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 cycle.
How Do Depo Injections Affect your Period?
Most women experience noticeable changes in their menstrual cycle when using this form of contraception. Menstrual cycle irregularity is one of the biggest side effects, both during use of the injections and persisting for some time after injections have stopped [1].
For some women, the shot can halt their menstrual cycle altogether. For other women, spotting and heavy, irregular bleeding is a common side effect.
Menstrual irregularities can persist even after the Depo injections are stopped, although there are medications available if the irregular bleeding becomes a consistent condition.
The longer you use Depo, the more likely it will affect your menstrual cycle and increase the chances of stopping your period altogether. After a while of no longer getting the injections, women will often return to a normal menstrual cycle.
Depo-Provera has also been used to treat painful menstrual complications. Since the injection suppresses ovulation and the menstrual cycle, women who experience menstrual-related problems, such as endometriosis and dysmenorrhea, are sometimes recommended the Depo shot, although when women stop taking the shot complications often return.
Are There Any Long-Term Side Effects?
Because it takes a minimum amount of 3 months for it to fully leave your body, if you stop taking Depo injections due to complicated side effects, those side effects are likely to remain for some time.
If you stop taking Depo, you may also have a delay in your fertility, and it may be up to 10 months or longer before your ovulation cycle returns [2]. It may also take a while for your menstrual cycle to return to normal. The side effects are generally more short term, but they can persist for some time after halting the injections.
References
- https://www.healthline.com/health/birth-control/depo-shot-bleeding-how-to-stop-it
- https://parenting.firstcry.com/articles/how-to-get-pregnant-after-stopping-depo-provera-shot/
Hi my name is Bree I’ve been on depo for 4 years & I’ve stopped having a period. Does is mean the shot is working & I’ve stopped ovulating?
Hi Bree, yes, essentially.
So it’s not possible for me to get pregnant on the depo shot?
Hello Bree, once properly taken you should not get pregnant on the Depo Provera contraceptive.
I’ve been off the depo shot since Dec. I had irregular bleeding at the beginning of may. This month I have not had a cycle and I’m very regular at first it felt as though my cycle was about to start but so far it hasn’t. I took a pregnancy test came back negative but is it possible that I could still be pregnant????
Hi D, while it’s possible, it’s also possible that you might be dealing with the hormones leveling out from the Depo. It’s quite normal for your period to take a bit of time to become regular again.
Hi my name is Christina and I took my first depo shot February 4th and I was suppose to go back May 4th and I didn’t follow up. I bled almost the whole month of march but didn’t have menstrual period at all the month of April. I had a very light period for 7 days at the end of May. Is it possible that I am back to normal. Also my ovulation window is june2-7 and I had unprotected sex with my husband June 1St. is it possible that I can become pregnant and what are the chances.
Hi Christina, if you are fertile then it’s quite possible that you are pregnant. But I would wait for another week or so to test. You won’t honestly know that you are regular until you have two regular periods in a row within a regular cycle.
Hy am Anita… Am 17years and I took my 1st Depo on January.. I was suppose to menstruate on the 5th of April but it didn’t come.. We in Jane now but is still not coming.. Am I having any problems with my womb..
Hi Anita, not necessarily. Some people don’t get their periods at all while on Depo, so it’s quite possible that you are one of those people. Completely normal.
I had one shot of depo at the end of november no periods the whole time I was on it . I had no period for March either so I decided to take vitex ( angus cactus ) to bring back my periods because hubby and I decided we wanted to try to conceive. At the end of April I had brown discharge “sometimes pink for about a week and half . TMI sorry . Now may at this moment I’m on the 7th day of my period . It came around the same time it did last month so I think the Vitex help bring my period back. The only thing I’m not sure if I’m ovulating yet.
Hi Whitney, you get your period only because you ovulated. If you didn’t ovulate you wouldn’t get your period. I would recommend tracking that as your period and from about 10 days after the start of it you should be in your fertile period. Good luck. You can always use the calculator here to determine when your more fertile period are. Here’s the link for you: https://womanjunction.com
Hi I’m Kelan. I used to have my menses for 3days and went in for depo injection last month. I’m now experiencing too long menses and currently have bled for 9days and still bleeding. What medication can help minimise the bleeding?
Hi Kelan, a lot of people have issues with depo regarding their periods. If you don’t like how it’s reacting with your body I would recommend not going to get the next one but also finding another form of contraception that does work better with your body.
I started taking the depo in November of 17 I bleed off and on every other week for about two months and I was suppose to go back in Feb for my second shot and I didn’t my periods has stop and has not return what should I do and is there anything I can to induce it
Hi Jasmine, have you had unprotected sex since then? If not it could be your body getting used to being without the additional hormones. Or, if it’s possible you could also be pregnant. If not then speak with your doctor as there are medications that you can take to help stimulate ovulation.
