Reviews

Depo-Provera injection reviews

3.0

174 reviews

The Depo-Provera injection contains a high dose of progestogen that stays in the body for 3 months after the injection is given by a healthcare professional. It is really great at stopping periods after a few injections. The downside is that once it's given, it's in for 3 months and cannot be removed or stopped before then.

Every 3 months

Frequency

96% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

Short term

Effect on fertility

Depo-Provera injection

Depo-Provera injection benefits

Some of the benefits that are recognised in scientific research or guidelines for this contraceptive

Endometriosis

Heavy periods

Period pain

Depo-Provera injection ingredients

Main hormones in Depo-Provera injection

Less-Androgenic progestogen

Depo-Provera injection alternatives

Contraceptives that work in similar ways, or brands that have close or exactly the same hormonal ingredients


Depo-Provera injection FAQs

No FAQs at this moment

Reviews

3.0

174 reviews

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Used for 3 - 5 yr
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  3 weeks ago

  •  Stopped using

It did it's job in preventing pregnancy but the side affects weren't pleasant - No sex drive, vaginal dryness, caused acne, moody and irritable. I got put on it at 16 as I couldn't be trusted to remember to take the pill. It stopped my period which was great! I came off it during COVID due to not being able to get to the doctor for it and the bleeding aftermath wasn't nice - a lot of heavy periods which calmed after a while. However, what caused me not to go back on it was I didn't realise how it affected my personality until I came off it. Off it I was no longer depressy or irritable, vaginal dryness went away and I suddenly had a sex drive. Overall it wasn't awful as I was none of the wiser to what I was like not being on it.

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Used for 12 - 18 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  14th Feb 24

  •  Stopped using

The injection definitely stops pregnancy but does affect the body in different ways


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Used for 1 - 3 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2nd Feb 24

  •  Stopped using

I’ve been taking the pill for over 7 years and wanted to try the injection for convenience of not worrying about taking a pill everyday, for that it was great no periods no more cramps, however I found too many side effects which overrule the one positive. - The first month was great, however month 2 and 3 I suffered with what I thought was recurring thrush but I went to the gp and did swabs but everything was negative with no infections, turns out to be vaginal dryness which are the same symptoms of thrush and is highly uncomfortable - never had this on the pill, it’s effecting my sex life as it’s uncomfortable and has lowered my libido also. - The mood swings are insane with the first shot, I was very emotional and distressed, increased intrusive thoughts about my relationship, didn’t like my body etc. - I’ve always had clear skin until the injection I noticed the odd one or two almost cystic types spots which were painful and rather embarrassing that would last for weeks. - Noticed fluctuation of breast size too I probably dropped a size or 2 but didn’t loose any body weight. Not sure how long it’s going to take to go back to normal but definitely advise to anyone wanting to go on it, research research research and book a session with your gp to review it.


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Used for 8+ yr
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  20th Jan 24

  •  Stopped using

I used this contraception for nearly 10 years and I loved it- being young and having no periods saved me a lot of money and stress and was ideal when I went backpacking. It is only now I am older and have an interest in having a baby one day that I was keen to switch. It has taken me nearly 12 months to regain a regular cycle! I also never realised how bad it made my acne until I came off it.


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Used for 3 - 6 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  30th Oct 23

  •  Still using

I started the depo in June of this year, I then started constantly bleeding 3 weeks later up until the end of August. I had a 2 week break from bleeding, and then I started again for a further 3 weeks, and the pain that comes along with it is unbearable, it’s a constant vicious cycle. My moods are horrendous, I’ve had to start up antidepressants again, my skin hasn’t been this bad in literal months, all the lower part of my face has broken out into sore spots. I have tried all methods of contraception now, various pills, 2x coil and neither time worked as my body rejected both times, the implant which didn’t agree with me and now this. So I’m completely coming off contraception once this dose runs out. Never again


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Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  25th Oct 23

  •  Stopped using

I began using the Depo as it was recommended by a nurse in my GP clinic. During the first 6 months the only noticeable side effect was the decreased sex drive. After my 3rd injection, I began having serious pain when trying to have sex. Due to this pain I booked an appointment with my GP to get swabs done to check for any infections. They completed swabs and no infection was found, I was told it was most likely just dryness. Therefore I stopped having the depo and started the pill again as I had no issues with the pill. I was on the pill for a month and has really bad head aches so decided to come off contraception completely. After coming off the depo it took 6 months for me to be able to have sex again due to the dryness.


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Used for 12 - 18 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  22nd Oct 23

  •  Still using

Stopped periods after 2nd injection… fairly happy with this contraception compared to the pill. Biggest side effect for me is low sex drive


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Used for 6 - 12 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  12th Oct 23

  •  Stopped using

Initially, getting the injection was a bit scary, but it wasn't painful and there was very little residual pain the day after. My periods stopped completely, which I found to be great. I didn't notice any side effects,


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Used for 6 - 12 mo
16 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  11th Oct 23

  •  Stopped using

I was on it for 9 months and I only started the pill today but the injection had made me bleed nonstop and have really bad back pain and the weight gain was really bad I didn’t feel myself and the sex drive at the start was high but it kept getting lower and lower the cramps are worse than the ones i used to get and my family have a high estrogen level it doesn’t work that well when you have high estrogen levels.


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Used for 1 - 3 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  24th Aug 23

  •  Stopped using

It was my first time on any contraception and I wanted to take necessary precautions before travelling abroad for two months, so I was advised by my Nurse Practitioner to have the Injection rather than go on the Pill so I wouldn’t have to worry about missing days, losing pills, etc., and was told that she’d received no negative feedback about the Injection and that the side effects would be minimal. Perfect, or so I thought. My overall experience was horrendous, and after discussing methods of contraception with strangers I met abroad and hearing their own negative experiences with the Injection and from friends, I was feeling pretty sorry for myself and pretty miffed (to put it politely). I’d missed a period prior to travelling, and my breasts had felt so tender and painful for the first week or so, but then I bleed continuously for my whole trip (yep, two months straight of bleeding in countries where sanitary products are few and far between) and my mood swings absolutely battered me, not to mention my libido dying upon arrival in SE Asia. Now I’ve been home for a few weeks, and yes things are slightly better, but my moods are still all over the place and I’m still spotting everyday. Yes, with the Injection you don’t have to worry about taking pills, but never again will I subject my body to this. I just wish my Nurse Practitioner had offered me more options and have been more upfront regarding the side effects, and instead not dictating what I needed and sending me on my way. I would also like to mention, as a non-binary individual, that this form of contraception did at times make me suffer with body dysphoria, however I appreciate that users may respond differently to the Injection and other methods of contraception.


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