Depo symptoms and conditions

I have been on Yaz for three months, first two were okay, not I totally feel prego, morning sickness, sore breasts, moodiness, weight gain, odd bowels. I tried to talk to my OB Tuesday and she got a page in the middle of my appt. Babies don't wait. She said to keep taking it she'd see me in month. AHHHH I can't do this, I totally broke down to my hubby last night and he said to stop it now. I have two beautiful girls, am 26, and am crazy!
Yaz has made me feel like my gestational diabetes is back, my head hurts often, I am cramping, lower back pain, irritably, want to sleep all the time, am short tempered with my kids....this is nuts!!!! Trying to get ahold of my doctor again, might just go back to my childhood family doctor. Good luck, I was on depo before my second child and had a horrible reaction to it too, even miscarried after I had been off of it for a year and still hadn't had a period. Birthcontrol stinks, I feel like I am poisoning my body, and why, so I don't have another baby. So I am experiancing, nausea, headache, stomach cramps, depression, crazy feelings, irritability, fatigue, sore breasts, decreased sex drive, morning sickness.
Good luck with your decisions.

So my story starts off like this I am 28 years old and I have used the depo since I was 16 years old and I absolutely loved it. I have had two children in between the shots through-out the years. Recently, my doctor told me that the depo causes you to lose bone density and that I had to stop using it. For the last year I have tried Yaz (pills) & NR. I stopped taking the pills because I thought that using the ring would be more convenient. It has been 1 month and I am having problems. For starters, I have uncontrollable itching that feels like a yeast infection without the cottage cheese if you know what I mean. Second, I have headaches, achne, leg cramps, stomach pain and am very moody or depressed.The second time I placed the NR in it feel out and I didn't even know it happened, so I hope I'm not pregnant now oops. I don't know if I'm putting it in wrong but I sure hope the other one is not floating around inside my body. I will be going back to the pills so lets just hope my ovaries will behave once I do.

This is unbelievable. Like most of you, I was told there were very few side effects with Mirena. I had a baby girl in May this year and was considering using the depo after birth since I had used it before with no major issues or dislikes (a little weight gain but, I always felt I was too thin before and the depo made me look curvy in all the right places so no complaints at that time which was about 4 years ago.) I did however, stop using the depo when I wanted to try for another baby and while off the depo I gained much more weight. Right before my due date this year, my midwife suggested I consider Mirena because unlike the depo, "it doesn't make you gain weight." Considering I had gained 30 lbs. during pregnancy and wanted to lose a total of about 45 after birth, I agreed to use Mirena as b/c. Well, I had my baby on May 10th, I immediately breastfed and on my two week postnatal visit I had already lost ALL of the pregnancy weight (30 lbs.!) I then scheduled the appt. to have the Mirena inserted on July twenty something. By that visit I had already lost 50 lbs. by breastfeeding alone...I was ecstatic! About four months later and with the Mirena in me, I am gaining weight, so far 8 lbs. and all of it on my belly, I look like I am about 5-6 months preg. This is especially depressing because only a couple months ago my husband was talking about how flat my stomach had gotten. I am also experiencing hair loss and spotting/bleeding after every intercourse. I am also considering having this thing removed! AHHHHHH!

I too like a lot of the women on here am experiencing these side effects. I weighed 145 pounds 9 months pregnant with my daughter, had her and had the mirena put in April the following year (I was on the depo before), and let me tell you- I have gained weight, been moody, depressed, and the acne is ridiculous. I have NEVER had acne in my life and now no matter what I do it gets worse. I've gained about 20 pounds and regardless of my efforts, the weight stays. I am contemplating taking it out and resorting to good old condoms, because honestly this is ridiculous. Although I can say my sex drive has increased- I suppose all of the side effects have increased, the acne, weight gain, depression, headaches, nausea. I want it out but am looking for another form of b/c that I don't have to worry about daily like the pill. Any suggestions?

hi I had my mirena put in a year ago. . . needless to say i had really bad depression.. I pulled it out my self once I started to hear thing and started hurting myself. I started to fill better once removed. My doctor told me it was not the IUD causing my depression, so I had it put back in. The day after I started to feel irritated about everything. I didn't even last a month. . i became so depressed I tied a phone cord around my neck and tried to hang myself in the shower, if it didn't break I wouldn't be hear to tell you this. . .
I pulled the IUD out myself and didn't go back to the doctor I am never taking birth control again. Looking back I blame birth control for all my depression I took the depo. . I was in and out the hospital on suicide temps, on the pill all I did was cry. Women if you have a problem with depression and you are some type of birth control. . .think about it!!

