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.

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.