depo provera?

[orchid]

i've been on the birth control pill since january, and it's been working great for me. both my boyfriend and i have alarms set on our cell phones so i take it at the same time everyday. however, i was considering switching to the shot, just so that i'd only have to worry about it once every three months and i'd also not get a period.

anyone get the shot? good or bad experiences with it? how many side effects did you experience?

thanks for your help.

[Brandye]

If you are well adapted to any system of hormonal contraception, I would suggest you stick with it. You are clearly compliant with your watch alarms. That is good!!

You may find you are as well adjusted to the shot or you may not. Then you are stuck with that for a while. Most women do adapt after a few months; some really like it and some really regret being on it. Generally among my patients I have seen more difficulty adjusting to the shot than to either the ring or the pill.

Talk to your doctor and think long and hard before leaving a good thing.

[neverdiplomatic]

I'm one of the unlucky ones who did NOT adjust well to the shot. I got the first shot in November 2003 and proceeded to bleed CONSTANTLY for 11 months. I never went back for a second shot on the advice of my doctor, and even with being put on the pill in an attempt to regulate my period, I had huge problems getting everthing back to normal.
I've met a few other women who had the same thing happen to them, and I've met a few women whe had no problems with it whatsoever.
If the pill is working well for you then I would stick with it, jmo.

[orchid]

i think i will stick with it, but it was just the appeal of skipping periods. but i don't think i wanna take a chance with those kind of side effects.

[Brandye]

Orchid,

I will respect whatever you decide for yourself. This is the second time you have mentioned the desireability of skipping periods. some of the symptoms never reports are becoming more common with the new Seasonale which results in only four periods a year.

More women have difficulty adjusting to those systems that eliminate the monthlies than to those systems that allow the monthly cleansing of the uterus.