Depo Provera Shot. Gained 20 lbs in 6 mos. Possible?

Anyone taken this birth control shot and gain weight? I decided to get on this shot in May. I weight about 155 at that time. 6 months later and I'm up to 175lbs.

I had gastric bypass 3 yrs ago and my appetite was normal. Since the shot...I have had a verocious appetite. The doctor was hesitant to prescribe the shot because of several different side effects but was not concerned about weight gain. I've spotted since the 2nd month of the shot...but that does not bother me.

What is finally getting on my nerves is my uncontrollable appetite and the 20lb weight gain. I'm up from loose sz. 10 to a TIGHT sz. 12. I am up for another shot in about 3 wks and am not going to take it.

Your experiences please?

THX!

The shot has always been notorious for weight gain, it's one of the major side effects. My aunt gained over 50lbs within 3 months of starting it. I suggest doing research on other types of birth control. Good luck!!

I was on this shot years ago.  I went on it shortly after losing about 50 pounds on my own.  Before I knew it I had gained a tremendous amount of weight.  I made bad choices, as obviously the shot did not put the weight on me, but I was always eating, and always hungry.    I was on it for a couple of years and once I came off of it I really never lost the weight.  My daughter was also on it for about a year.  She gained weight also.  When I asked the doctor about it I was told that the weight gain was from eating too much and not enough exercise.

This must be Depo topic day   (Love the shot cause of no periods at least for me and then surgery changed it all )

Yep, I stopped doing the Depo shot after I had gastric bypass but then tried about 2 years after and I noticed I craved more foods and seemed to carry more water weight.  I know the birth control pill can cause you to gain weight but you would never think that would happen when you are eating so little.  I stopped the Depo shot lowered my carbs and didn't feel as bloated and lost the 13 lbs I gained.

You can break this though by increasing exercise, lowering your bad carbs and jus****ching your calorie intake but it is a struggle.

Good luck! 

Thank you. You mention the cravings...yup. I've had them. I just thought it was me...and falling in to bad habits again...but the more I started to analyze the past 3 yr journey...It struck me that this is probably the cause. I was fine till the month I took it...then it just started...the MONSTER in me came out. It wasn't till the past few days when someone mentioned "IT MIGHT BE THE DEPO SHOT"...I tilted my head in confusion and said "What?"... went into a long conversation....logged on-line, did research, and it was like "OMG! It kinda made sense."

I couldn't explain it...and think I have my answer now.

Thx for posting!

I am guilty of eating the weight on. I know the shot didn't just magically and evilly pack the weight on. but it just feels that since the pill...I can't stop eating. I was fine for 2.6 months...never worried about excessive eating...my appetite was normal. Now I feel like I'm Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde...feel like my appetite is back at 300lbs....

I am definitely getting off of it...and hoping the increased appetite will slowly dicipate after I stop...I will do as much as I can on my own and hope the weight comes off eventually...

I've NOW done more research on it and it seems like I'm not the only one out there experiencing this. I should have been smarter when getting this shot!

I gained 40 pounds in a year with Depo-Provera, when I realized this and stopped getiing my shots. My cycle was on 4 about 2 weeks, with a very heay flow. Slowly lost the extra weight months later.

Did you notice your appetite was less once off the shot?

I considered the shot years ago, but heard that it can take months before the hormone actually leaves your body. 

I'm on Mirena IUD, and within 6 months, all my periods stopped completely (except after surgery, for some reason I had a doozy of a period).  It's expensive, but is worn for 5 years, and the insertion is painful initially.  I also had a month of cramping. 

Consider it if you don't want any periods.  It's a well known side effect of Mirena.

Ooohhhhhhh yessssss, the depo shot!  It is very notorious for weight gain and you can exercise your butt off and diet diet diet and NOTHING is going to help!  Plus you'll feel like "what can I eat next?"  There are a number of other things that can be caused by depo as well, like thinning hair, cyst-like zits on your face, cramping in the lower regions, and that's only the tip of the iceberg.  Not saying that everyone has adverse effects from depo but I think the ones that depo DOESN'T affect negatively are the minority not the majority.  I was on that doggone shot for about 7 years and had the depo weight gain, among other things. 

OK, as far as side effects go....it really depends on how long you've been on the shot for your body to detox after going off of it.  For folks who've been on it for a length of time, it takes longer for the effects to leave your body.  It took my body a good year or so afterwards before I could even lose any weight!  I, too, liked the no periods but I didn't like the extra lard that came with it. 

I think there's a new pill out now that doesn't completely eliminate periods but keeps them down to about 4 a year.  You may want to check into that as a depo alternative.