Depo-Provera injections are a form of contraception that many women receive. The contraceptive injection contains the hormone progestin and is given once every three months to women to suppress the ovulation cycle and serve its contraceptive purposes. Depo injections are very effective in preventing pregnancy and are outright effective right after injection. Many women get their Depo shot the first five days of their normal menstrual period and the contraception is able to kick in immediately. There are many benefits and effects of Depo-Provera, but the most common side effect of the injection is a change in the woman’s menstrual
Menstrual Cycle after Depo Injections
I have been on Depo-Provera for 5 years. I loved being on it because my periods have disappeared. However in July 2017 I came of the shot. 5 months after stopping the shot I was spotting. Then right before Christmas I started ‘a period’ which lasted 4 weeks. I was put on norethisterone which stopped my bleeding but then it caused me to bleed so heavily that I had to go to the hospital. Since then I have extreme migraine headaches. I have period after period, meaning that I will finish 7 days of period, and then after a week I will be on my period again. Heavy too… I regret not knowing the consequences. It messed me up and I don’t know how long to wait until I get normal. I just want to enjoy my life but I can’t because every time I bleed my immune system gets weak and any cold that I catch turns into a nasty infection…
Hello Veronica, advice for such case cannot be given virtually. Please see your doctor urgently for the best solution to this issue.
Hi I’m Lovelyn by name I took the first shot of depo on 1st Dec 2017, on the same month I did not see my period but on January 2018 I started having spotting which lasted for 2 week and it was not regular, it also happened like that the next month and now on the month of march which means that the three months has exhausted and decided not to take again, still have not seen my period, how long will it take cause I don’t need that dark spotting that is coming out.
Hello Okpe, some women spot for the entire time that they are on Depo…other’s only spot for the first few months.
Hey my name shantae and i only had the 2 shot 2x last year and i have been off of it for 6 months now and my cycle came back normal is that okay for it to happen me and my husband trying to have our 1st baby
Hello Shantae, you can try to have your baby using you most fertile days: https://womanjunction.com/
I took depo for about 4yrs and got off. My periods returned after a yr after being off. But my periods were lasting 2-3 weeks long. I got a Pap smear and an ultrasound to check for abnormalities and everything checked out normal. I’m trying to find out why my periods haven’t gone back to normal after being off so long. I did have three normal 7 day periods that came every 23 days. But I had a late period and it came on 5 days after it was due and now it doesn’t seem to be going off. I stopped bleeding for a couple hours but the bleeding would just start back. Today is day 8 and I wasn’t bleeding this morning and now I’m spotting. I would like to conceive soon but my periods don’t seem to be going back to normal. My uterus seems like it will not hold the lining for til the next cycle. Could it still be side effects from being on that shot for so long.
Hi there Vernisha, yes, more than likely this is as a result of being on Depo Provera shot for 4 years.
I was on the depo for around 1-2 years. I would have my period every time i was due for a shot. I decided depo was not for me, and did not go back to receive my shot. I had my last shot, and period in april of 2017. This mesn i havent had my period in 10 months. Why would my period stop after the shot, and not return when i get off of it? Is there anything i can do to help it? Im ttc and not having a period is stressing me out.
Hi Alyssa, It can take up to 18 months for your body to regulate itself after being on Depo for an extended period of time. If you are trying to conceive you can make an appointment with your doctor and discuss the issue with them. Not having a period in 10 months means you haven’t ovulated which is the only way to get pregnant. Good luck
Hello i received my last depo shot 7/19/17 period returned dec and January lmp was 1/3/18 haven’t had a period since been taken pregnancy test but keep getting negatives can i be pregnant or is me being off the shot messing with my period
Hi Nina, the effects of the Depo shot can last up to 18 months after the shot has worn off. So while you may have gotten one, your body could still be expreincing the effects of it which can last a while.
I had my injection on 6 june 2017 and I stopped using it on September 6 2017 and my period came back to normal am I likely to get pregnant since fertility comes back after 10 months?
Hello Joy, yes you are likely to get pregnant once you are completely off birth control.
I started the depo shot back in October and I had gotten my second one February 6th. In January I had my period 21 days out of the month, and since I got my second shot I haven’t gotten my period yet. Is that normal for the first few shots?
Hello Paige, within the first to couple months of the Depo Provera shot a woman’s body might respond weirdly. This varies for all women.
I only used one injection. I’m not aware of its side effects. Will this one injection affect my period? plZz i want to regulate my periods only.
Hi Simran, based on information directly from the Depo-Provera site, irregular periods can be a side effect, along with periods that completely stop. If you are concerned about any of the side effects, call your doctor and discuss it with them.
I have been off of the depo shot for 4 years and I have not used any other form of contraceptives. I have had irregular menstrual cycles since I’ve been off. I am wanting to get pregnant and tried. I am just at a lost at this point.
Hi Kayla, I would say purchase some ovulation tests to see when you are most fertile which can definitely help the timing of having sex. Also if you are having irregular periods you can always discuss other options with your doctor. It’s rough when you can’t count on regularity and I hope that either tracking your periods, or taking the tests may help. But if not your doctor might be the next step. Good luck!
My first and last depo shot was April ’16 and my periods stayed normal , after it was out of my system ( 12 weeks later ) my periods started coming every two weeks so I know I wasn’t ovulating; that just stopped in January ’18. My last period was January 1 & it just returned yesterday, should my ovulation be back on track now? I lost my baby two years ago and that’s all I want is another.
Hello Danzell, sorry to hear about the loss of your baby. Read this link to help you: https://womanjunction.com/trying-to-conceive-when-you-have-irregular-periods-after-birth-control/
Comment Text*i took depo injection once and I stop,but since then my period has not come.for 3months now plz what can I do to get my period back?
Hello Motunrayo, your period should return naturally soon.
I have been on depo for 10 years until last year December, how long do you think I should wait to get my period back. I am constantly having lower stomach ache and sore breasts but I am not sexually active so pregnancy is out of question.
Hello Naoimi, most women will have a period around two to four weeks after stopping the pill, but this depends on you and what your cycle is normally like.
My last depo shot was October 19 was suppose to get my next shot January 5 but I didn’t want to get it. My window was from January 4 to 18, on January 21 I start to get my period back, but it last for 7 days instead of 5 days. Hopefully I can start to conceive now.
Hi Tamara,
After the three month period that your Depo was effective, it starts to wane. While it could take a few months to get pregnant, you could get pregnant the following month after it wears off. Good luck!
Last year I was suppose to get my shot in June, I didnt, I got my period back in November, I TTC for months with no success, I decided like a dummy to get the shot this July and I got my period back in October. Fingers crossed that I’m actually ovulating- When I first got off depo I was having my period every other week, but not my cycle is getting more consistent.
I started using the depo in the month of May 25and stopped it in the month of November 25th,i had period 8of December, how long can it take for me to get pregnant
Hello Sylvia, all women are different. Some women get pregnant right away while others have to wait up until a year.