I am in a loving relationship, yeah we are not ready for a baby right now we both are in collage but I could loss him and my education over some stupid birth control. We decided to avoid having sex when I am fertile - yes its a lot of work - but I feel so much better not being on hormones. . .and if I do end up getting pregnant. . .well. . .we will be having a baby. . than snip. . snip!!

Good luck women.

i started taking yaz in June because ive tried almost every other birth control pill, and patch and my mood and depression seemed to be only when i was on one of these. I wanted to go on that mirana IUD however my doctor told me i shouldn't because i have not had kids, im not married and im only 19 however it seemed anything i tried gave me the same side effects. So they put me on YAZ instead, at first it was great shorter periods, little to no cramps, but now 5 months and i hate it. I live with my boyfriend now and when before my sex drive was high I have ABSOLUTELY NO SEX DRIVE LEFT AND IM ONLY 19, WHAT HAPPENED TO IT. And whats worse my moodiness has come back for example at the store today i lost it and started crying when they didn't have the coat i wanted to buy. I couldn't control myself i completely lost it. i don't know what to do with myself anymore. My emotions are worse then ever before i want them to put me on something that has no hormones my body cant take it. can anyone give me any suggestions.

I just got the Mirena placed in Nov. 4, 2008.After 2 unplanned Pregnancies I thought this would be the best thing for me. NOT!!!! First it was BROWN SPOTTING. Then a week after having it in I have been BLEEDING like crazy. I hate the feel of blood gushing out of me. So I started back wearing my tampons. After an hour or so I have to change a tampon and a pad. I thought like many others this would be the best birth control ever. Hell I spend enough money on diapers. I don't want to spend more than i have to on pads and tampons!!! I have been miserable since having this. I have gained weight. I even feel like I'm pregnant again sometimes. My baby will be 3 months Dec 3, 2008, and i have lost all desire for sex after having this thing. I did better getting the Depo if i just wanted to gain weight. I gonna make an appointment to get this thing REMOVED!! ASAP!!

I had a gorgeous baby girl in April. My future husband and I spoke about our B.C. options after her birth and decided that the Mirena would work great for both of us. I spoke with my Dr. because I had been on the Depo in the past (progesterone based) and I had gained a ton of weight. She said that because of the low continuous dose of progesterone, weight wouldn't be an issue. At the end of June I had the Mirena put in. I went in for a recheck to make sure that it was in position in the beginning of August after my wedding (I know... The cart before the horse). At this time I weighed 132 lbs. It is now mid November and I have been having some pretty severe gastric problems. I went to my internal med Dr. a couple of weeks ago and I weighed in at a wopping 146 lbs. I know that it doesn't sound like a lot but to gain that much weight in a short time is nauseating. I am not pregnant anymore. Here is what my symptoms were and why I chose to go to internal medicine and not the gyn. I had TERRIBLE gas. Not only often but the smell. My new husband and baby looked at me like I was a monster. Not to mention the horrible side and back cramps. Bloating was now my best friend and not saved for "that time of the month". My internal med Dr. thought that my gall bladder might be failing because she said that she sees a lot of this in post natal women. I went through 2 weeks of tests from blood draws to scooping my stool into test vials for analysis to having radiographic dyes shot into me to make a movie of my gall bladder function. I couldn't hold my baby for a whole day because I was radioactive. The results turned up nothing. I sat at home on my couch that night (11/13/08) feeling defeated and not understanding what was happening to my body. I reflected on what was different about me, since the birth of my daughter, and all I could come up with was the Mirena. I decided that it was a shot in the dark, but I was going to check out the side effects online. Then I found all of you. OMG, I am a text book case of everything that you all are reporting. The following are my other symptoms that I have been dealing with. I hope it helps you when trying to find a B.C. that is right for you. My sex drive has gone out the bottom... Not to mention my new found skinniness. My headaches are dull and nagging and I am on the verge of massive panic/anxiety attacks on a weekly basis. I lost about half of my head of hair (it started falling out about 2 months after the Mirena was inserted). I go from massive, can't find a bathroom fast enough diarrhea to really soft obnoxious smelling stools. My husband has stated, on many occasions, that he is a man and can "appreciate a good, healthy fart" but what I have makes him want to throw up. Did I mention the bloating? My periods are lighter but last almost 2 weeks every month. I have night sweats and hot flashes. I am irritable and tired all of the time. Funny enough, my tolerance for alcohol has decreased dramatically and I go from having fun and drinking a cocktail to wasted, hammered drunk in seconds. I have acne all of the time and its everywhere... my face, back, chest. I have never suffered from acne. I hope that I covered all of my side effects but I may have missed a few because there are so many things that I am experiencing. Needless to say, I feel like a have a voice and a remedy to everything that I have been going through over the past 2 months. Today, at 30 years old, I going to take a stand for my body... I am having my Mirena taken out at 1:15 this afternoon. Hopefully life will smell and feel so much better... LOL

