their bodies are in a "different stage of life.". She also had breast tenderness and hot sweats. "For eight months, I' talked to her about the long-term effects of Depo on her bones," said Phillips. Brian Levine, MD, MS, FACOG, is board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology, as well as in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. For those who are struggling, Dr. Louis Weinstein, head of obstetrics and gynecology at Philadelphia's Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, said it's hard to pinpoint what is causing so-called withdrawal symptoms. If you get your first shot within the first 7 days after the start of your period, you… After receiving the shot, a woman should not become pregnant for up to three months. returns to normal once you stop getting the shot. Contraception. That said, if you had bad side effects while taking birth control — like vaginal dryness, headaches, or worse cramps — those will (thankfully) go away when you stop it, too. i had a single shot this summer. It is 95-99% effective in preventing pregnancy for 3 months. Dr. Gerard Honore answered 29 years experience Fertility Medicine However, if you think you may be pregnant, see your health care provider immediately. Lots of people who use the shot stop getting their period altogether after about a year of using it. If you do, it can take 6 months to a year for the shot’s effects to wear off completely. Change in the menstrual cycle is the most common side effect. "It was a godsend for the families of these young women and we kept them on it for years," he told ABCNews.com. The only exception to this is the birth control shot. You can even start Depo use while you're breastfeeding. Some of the side effects, like bleeding and weight gain, are reasons why many women report stopping Depo Provera use. can depo-provera kill the sperm cell while on your period and depo. ", Kaplan, who has not treated any of these women, told ABCNews.com that determining whether symptoms are caused by Depo-Provera is "complicated. She also had breast tenderness and hot sweats. "Patients usually stop menstrual bleeding while on Depo-Provera," says Dr. Mark Trolice. ", She admits to a family history of anxiety and depression, but said the injections made it "100 times worse. Being aware of these issues before starting Depo Provera may help increase your success with this birth control method. However, in some cases, it can take longer. No daily pill taking… what happens when you stop taking the depo shot and what are the side effects of it ? If you have had breast cancer you should not use Depo Provera. Common side effects of the Depo-Provera shot include changes to the menstrual cycle that can include abnormal, heavy or light bleeding. Every time it was time for the shot, she's insisted her moods became bad, her lower abdomen became tender, as well as her breast. But at age 48, nearing menopause, Gaurdi went off it for eight months and was overwhelmed with severe symptoms: nausea, breast tenderness and fatigue. Dawn Stacey, PhD, LMHC, is a published author, college professor, and mental health consultant with over 15 years of counseling experience. If you have stopped using Lupron and have seen the side effects go away, please leave a comment here so that we can learn from it. Researchers have found that teens are more likely to lose bone density while taking Depo-Provera®; however, bone density fortunately improves in most women after they stop Depo-Provera®. 2003;68(2):75-87. You can fully discuss your options with your doctor. The drug, which is also used to treat endometriosis, as well as other medical conditions, has had a long safety record since it was first introduced in 1967. A child to carry on their name. There have been instances in this country and other countries where women have been pressured into using Depo-Provera or have been given the shot without understanding what it was. So my question is, can the shot prevent your period right away ? Guardi is one of 52 women who wrote to ABCNews.com about their experience with Depo Provera contraception injections. While you’re receiving the shot, you may have a lighter period. If Depo-Provera shots are received on a recommended basis, pregnancy is highly unlikely. How to End Depo-Provera. I stopped taking the depo shot when I was 19, I kinda fell in love and wanted kids). "Then I went and saw my doctor who diagnosed me with ovarian cysts. Depo-Testosterone is not for use in women who are pregnant. It is convenient, cheap and a very effective way to avoid an unwanted pregnancy.". It takes several months to regain fertility and begin ovulating after receiving your last Depo-Provera shot, and an average of nine to 10 months (sometimes more than a year) to conceive. ", "I had headaches, backaches and my period was like a monster," she said. When used perfectly, the effectiveness of the Depo-Provera shot is more than 99 percent. Nausea was reported in 1 to 5 percent of women in the clinical trials and dry heaves was not listed as an adverse reaction. "It was an incredible advance for birth control and there were no obvious disadvantages. I am always regular, never late. It may also take a while for your menstrual cycle to return to normal. If you get the shot at any other time in your cycle, you should have a pregnancy test done to rule out pregnancy before starting Depo Provera. depo is definitely different for every woman. ", 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. It is recommended that you stop using Depo-Provera after 2 years. So if the shot made your period stop, it will eventually come back after you go off the shot. It's also helpful to know what to expect after stopping Depo Provera. You may also get slight bruising where you got the shot, or rarely, a small, permanent dent. If you would like to get pregnant after taking the Depo shot, here are some things you can do: Begin to track your ovulation with an ovulation kit, especially if your periods are not occurring once a month. The original manufacturer, Upjohn, was repeatedly denied approval by the Food and Drug Administration in the 1970s, until 1992 when it was allowed to market Depo-Provera in the United States for contraception. When Does Fertility Return After Stopping Birth Control? I read that you stop getting your period 3 months after your first shot.