Depo-Provera injection

Noristerat injection

Sayana Press injection

After going off this contraceptive method it took over a year for my periods and cycle to return. What I didn't expect and no doctor had ever warned about was the intense withdrawal symptoms. The lack of hormonal balance wreaked havoc over my body for the entire year. The symptoms would manifest differently each month and was difficult to diagnose at first. The mood swings were overwhelming focusing around sadness and anxiety. I started growing huge amounts of facial hair and constant spots along my jawline (a sign of hormone imbalance). Additionally the weight gain persisted stronger than before while my hormones balanced out again. I didn't experience many headache symptoms but intense dizzy spells were common.

This contraceptive method is a godsend in almost every way with only two side effects and the stopping of my periods completely. The two drawbacks are weight gain and total loss of sex drive. I would have to go to the gym five days a week just to stop weight gain from happening. Additionally when I say no sex drive over the two years of using it gradually built up to kissing even making me uncomfortable. Towards the end I couldn't even have sex with my boyfriend of several years. Ultimately I stopped using it for the sake of my weight gain and relationship. I must admit having no periods and no hassle was incredible though!

Depo-Provera injection-review-id-a4ea24e1-ed55-45bd-9fb2-16ab18e76725

I have noticed a change into my body since after using the depo-injection. For example still waiting on my period does scare me a little bit and how dry she has got. But I’m glad I stopped it as I’m trying to help my body figure itself out naturally 

Ok so the contraception was ok for me. I gained a healthy weight (which for me is something that I’ve been trying to do for the longest time). I didn’t have to worry about buying pads every month, neither had to worry about getting pregnant. However the side effects weren’t worth it,the migraines still happened,the back aches were still happening and on occasion she would be dry. I am no longer on it now as I didn’t want to be on it for any longer than year just because it can effect your fertility,I’m still waiting on a period (haven’t had a period in 2 years) and boobs have become very tender since I’ve stopped. The risks of the injection causing brittle bones was a major factor as to why I stopped getting it too. 

Depo-Provera injection-review-id-9ada43a5-7558-4071-9860-edf72f355f2b

It took the better part of a year for some of the side effects to gradually improve. The headaches and nausea persisted the longest with the hot flashes being nearly as bad. 

Gyno recommended this for my unbearable period pain last year. I feel stupid for not researching it first. I can truly say it was the most horrific experience I've ever had. I only had the one injection but it has taken the better part of a year to be getting very slowly back to normal from the experience. 
I had headaches every day. Not severe but not mild either. I had extreme nausea and on several occasions was not even able to drink a sip of water for 1-3 days at a time. Though initially it seemed my periods had stopped it suddenly started again and continued non stop for over 100 days. In that time I became very anemic and dizzy all the time. I ended up passing out in public which was extremely embarassing.
I had absolutely no energy whatsoever. I really struggled to so much as get out of bed. Going up and down the stairs felt like climbing a mountain.
I had unbearable hot flashes and would go hot then cold then hot again.
I struggled to think or concentrate a lot of the time.
I had weird rib pain that became unbearable at points.
I started to have hair fall out to an excessive and abnormal degree (thankfully this stopped once I came off of depo)
Nearing the end of the 3 months I ended up with 2 blood clots (just under 2 weeks apart and in different locations).
After the 3 months I assumed things would start going back to normal. Some did but the headaches, nausea and hot flashes got even worse. It took another 3 months or so for things to gradually start to get back to normal. The headaches and nausea have been the slowest to improve.
Being on depo was truly the most horrific type of torture I could imagine. I wouldn't touch it again for anything. It's made me afraid to try anything else.

Depo-Provera injection-review-id-c4d8f24c-6264-4fa4-93d1-c70e246f2c82

Within a few days the depo Jag make me feel premenstrual, then intensely hormonal and tender like when I was in my first trimester. I could feel my body fighting to try and have a period, but instead ended up spotting for 3-weeks. I was extremely extremely emotional and tender, and bloated. So much so, I took a pregnancy test just in case which was of course negative.

Depo-Provera injection-review-id-5e5e33d3-8ce7-4008-b553-02883ae5bc69

The only downside I would say is it took me around 7 months to get a period again after my last jag, so I did worry something was wrong, but everything did settle and normalise eventually and it can be normal to take up to a year for your period to come back.
I found I was more spotty and moody a few months after stopping but I think that was just my body getting back into its normal hormonal cycle.

I had tried both the pill and the implant for several years, both came with horrible side effects but I kept them going as I thought I didn't have any other options. When planning on getting my new implant put in, my sexual health nurse was great and suggested that if I had such a hard time with the impant, why not try the injection? And I never looked back! Was the best change I ever made, I didnt have a single period once I started it and very little to no other side effects the whole time. I stayed on the injection for around 4-5 years before wanting to get back to a normal cycle.

Depo-Provera injection-review-id-ff1beb24-07ad-4813-b168-256fdd62de2f

I’ve been on this contraception for around 13 ish years and have had no major issues with it. 
I have struggled recently with information about coming off and trying to loose weight on it.

Depo-Provera injection-review-id-aeae6459-1ef2-43f6-a867-555acecef408

I accepted the Depo Provera injection following the termination of an unwanted pregnancy when I was younger. It made me bleed continuously for six months, at which point I withdrew, took a combined pill, and the bleeding stopped. I did not like having to be injected and to remember when my next one was, and in cold weather for a couple of years after I could feel a strange sensation around the injection site on my bottom!

Depo-Provera injection-review-id-5d2cd8eb-4753-47b0-b322-4fbaff8e3d09

I bled for 3 months straight and had awful mood swings. So obvs I’ve decided not to get the next injection and my body rewarded me with a heavier and still constant period. When I went to get the injection the nurse told me it would stop my periods. How ironic.

Depo-Provera injection-review-id-d0d54f05-7457-4553-8d0a-dc83ee3887bc

I was happy with the injection at first - it was only one injection every 3 months and it made my periods a lot lighter. However, I gained weight and really struggled to lose it no matter what I tried (to the point that I went for blood tests to check for thyroid issues), and it affected my mental state very negatively.

Depo-Provera injection-review-id-e9c087b0-7ada-4c81-ae40-5b6851bcdd1c

Ever since I stopped, I feel so much better within myself, my moods have significantly improved, and my weight is more manageable. The first few months were hard and it took probably 6 months for everything to go back to normal or near enough normal. My periods started becoming lighter and more regular after about 9 months of not having the injection, and a year later they have come back to normal.

I was on the injection for 9 months, and it's was an awful experience. I felt unrecognisable, my moods were through the roof. I was also constantly bleeding, it wasn't heavy bleeding but it was light spotting every day for 9 months, some days lighter then others. At the beginning the nurse said that I may experience irregular bleeding which would've been fine if it was just irregular periods and not bleeding everyday. At my second injection I was told that it should start to settle now, however this was not the case. My 3rd injection came and I was so exhausted with it all, I decided not to have it done again.

Depo-Provera injection vs Noristerat injection

Need help choosing? Speak to a doctor

Overview

Depo-Provera injection ingredients

Noristerat injection ingredients

What Lowdown reviewers say

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Checkout our latest reviews

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Order online now

Not sure yet? Speak to a doctor