I was on Depo shot for two years after deciding to get pregnant. Depo Provera is a birth control injection given every 3 months that contains the hormone, progestin. It is a very effective form of contraception and there is no need to worry about missing the next shot because you can just take it within the week of your due date.

© mayoclinic

Why I preferred the shot?

It is convenient for me because I don’t want to take birth control pills every day.

Side effects I had during the Depo course:

• Amenorrhea or absence of menstruation
• Weight gain
• Mood swings
• Spotting
• Mild lower abdominal pain

Advantages:

• It is cost-effective
• You don’t need to worry about missing the shot every day
• You get the shot every 12 weeks
• Bye-bye monthly period. You don’t need to buy dozens of sanitary napkins and tampons every month

Disadvantages:

• It would take about 6 to 18 months to get pregnant after stopping the prick
• If you are not working in the medical field, you may need to go to the clinic or hospital to get your next shot
• You may experience some of the side effects

My Depo Course Timeline:

January 2014: I started using the Depo-Provera birth control injection.

November 2016: I stopped the Depo shot and waited for its three-month effect. As what my doctor said, women sometimes wait for 10 to 18 months to get pregnant.

February 2017: This was my supposed-to-be next shot that I didn’t take. I experienced some Depo withdrawal symptoms including:

1. Lower abdominal pain – similar to having dysmenorrhea
2. Breasts tenderness
3. Mood swings
4. Dizziness and lightheadedness
5. Nausea

I thought I might be pregnant because these are similar to pregnancy symptoms, but I didn’t have my period for two years, so it is quiet impossible.

May 2017: Fortunately, my menstruation came back. Imagine the joy I felt of having to buy menstrual pads again. I’m serious, I was really happy. I started taking folic acid vitamins thereafter.

If you are looking for an effective birth control method, I hope this helps.