I thought I'd post this for those of you who are on Depo-Provera or considering using it.
Birth Control Shot Linked to Bone Thinning
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Depo-Provera (depot medroxyprogesterone), a popular birth control injection, seems to promote bone loss, and the effects increase over a 2-year period, new research shows.
Dr. Abbey B. Berenson, of the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, and colleagues compared the bone-thinning effects of Depo-Provera, birth control pills, and non-hormone contraception in a study of 191 young women.
Women who used Depo-Provera for 24 months had an average loss in bone density of 5.7 percent. These patients experienced a 3.2-percent loss between months 12 and 24. Those who used pills, by contrast, had a 2.6-percent loss at 24 months.
The results are published in the medical journal Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Depo-Provera "is intended for long-term use," the authors write. "Thus, additional studies that follow users of this method for extended periods of time and those that determine whether these changes are reversible are critical so that physicians can accurately counsel patients regarding this method."
SOURCE: Obstetrics and Gynecology, April 2004.


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I had so much more side effects with the pill than this.. no weight gain unless it's my own fault (not exercising and eating healthy)... no sickness and well.. I don't want kids ever so I won't have to worry about not falling pregnant easily.

I don't know anyone who has had no side effects at all.
Seriously, they make it sound like this miracle thing - All the doc tells you is that you won't have a period, and it lasts for 3 months... Great! What could be better? And then you read the brochure (which they give you AFTER the shot) and it talks about a 5lb weight gain and some spotting, still not a big deal... And then after you've been bleeding for 3 weeks straight, you start to look for more information and come across literally thousands of women who have depression, serious hair loss, weight gain, fibromyalgia, ovarian cysts, painful and dry sex, sterility, etc. from this demon drug. And that's nowhere to be found in the brochure and so prevalent that it CAN'T be a coincidence and there's no way the company doesn't know about it. You know that crap has been recalled twice in a 6 mos. period like 2 years ago or something ridiculous like that? It's really scary... and then the fact that you can't detox yourself. You're stuck with it for 3 months and then even longer if your body doesn't flush it all right away. It's just wrong on so many levels. This company has to be in a shitload of lawsuits right now. I only got one shot (thank God) - I have 5 weeks left on it and I will never do it again. I'm shedding hair more than my frikkin' dog (a Cavalier King Charles), sex hurts more now (3 mos postpartum) than it did at 6 weeks (lol, ok, 5 weeks but don't tell my OB/GYN)
and I do have some pretty serious depression. I don't know if that's because I'm fat and ugly and useless as a human being or just the hormones talking - Either way, it sucks.
I just can't believe doctors are still dishing this stuff out so eagerly. Screw birth control! I've had my two kids, I think I might just get my tubes tied... at 22... how sad is that? Anyway, I know some ppl love it and some hate it, but can I just put my two cents in and urge ppl not to take it. I know lots of people are okay with it, but the bad side effects just aren't worth it. And really, what's it matter if you're protected against pregnancy for 3 months? You're either bleeding the whole time or it hurts too much to bother anyway. For the frequency, just use a condom... lol, or get your tubes tied...

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