Well, I have had my Mirena since June/08. I had my son in May/08. I was 7 weeks pp when I had it put in. After my son was born I felt ok, no pains besides my c section scar
NOW...since insertion I have had a mess of problems. I have been a healthy woman for a long time and never had issues like this until July-ish. I am 27.

1. I had horrible back pain and my legs felt like I walked in 7" heels the night before (the tight muscle cramps, etc). My PCP told me I could possibly have a slipped disc and wanted me to go to PT. I had all my blood work come back fine btw. Since I knew in my heart I didn't have a slipped disc I did not waste my money on PT.
2. I have NO sex drive. The thought of sex makes me gag. No joke. I had sex 6 weeks pp and had a libido with no sleep. My son sleeps 11 hrs a night and I still don't want sex. As I type, I could go the rest of my life with no sex. THAT IS NOT ME AT ALL!
3. Extreme tiredness. Like I said my son sleeps 11 hrs a night and I sleep 8 hrs a night.
4. Light-headedness- I do have a BP of 110/70 so if I get up fast I get dizzy, but more now than before.
5. Started to have SEVERE pelvic pain right above my c section scar. It hurt so bad I was about to go to the ER. I was home alone with my 6 mo old so I tried to wait it out. I called my OB and they got me in. In his exam he felt a huge knot in my pelvis and it hurt like a MF! He suspected a hernia so he sent me for a CT scan.
Got the results yesterday and they came back normal. He said maybe I bruised something. But why do I have a big knot in my pelvis?
I feel like I am crazy. My bf takes my pain issues with a grain of salt now days. My OB did say since there is progesterone in the Mirena that my leg issues could be from Mirena and he was more than happy to remove if I wanted.
I still have it in and more and more I am thinking of getting it removed. My issue is I am so bad at taking pills and didn't like the Depo.
Anyways ladies...please let me know if you have had these issues. My email is arizonaequine@yahoo.com
Hope this can help someone feel less crazy!!

I just started taking this birth control pill a month ago. I was on the depo for 14 years and found out it is not good for bones ( i little late for that ). I have not had a period in 14 years and now i'm just waiting to start my period. So now I don't know when i should have sex with my man and it be safe with condom. i have noticed that i have ance more,and headaches,ohhh a lot of stomach pain is thie normal?

Opted for the coil after being on Depo for 2 years and putting over 12 lbs on, especially around my middle. Doctor said Mirena would be better for me.

31 July - Mirena inserted had intense pain afterwards and 'contractions'. Doubled up in agonising pain for almost 5-6 hours. Rang doctor and he told me to take strong painkillers. For around 2 weeks afterwards had like bad period pains every now and again.

28 Aug - Four week check and nurse couldn't find the strings so sent me for a scan.

10 Sep - Had the scan and was informed coil in place but a sitting a little high up in the uterus.

I had a holiday booked so decided to leave it for the time being. When I returned all the symptoms were still there.....acne, weight gain, bloating (feel and look 6 months pregnant after only eating snacks or light meals) had thrush for the 4th time since I had coil fit.

