TTC after Depo

[Vap0]

Hi All

I'm new to this and am hoping for any recent experiences from people in the same/similar situation as me and hope to hear how you got on. I was on depo for about 10 years, not ideal I know. I had my last injection 10 aug 2013 which therefore expired about 2 nov 2013. In jan 2014 I had started to have incredibly sore boobs, this lasted about 3 months. In May 2014 I started my first af, didn't write down the dates but it lasted about a month (at least). Then since June it has been as follows

19 days on
14 days off
6 days on
10 days off
6 days on
7 days off
Currently 4 days on and counting...

It is driving me mad!

The cramps are terrible, i never had pains like this before. And as it is happening so frequently it is becoming a bit too much. I also have been using the ovulation test strips which I bought from eBay. I have used at least 40 and have never had a positive. I therefore think I may not be ovulating? I haven't been able to use them at the same time dash day due to work commitments.

I went to my doctor last week as in past threads i have read they can help by doing tests to see if you are ovulating or can give you a pack of pills to jumpstart your system etc. I was really disappointed as she said that because I have had the injection they will not speak to me about conceiving or do any tests until I have been off the injection for 3 years. Yes 3 years! Wow! I have been off it for about 10 months.

I have had a chlamydia test from the family planning clinic which was negative as i've heard this can be the cause of irregular bleeding.

Any advice or experiences of others would be good to hear. Is there anything I can buy online or over the counter that can help?

Thanks in advance

[sykadelic]

I came off Implanon (rod form of Depo) after 4.5 years in March. First period a month after and ovulated (test sticks told me so). I've had a period since but the dates have only this last and previous month been the same length of time, 34 days.

I'd suggest seeing another doc. It shouldn't take that long at ALL!

[Wherehasmysleepgone]

Hi Vap, a few years ago I had one injection before we decided to TTC and a whole year past with probably one full period, it was mostly a few days here and a few days there and I didn't fall pregnant despite lots of trying so we gave up, I went on the pill and a few years later came off pill and fell pregnant within the first 2 weeks.
My DS1 is 5 months old I had 1 injection 11 weeks ago and have bled constantly for 10 weeks - we have decided to TTC again in the next few years (which is not something we were going to do hence having the depo) so I will not be having another injection I will go on the pill.
Just going on my experience I would be tempted to take the offer of going on the pill for a month and then come off. It seemed to work for me although I had no idea this would work - when I came off the pill we felt it would take over a year to get back to normal given our experience but it happened straight away!

[EnolaAlone]

It took 9 months after coming off Depo for me to have a period, then another 9 months after that to conceive. I was warned by family planning that this is a common side effect of Depo. I had Implanon after having DS and my period came back a month after. I think you just need to give it more time. Good luck.

[Vap0]

Hi

Thanks for all your responses.

Yes, they did tell me it could take a little while (a few months) for it to wear off but the worry about me being a couple of days late for my injection (which happened a couple of times) made me think it was unlikely this was true.

After coming off it and Ttc it is only now I have read about how many people have had problems coming off it.

If the clinic had told me it would take 3 years for me to become pregnant after the injection I would have stopped a few years ago.

I'm going back to the docs on Thursday so here's hoping....

[kaykayblue]

Hi OP - You might want to ask the lovely moderators to move your question into the "conception" section of the website. You might get more responses than in the relationship section.

Good luck!

[MightWantABaby]

I've been off Depo injection now for 2.5 years and am yet to have a period at all! Not been using any other form of contraception and no pregnancies so I don't think I am ovulating either.

I've had spotting once or twice in the entire time I've been off but that's it.

I've been to my DR who ran bloods that all came back normal so god knows what's going on.

Good luck with your ttc x