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| I had my first Depo injection in September and I just want my period to stop! #1032/9 |
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I had an abortion on September 9th of this year. I didn’t get my period until October 6th just about a month later and now I've had my period for15 and a half days. I've never had a period for more than five days.
I also had a Depo-Provera injection on September 23rd. My period has been pretty light, more dark and spotty, and some heavier days. It has been really bizarre.
I called my doctor for an appointment, but it takes over a month to get in and I'm relocating at the end of this month. I am not sure what to do. I just want my period to stop.
Can you help me or at least let me know if this is normal?
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I think the easiest and an appropriate thing to do is to go get your next Depo injection 3 months after the first one.
The bleeding you have had since your first Depo injection is not out of control. So unless the bleeding is accompanied by lots of pain, relocate and then get that next shot!
Although bleeding and spotting and later on the complete absence of any bleeding are the major concerns of women on Depo-Provera injections, they are not the sign of a problem. They are bleeding patterns that are to be expected in women using Depo-Provera.
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If you can hang in there your pattern will move in the direction of no bleeding at all. Going to see your clinician would make good sense.
Women with bleeding and spotting have taken several cycles of birth control pills to get them through the time when the bleeding is most problematic, but I don’t think this is probably necessary for you unless your pattern of bleeding is just driving you crazy. |
Here is the information from the chapter in Contraceptive Technology by Drs. Alisa Goldberg and David Grimes:
Menstrual cycle disturbances. Bleeding patterns with DMPA use are unpredictable, with the majority of women experiencing infrequent but prolonged episodes of bleeding or spotting. Many women experience either an increased number of days of light bleeding or amenorrhea. Amenorrhea becomes more common over time among DMPA users. Approximately 40% to 50% of users experience amenorrhea after 1 year of use and 80% after 5 years of use. Similar patterns have been observed with DMPA-SC, with 55% of women achieving amenorrhea after 1 year of use. Rarely do women using DMPA experience an increased number of days of heavy bleeding. Menstrual irregularity is the most common reason for discontinuation of DMPA. Approximately 20% to 25% of women will discontinue DMPA within the first year because of menstrual disturbances. Of those who discontinue for menstrual disturbances, the majority discontinue for either prolonged bleeding or amenorrhea. The irregular bleeding associated with progestin-only contraception has been associated with an increased fragility of endometrial capillaries.
If you can hang in there your pattern will more in the direction of no bleeding at all. Going to see your clinician would make good sense.
Good luck!
Key Words: abortion, period, Depo-Provera injection, spotting, period, light, heavier, relocating, pain, bleeding, Contraceptive Technology, Dr. Alisa Goldberg, Dr. David Grimes, menstrual cycle disturbances, birth control pills, problematic
Reference:
Goldberg AB, Grimes DA. Injectable contraceptives IN Hatcher RA, Trussell J, Nelson AL. et al Contraceptive Technology 19th edition, pages 161 and 162: Ardent Media Inc. 2008
Posted 11-2-2009, Updated 11-8-2009, Updated 2-3-2010, Updated 2-21-2010
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Robert A. Hatcher MD, MPH
Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics
Emory University School of Medicine
Atlanta, GA
---2010-02-21
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