16 October - Went to my doctor for removal and he couldn't find the strings so now awaiting an appointment to have it removed in hospital.

Can't wait to get this thing removed. I only had it put in as with Depo I was piling on weight and Mirena is even worse!!!

Anyone able to shed any light on how they will remove it?

I'm glad I found this site. I have a history of migraines so I never thought it could be the Nuvaring. I got on it in Nov 07 and I just realized I experienced a loooottt of the symptoms. Headaches that turn to migraines, suddenly crying even listening to a song on the radio, I get hot and sweaty at night and feel cold at the slightest feel of air conditioning., mood swings, scattered thoughts, lower sex drive, no desire to socialize. weight gain in 10 months I've gained 11 lbs. I welcome it actually cuz I've been 110 for like 8 years. now I am a whopping 121 pounds. I have curves now, I love it

The perks: my breast went from a b to a nice c love it. the ease and clock work of my period. That's about it

I had a migraine so bad I couldn't keep my eyes open, I took the ring out immediately and within hours I felt relieved. I've spoken to my doctor about other forms of birth control and after all my research Nuvaring is actually still the top choice. We all know these BC's have side effects. How can they not. After all the craziness I have read about Ortho, Depo, Yasmin, Yaz, I see only one option. Get off the pills completely be back to my old self I used to be fun and get my boyfriend to wear condoms.

i took one shot of Depo, and i still say i never should have... i had daily bleeding for the 3 month span, plus weight gain and nausea and breathing issues. but the main problem was my moods and mental health, i was either crying or enraged all the time and had very bad anxiety. also, i just did not feel like myself, i had no idea who i was anymore. so i got off it, then 6 months later another doctor suggested i try the lowest possible dose of the pill. well i only took i think 2 doses, because it ended up giving me morning sickness... waking up puking at 6am. but i think that those 2 doses somehow combined with the not-yet elapsed dose of Depo i'd had... it can take a year to wear off... because i am still feeling the mental and mood effects. i'm beginning to think it's taken a permanent toll on my mental health or something, or that maybe i'm just crazy, or hormonally off balance. i feel like i should be on sedatives or anti-depressants, or both, because i'm still very stressed/worried/nervous/anxious all the time. the other problem is that i don't have health insurance. Planned Parenthood gave me the Depo, and a Women's Clinic hospital doctor put me on the pill... i haven't seen my actual doctor in a long time. so i really need help but feel like i don't know how and would have no way to get it.

*** if anyone has any suggestions... i really need the help, i've posted this experience as a reply to other people's experiences... just because i'm struggling to reach out, i'm really trying to find some sort of alleviation for the god-awful mental mess i'm in.
please & thanks,
JesoftheEast

I've got the NuvaRing today. I only inserted it a couple of hours ago, but I can't stop itching! I don't have a rash or hives, but I half expect to wake up tomorrow covered. I know none of the doctors have acknowledged itching as a side effect, but this seems to be a common problem. I was on depo for several years and loved it, but recently got married. I want to be able to have kids whenever I'm ready, however; it takes up to a year to get pregnant after the shot. Now I'm on the NuvaRing and the outlook isn't very promising.

For all of the poor girls who are searching "mirena experiences" because you are looking for a sure thing contraceptive-
This site is only for people who have had BAD experiences. Read them all if you want, but take into consideration they are the 3%, or whatever number, that had problems. None of these women deserved it, asked for it, needed it, or wanted it, but unfortunately their bodies responded to it in such an ugly manor.

Here's my experience so far....Had it inserted 8/06/08. Insertion was fine. Felt that speculum more than I could feel the actual insertion of the mirena.
Slight cramping afterwards...not immediately-went home and for like 20 minutes had cramps lighter than my period cramps.
For the first week bled lightly, second week had an actual period, week three and week four just spotting. The doctor told me this can go on for up to six months...kinda worth it if you think about it.
No acne problems so far, my hair is fine (and trust me, if my hair was thinning, falling out, or anything like that I would take the mirena out!), muscles and joints feel like they did before pregnancy, still breastfeeding (I know that they say that the mirena will make you produce less breast milk-tell that to my breastfed 13 pound 24 inch long 2 month old. he would disagree)
My breasts are a little tender and at first I was slightly bloated (less than if I were on my period) but that has subsided. Abstained from sex for a month after insertion per my doctor's orders, so I will come back and post if there were any problems with that...NEXT WEEK! yay!
Know that I understand the side effects could show up later.