I have been checking ovulation and I been getting positive ovulation test sense February and I still havent had a period I also took a pregnancy test and it was negative. I had to take those meds u where talking about before but it was almost 4 years ago. My friend said I could have got pcos from the depo but I don’t know how true that is
Hi Jasmine, you’ve taken Clomid? That might help but that’s something that the doctor has to prescribe. While it won’t necessarily cause PCOS if you had PCOS it could have been something that exacerbated symptoms, at least if you didn’t know you had it. Depo tends to affect people differently. I would recommend making an appointment with your doctor to discuss your issues and concerns.
I was on Depo for 3 years and came off in January. I have had spotting on and off but had what seemed to be a proper period 2 weeks ago and it was 12 days of bleeding, it stopped for about 6 days and i am bleeding again. Is this normal.. Also my boobs are super sensitive and sore, just like my mood.. lol.
Hello Shaz, this is as a result of coming off the Birth Control.
Hi Shaz, question! I’ve been on depo for 2 years and thinking of coming off it next month.
How long did it take for your period to come back?
Are you using something else or trying to get pregnant?
(sorry to be intrusive but I’m in a similar situation to you)
Hi I have been on depo provera for 1year my last shot was February 2017 and I got back my period last November and trying to conceive since then but pregnancy up until now my period only lasted 3days each months is this normal and why I haven’t been able to get pregnant it’s been a year off the depo provera.
Hello Shawn, being off birth control your period might take a while to be regulated back to normal.
Hi Kim I have recently gotten off Depo, I was only on it for 9 months. Lately I’ve been experiencing abdominal cramp like pain and hip pain. Is this common?
Hello Lakena, I am unable to associate those pains and aches virtually with the fact that you just came off birth control.
I have been on depo for 3 years . I was suppose to go for my next shot March 1st and didnr get it because I want to try for another baby. I started bleeding April 15 and 16 and by the 17 the bleeding pretty much stopped it wasnt to heavy but it was definitely more then spotting and I had bad cramping.i started bleeding again may 24 and it was a lil more heavier then in April but again only lasted 2 and a half days. But I also had cramps during the bleeding. Were those my 2 first periods? Even tho they only lasted a lil less then 3 days? And is it possible that I am ovulating?
Hello Frances, your cycle will be a bit irregular given that you just came off birth control.
Hi, Im T. I had my firsth shot of Depo January18 supposeto expire March29+2weeks as per my midwife. I have experienced on-off/spotting-heavy bleeding from March27-April24. My husband and i decided to take my 2nd shot during my May period (due on May22,2018), expecting it to be normal cycle but it never showed up. (Weve been doing withdrawal since before and after depo expires) but on May16, i had tiny bright red spot. Took 3 PTs (2 same day: morning and afternoon. 1morning the next day) and it keeps coming back negative. I ask my midwife about the spotting, the cramps and the wetness i feel and she said that those are just normal and also the disadvantages of the depo. I still dont have ny period today May23. Im scared as we dont want to get pregnant as of now. So i googled it and got caught between implantation bleeding and ovulation bleeding. I havent take PT now because im so scared we might be pregnant. Can someone help me clear my mind? Thank you so much!
Hello Toyang, these are also side effects of the use of Depo Provera.
I have been on depo for 3 months my next shot is 5/31/18. I bled up until the 5th of this month and my periods just stopped. I am praying I am not pregnant I just had a baby 4 months ago. Have had unprotected sex a few times kinda worried.
I was on the depo for 10yrs got off over a year ago. Got my first period in Dec 17, But my periods are very irregular now. I still havent gotten one this month but have had cramping pains a lot. Is this normal?!
Hi Erica, some women take months (up to a year sometimes) to get “normal” again after coming off depo, especially considering the longer you are on it, the longer it may take your body to regulate again.
Hey I’ve been on depo shot for 3 months now I take it in February and suppose to get it at this month may on the 8 but not going back first month and second month wich is Feb and march been spotting with light pink and brown, me and my husband had an unprotected sex may 20 we’re not planning to have a baby since we have two already he didn’t cum inside me I’m scared 😱 i don’t want to have a c section again, can I get pregnant?
Hi Ariel, it depends on when your cycle was, when you had sex, if you were ovulating at the time. If you aren’t trying to get pregnant, then find another route for your birth control. Otherwise missing your depo can most certainly create that window of opportunity to get pregnant. Good luck.
Hi im kim i have been using injectable for 3 years and i stopped this month may.3,2018 is suppostedly my schedule for my injection but i decided not to attend and i noticed that i have spotting for 4 days from may 3-7 and after that or until now im not experiencing it. My question is when is the possible time to get back normal my menstrual cycle? Thank you
Hi Kim, you could get your period back relatively quickly, depending on when you were ovulating and when your cycle is. That could have been your first period and then I would anticipate it again at the end of this month or the beginning of June.