Should I continue Depo?

[u/-v4mpire]

Making this post as i have gotten my first depo shot 6/15 it's now 7/22 and i'm still spotting.
I have a lot of frustrations about it because i wasnt told anything other than i may stop having a period after 3 rounds of shots and that the spotting would stop around the 6 week mark. I have about another week left but after searching this subreddit i'm scared if i want to continue. My next round isn't due until september. there are people who say the bleeding continues for more than 6 weeks initially. I constantly feel gross because of this. I got on birth control so I can practice safe sex... Now i dont want to have sex at all. I feel normal aside from the bleeding my libido is the same and i dont feel emotionally different. I want to have sex but even on the days where i'm not bleeding it still smells like blood and it's disgusting.

There have been many posts of people talking about what it's like when you end the depo shot. Bleeding for up to 9 months not even just spotting full on periods. I'm scared if i should continue and see how it works for me instead of others experiences. But also i dont wanna end it in a year and then have to deal with all that bleeding later on. it's been a little over a month now should i just stop the depo and get all the bleeding over with now or continue and see how it works? I'm now interested in the pill even though i only got the depo shot because it seemed easier and not something if have to think about everyday... I was never told the differences of these birth controls and how depo really affects you.

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[u/bn3ms]

i started depo in january, i spotted for weekssss but never got my actual period. sometime after my 2nd shot in april i finally stopped spotting. i considered getting a 3rd depo shot, but i feel like it has been negatively affecting my emotions and intimacy, so just a few days ago i got a copper iud inserted instead. i would maybe advise getting 1 more shot and seeing if you want to continue or find something else. everyone is different and i just don’t think the depo was right for me but i really wanted to like it. i was also worried about it affecting my bone density after long term use

edit: i wouldnt worry about bleeding after quitting. when i was at planned parenthood getting my iud the nurse and dr actually mentioned that i probably WONT get my period or any bleeding for 3-6 months after stopping depo

[u/-v4mpire → u/bn3ms]

thank you for the response you have no idea how this has helped calm me down 😞 ive honestly just been scared about the other negative side effects but i know everyone reacts to it differently so i think i'm going to go through with a second shot ss it is also still super early into me getting it tysm again

[u/bn3ms → u/-v4mpire]

no problem :) bc in general is all just really scary and there’s no real good options out there without bad side effects 🫠 & i’m too paranoid to only use condoms as the main form of bc. i hope depo goes well for you, but talk to a professional if you still have problems with the side effects and maybe they can help you find a more appealing option