Now again, EVERYBODY will experience something different. We are interfering with nature. Birth control is one of the most unnatural things we could do to our body.

Again, since this site commonly comes up when searching the mirena, I want for women to know that it might work for them better than it did for others.

I wanted to know if anyone got their period twice a month? I have a two and half month old. I didn't know if it was a side effect from the birth control or if this was normal after giving birth.

I've posted several times before, but it ahs been a while since I've updated on here. So a recap: Almost 33, have 3 kids(ages 13,11,and 7) Had insert on 12/27/07 after having used depo for many years with no major side effects...issues continually worsened over next few months. Had removal early May, 2008. Several issues cleared up within the first few weeks after removal, such as the joint pain, swelling, heartburn. Brain fog and moodiness became much better. Libido returned gradually as well. But I still have had no success in losing the weight gained over the last 6 months. Still 30 pounds heavier thatn was at insertion...increased workouts, decreased caloric intake, only lost 4 pounds in almost 3 months. Family doc even put me on meds to help with the weight loss, and they had opposite effect...I actually was hungry all the time and felt completely stoned! Acne still unrelieved to the point that I know have an appointment for a 2nd dermatologist as my first one ran out of options for me! Completely unable to clear up my face. Family doc wants to put me on antidepressants, but I don't' think that's the answer. Plus after all the problems I've had...don't trust a whole lot of meds anymore...especially ones that are known for reducing your libido! (Plus after all this and to STILL be overweight with acne...he'd be pretty depressed too!) Bloodwork all came back fine...actually a "Picture of perfect health!" The only thing he did say was that my testosterone level, although in normal range, was at the high end of normal. However, as I'm still young 30's, no one tested my hormone levels before...so I don't know what is normal for me. Will be talking to him about using an anti-androgen, like aldactone, to see if that will help. Not using any form of hormonal birth control any longer. As old-fashioned as it is...I now use a diaphragm and spermicide...and I'm actually pretty happy with it. I'm happy for all those ladies who had a flat belly again within a few weeks, and their faces cleared up almost instantly...but I must admit I'm jealous. I wish it was that easy for me. Good luck to all of you. Will post again in the future.

I had Mirena put in two weeks ago because I was told this will not affect my heart or give me major side effects like the pill or Depo does. HA! I have not stopped bleeding since, I've had cramps, been extremely angry (more than usual), and now I want to eat all the time too. I had been doing Weight Watchers to try to lose weight and had lost down to my pre-pregnancy weight and then had Mirena put in. Now that I want to eat all the time, I don't have any desire to try to lose weight. I just want to eat. I can't even have sex with my hubby because of the bleeding, and does anyone else still feel the strings? I looked up the Mirena website and it says of the two threads, one is made of some sort of poly-substance and the other is made of iron oxide. Um, that's a metal and I'm allergic to metals. I feel the threads ALL THE TIME. It feels like a burning sensation to a ripping sensation on occasions. Believe me, I even feel it when walking, which makes it difficult to want to exercise. Because I can feel the strings, I don't want to have sex because I'm afraid it will hurt my hubby. I'm calling my doc today to have mine removed. I'll just have to use condoms from now on because Depo destroyed my body last time I was on it and the pills mess with my heart and make me crazy.

It will be a year next month since I have been on the NuvaRing. Overall I enjoyed the ease of use and not having to worry about taking a pill every day. HOWEVER I have gained almost 20 pounds and I cannot get it off for anything. I was supposed to put another ring in yesterday but I am done with it. I look at myself in the mirror and I cannot stand the weight. I just hope it comes off quick. I have gained it everywhere. I have always been a tall fairly slim girl, until I started using birth control. The depo shot made me gain weight as well...UGH!

