Birth control shot vs Sterilization
Birth control shot ingredients
Main hormones in Birth control shot
Sterilization ingredients
What Lowdown reviewers say
34% somewhat negative
43% stopped periods
37% lost sex drive
46% gained weight
40% no impact on skin
40% in 3-6 months
33% very positive
67% stopped periods
67% don’t know impact
33% lost weight
67% don’t know impact
Not enough data to say
Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Birth control shot reviews
35 reviews
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 6 days ago
I have been on the shot for about 15 months now. Initially I went to the doctor because for 1 year (year 33 to 34) I was experiencing major sweats, headaches, body aches, and fevers prior to periods. The doctor suggested I get on birth control to reverse my effects. The first dosage, my symptoms stopped and I felt great. During the second dosage, I bled severely and was using medium to heavy pads. Then on my third dosage I was spotting light to medium and wearing panty liners. Then on my 14th month right before my fourth dosage, my bleeding completely stopped. It was a long process before my periods stopped but I was hopefully. I don’t want to get a tubal ligation because I’m traumatized after experiencing preeclampsia during the delivery of my daughter. However, I did have headaches, dizziness, and nausea throughout the course. A plus is that the shot has cursed my appetite and some gain weight but I lost weight. I think this is great because I’ve always had a hard time losing weight. Overall, I think I’ll stay on the shot.
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 3 weeks ago
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
17 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 13th Aug 25
I've been on Depo Provera since 2023 and for the first few months it helped and stopped my period as I am transgender, But I've been dealing with a great amount of discharge that has been severely effecting my daily life. Warmth makes it worse and even though I'm a incomplete Paraplegic, it constantly feels like there's liquid coming out of me. When I do get my periods sometimes it's heavy spotting and whenever I use a tampon there's never any blood, but when I don't use a tampon then there is a massive amount of blood. I was once bleeding everyday for a month straight maybe even longer. I was never told any of the side effects besides it stopping my period.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 6 days ago
I have been on the shot for about 15 months now. Initially I went to the doctor because for 1 year (year 33 to 34) I was experiencing major sweats, headaches, body aches, and fevers prior to periods. The doctor suggested I get on birth control to reverse my effects. The first dosage, my symptoms stopped and I felt great. During the second dosage, I bled severely and was using medium to heavy pads. Then on my third dosage I was spotting light to medium and wearing panty liners. Then on my 14th month right before my fourth dosage, my bleeding completely stopped. It was a long process before my periods stopped but I was hopefully. I don’t want to get a tubal ligation because I’m traumatized after experiencing preeclampsia during the delivery of my daughter. However, I did have headaches, dizziness, and nausea throughout the course. A plus is that the shot has cursed my appetite and some gain weight but I lost weight. I think this is great because I’ve always had a hard time losing weight. Overall, I think I’ll stay on the shot.
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
27 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 3 weeks ago
Very negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
17 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 13th Aug 25
I've been on Depo Provera since 2023 and for the first few months it helped and stopped my period as I am transgender, But I've been dealing with a great amount of discharge that has been severely effecting my daily life. Warmth makes it worse and even though I'm a incomplete Paraplegic, it constantly feels like there's liquid coming out of me. When I do get my periods sometimes it's heavy spotting and whenever I use a tampon there's never any blood, but when I don't use a tampon then there is a massive amount of blood. I was once bleeding everyday for a month straight maybe even longer. I was never told any of the side effects besides it stopping my period.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Sterilization reviews
3 reviews
Used for 8+ yr
38 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 13th Apr 25
It’s just that my periods are all over and I hate having them anyway so I really hate how they are so irregular
Somewhat negative mood
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
48 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 3rd Apr 25
Every one that I spoke with told me that they haven't been able to conceive after taking the Depro Vera shot! Even women that are half my age! Said that it made them sterile as well. I've been seeing commercials for law offices mentioning a certain kind of Cancer. But I've never heard of any pertaining to it making them sterile.
Gained weight
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 5th Aug 24
I am not deliberately using birth control. The survey needs to have a choice for “I am not using birth control.” I had a hysterectomy after developing dangerous cysts.
Very positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
38 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 13th Apr 25
It’s just that my periods are all over and I hate having them anyway so I really hate how they are so irregular
Somewhat negative mood
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
48 years old
🇺🇸 US
• 3rd Apr 25
Every one that I spoke with told me that they haven't been able to conceive after taking the Depro Vera shot! Even women that are half my age! Said that it made them sterile as well. I've been seeing commercials for law offices mentioning a certain kind of Cancer. But I've never heard of any pertaining to it making them sterile.
Gained weight
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇺🇸 US
• 5th Aug 24
I am not deliberately using birth control. The survey needs to have a choice for “I am not using birth control.” I had a hysterectomy after developing dangerous cysts.
Very positive mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
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