I am making this report to increase awareness about the dangers of Depo Provera.
I was Recommended by my doctor for depo Provera in 2003 After the birth of my son. (my son was a preemie and the doctor suggested that I allow my body sufficient time to heal before attempting to have another baby)
I went based on her recommendation being advised it was similar to birth control, pills, however there was less maintinance involved ie: a shot every 12 weeks instead of a pill every day.
I took the shots for a year 5 shots in all. THEN Pfizer puts out a new warning. For side effects they knew about for over 14 years. There's intolerable side effects include:
Depo-Provera significantly decreases bone density in women, as compared with others in the same age group (see below). The manufacturer of Depo Provera does not advise prolonged use
This loss of BMD is of particular concern during adolescence and early adulthood, a critical period of bone accretion. It is unknown if use of Depo Provera by younger women will reduce peak bone mass and increase the risk for osteoporotic fracture in later life.
Depo Provera is associated with increased risk of breast cancer, particularly in women under 35, and current or recent users.
For some women, Depo-Provera may have a number of potentially intolerable side effects, including loss of interest in sexual activity, infertility, severe headaches, constant bleeding (metrorrhagia), weight gain, panic attacks, muscle pain, heart palpitations, pain during sex, acne, irregular menstrual bleeding, abdominal cramps, dizziness, weakness or fatigue, leg cramps, nausea, vaginal discharge or irritation, breast swelling and tenderness, bloating, swelling of the hands or feet, backache, depression, insomnia, pelvic pain, no hair growth or excessive hair loss, rash, hot flashes, joint pain, convulsions, jaundice, urinary tract infections, allergic reactions, fainting, paralysis, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolus.
Return to fertility may be slow. Fifty percent of women may be able to conceive in about 10 months from the last injection, but fertility may be totally suppressed in some women for up to 18 months or more.
Depo is not immediately reversible.in the case of intolerable side effects, they must be endured for three months or more.
Depo Provera may enhance HIV transmission.
Infants born to women exposed to Depo during pregnancy in one study had an 80% greater chance of dying in the first year of life.
A study of 819 women in one city found an association between using Depo-Provera and higher incidence of chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Depo Provera may simultaneously increase susceptibility to the herpesvirus and decrease immune response to the herpesvirus.
Depo Provera exacerbates glutamate excitotoxicity, which may render users more vulnerable to "neurodegenerative insult"—a greater likelihood of such diseases as fibromyalgia
Many women using Depo Provera experience disruption of menstrual bleeding patterns, something which has been called "menstrual chaos. "Altered menstrual bleeding patterns include irregular or unpredictable bleeding or spotting, or rarely, heavy or continuous bleeding. After continuous use, fewer experience irregular bleeding and more experience amenorrhea.By month 12 amenorrhea was reported by 55% of women, and by month 24 amenorrhea was reported by 68%. Some women may prefer amenorrhea. (But it is not a guaranteed effect of Depo.)
Amenorrhea induced by birth control products has not been studied. According to Jerilynn Prior, M.D., professor of endocrinology and metabolism at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, and board member for the Society for Menstrual Cycle Research, "the most important thing to emphasize about menstrual suppression is that the long-term effects are simply unknown, " and "allowing the one vital sign unique to women to go unmonitored... Could ultimately lead to an enormous uncontrolled experiment with a woman's health."
Depo Provera may be used by breast-feeding mothers. Heavy bleeding is possible if given in the immediate postpartum time and is best delayed until six weeks after birth. It may be used within five days if not breast feeding. While a small study "showed no significant difference in birth weights or incidence of birth defects" and "no significant alternation of immunity to infectious disease caused by breast milk containing DMPA", a possible subgroup of babies with 75% higher incidence of infectious disease was seen in mothers who started Depo Provera at 2 days postpartum.
A larger study with longer follow-up concluded that "use of DMPA during pregnancy or breastfeeding does not adversely affect the long-term growth and development of children". This study also noted that "children with DMPA exposure during pregnancy and lactation had an increased risk of suboptimal growth in height, " but that "after adjustment for socioeconomic factors by multiple logistic regression, there was no increased risk of impaired growth among the DMPA-exposed children." "Unfavorable socioeconomic factors" may therefore result in suboptimal height for DMPA-exposed children. The study also noted that effects of DMPA exposure on puberty require further study, as so few children over the age of 10 were observed
Since taking this Medication I have experienced almost all of the side effects listed, However because I luckily have not had bone Density loss I cannot join any of the present class action suits. So all the thousands of women out there like myself are excluded from seeking re-dress for what we have suffered. Bleeding for 3 months straight is not a minor side effect... It is debilitating
bouts of depression that last for months is debilitating. Being 36 years old and a doctor trying to convince you that you are going through menopause! Having bone and joint pain, and swelling in your feet until you can't fit in shoes.
NO ONE will take on the women who are going through this. Since no one will help us I am taking it on myslef to make others aware (by the way Men... Depo kills libido as well)
This is the same drug used to chemically castrate pedophiles! Yet doctors are prescribing this drug to healthy young women.
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