Ive been on this for a little while..so far its ok! I got on here to check for a cheaper BC and I found this site and figured id read up..i Dont have many of these symptoms. Ive always had weird periods..so that doesn't bother me. My doctor advised me that it takes 3 to 4 months for our bodies to adjust..so you will bleed, and you will be emotional..and most likely be sick! I was on Depo for 7 months..and gained so much and never had a period..this BC hasn't made me gain anymore..Now that im past the break in..getting my body used to it..its not to bad..i think these ladies just need to give it time..your feeding yourself hormones...your bodies arnt used to the high levels...just give it time and it will work..if all else fails..USE A CONDOM!

I started using the ring exactly two weeks ago. I started taking naps almost every day. Sleep during the day has NEVER been an option for me let alone a necessity. I decided to research the ring today when I noticed that my belly was extremely bloated. After reading some of the side effects, I can recall a strange feeling of hopelessness and sadness that I've had these last couple of weeks. (I've never been depressed in the past). I've also had very strange dreams. I should have known that an easy BC fix was too good to be true. I was on Depo before I had my daughter 5 years ago and it caused serious bone loss. I loved it because of the convenience and never had an indication that it was causing bone loss (thankfully a new GYN decided to take a bone scan as a precaution since I had been getting shots for 5 years. Luckily I was young enough that my bones are now normal.) Needless to day, I pulled the ring today!

Thank goodness for this site!

HELP!

After reading many postings, I don't feel like I'm the only one with my problems.

I've been on the ring for the past 2 1/2 years. Looking back I've noticed that I've had numerous migraine headaches and pretty much ZERO sex drive. How frustrating!!

What the heck do I do? Anyone know of which birth control I can switch to? I've been on numerous pills (orthocept, orthonovum, orthotri), the patch and the depo shot. They all made me emotionally crazy. Condoms don't really jive with my body.

I am 30 years old and have been put on Depo Lupron after a laproscopy to help with endometriosis. I am 2 months into a 6 month course (one shot every 3 months) of Depo Lupron and my life has drastically changed. I started feeling life altering hot flashes and night sweats two days after the first shot and nearly drown myself in sweat 24 hours a day. I experienced a little postpardum depression after giving birth 6 years ago but have found myself sunk into a sinking hole of depression and anger like I've never felt before. I bawl at McDonald's commercials and become enraged if the dishwasher isn't loaded properly! I am ecstatic one minute and severely depressed the next. I have even had thought of suicide since being on this shot. I am normally a very outgoing, athletic, cheerful, happy person - but since taking this shot, I have become a stanger in my own head. I tell my family all the time that I need to "go stick my head in the freezer" to cool off because of the horrific hot flashes. I have to carry a handheld fan with me 24 hours a day and sleep with ice packs to keep cool. Since the shot started 2 months ago, I have lost all sexual drive, am thoroughly exhausted by 9am and find myself crying at my desk at work by late afternoon because I am so tired. My family thinks I am going crazy and I've never fought more with my husband. My daughter has gone to grandma's for awhile because I'm just so tired and irritable that I feel like an awful mother. Migraines have also come full circle since the onset of the shot as well as blurred vision and shaky hands. I'm a little achy throughout the as well. I know that everyone responds to medication differently, but I'm finding a lot of people with the same side effects as myself and have to wonder why the doctors don't warn patients about these types of problems before prescribing medications such as Depo Lupron. I don't think I'll be going back for the second shot. Could it get any worse?

tooth decay, hair falling out, numbness/tingling in upper back & left arm, joint pain
I was on Depo (on & off) for about 8 yrs I have teeth of a 80 yr old!! (I'm only 28) they just keep breaking & decaying I finally figured out it Has to be from the Depo
I'm currently on the Mirena & I also just figured out I have been having some S/E's with that too UGH I wish there was something for us w/o all the nasty S/E's
GL e/o

4 weeks post removal of Mirena. I have a question, and I am gonna try to not be so blunt, but I want to know if anyone else is having the same thing...intercourse and more so "inner" foreplay is a bit uncomfortable/painful, almost like the way it felt when the Mirena was in...anyone else having this problem? I have my yearly exam coming on June 5th and this is an issue I am defiantly gonna touch on. I'm just wondering if it damaged my cervix?!