The Needle?

[LadyOfLucidDepths]

I'm curious, have any of you been on this needle/drug?? form.. of birth control. How has it worked for you? i shoul dbe going for my shot for the first time next week, i talked with a doctor, she said it would be fine, but.. im curious.. how has it been for some of you?

[beachbabe2519]

It's a wonderful thing!!! You only need to get it once every three months.

[demonbuttercup]

its called Depo-Provera
maybe you should learn the name and do some research online for the benefits and side effects before you decide to get it.

[beachbabe2519]

I agree with demonbuttercup, research is always a good idea! However, regarding possible side effects, I would hope that your physician has disclosed such info to you before arranging for your first shot. I had to sign a disclaimer before my first time, that was many years ago, but one of the more common and more severe side effects is osteoporosis. So, if you have thinning bones or a history of osteoporosis in your family, you shouldn't get depot-provera.

But, again, your doctor should have already discussed this with you!!! If he hasn't, perhaps it's time to look for another doctor.

Well, I hope it works out for you, because it's an awfully convenient means of birth control Good luck!

[LadyOfLucidDepths]

Hay, yea i've been talking to my doctor.. well pfft, i havea new doctor... just recently.. cause the other one was a guy.. and. .yea i don't want to go to...a physical.. with h im.. *shutter*. but anyway. yea i've been talking to her, and she said basically what was in the phamplet..nothing more nothing less... so i was curious what you have felt as side effects, if any of you have used it... or... whatever, yea, i've been also looking it up on the net... to see what i can find about it. but Thanks for your posts!!!!

Jamie

[Nurse Naddy]

Hey everyone,

The shot is called depo vera. It's a shot of progesterone (hormone) that is needed every three months. As with the pill, the shot prevents you from ovulating; thins the lining of your uterus, making it hard for an egg to lodge there if one does slip through; and thickens the mucus around your cervix, which can keep sperm from entering.

There are some downfalls though. When you do want to get pregnant, it can take up to a year for your cycle to become normal and for pregnancy to become a good option. It also has many common side effects for the hormones such as bloating, weight gain, moodiness, depression and decreased sex drive.

The shot works incredibly well for some and others can't use it at all. If you are going to have a bad reaction you will know fairly quickly because you will have a seemingly never ending period in which you are not bleeding to death but need to see your doctor for an alternate method of bc.

Hope this was helpful.

[beachbabe2519]

Well, LadyOfLucidDepths, you can't ask for a better reply than the one from Nurse Naddy. It's so nice to have a nurse on board.

I was one of the lucky ones who had absolutely no bad side effects during the years I was on depo-provera. The only reason I had to stop taking it was because I discovered, after receiving the results of a bone density test, after breaking my hip a year ago at age 42, that I have Osteopenia! Which means that I'm 50% on my way to getting Osteoporosis (as it was explained to me). I, subsequently, found out that my sister has the beginning stages of Osteoporosis, and coincidently, my brother also broke his hip a number of years back at an unusually young age! So, osteoporosis obviously runs in my family, unfortunately.

For that reason only, I had to go back on the pill. But, I loved the shot during the years I was on it!

The best part of the shot is that you don't get your period while you're on it, nor do you get the cramps associated with your period! Plus, I saved a fortune on tampons!

Once again, good luck........and you know longer need to do any research thanks to Nurse Naddy! Hopefully my knowledge from first handed experience has helped you somewhat as well.

Later.