WOMENS-HEALTH Messages for May, 1997: Re: Comming Off Depro-provera

Re: Comming Off Depro-provera

From: Kelly (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Thu, 8 May 1997 19:05:36 -0500 (CDT)

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At Thu, 8 May 1997, Anonymous wrote: >
>Hi. I had an abortion in October and at my month check up decided to
>have a depro-provera shot while my partner and I decided how we wanted
>to handle our birth control. Ever since the shot, I have had irregular
>periods and very long (3 weeks) periods, mood swings, weight gain, and
>hot flashes (which I experienced even before I became pregnant) all of
>which are normal side-effects apparently.

Very common side effects with the depo provera.

The depro was supposed to be >out of my system by February.

Depo provera provides contraception for 12-13 weeks after a shot. It can stay in your system and affect your cycles for much longer.

I have had 2 periods since then, >including my current one which started 3 weeks ago today and which shows
>no signs of stopping any time soon. It actually got heavier yesterday
>and I've been feeling pretty weak and crampy.

How often have you had to change your pad or tampon? Think about this because your doctor will probably want to know -- it can help us figure out approximately how much blood you may have lost. Also, once you stopped the depo, what have you been using to prevent pregnancy? If the answer is "nothing", you might be experiencing a miscarriage.

>1) I started menstruating when I was 10 and am afraid that I may be
>beginning an early menopause.

Possible, but very unlikely. >2) Both my Mom and Grandma had hysterectomies around my age (27), and
>this may be a symptom leading to one.

Try to find out why Mom and Grandma had hysterectomies -- in your grandmother's day many hysterectomies were done for birth control. >3) Could I have an hormonal imbalance related to having an abortion and
>immediately going onto birth control?

You are probably having anovulatory bleeding (a period without the normal hormonal shifts that occur in a cycle where an egg is released). Infection, uterine polyps, fibroids are a few other possibilities that come to mind. >4) Can this be considered "hemorrhaging"?

Bleeding greater than 1 maxi pad per hour for 2 consecutive hours is one definition of hemmorhage. What's more important is your blood count -- ask your doctor to check it, especially if you're feeling weak & dizzy. >5) I've only been to this ob/gyn once before. She seems nice, but I'm
>afraid that she may not be the best info resource (a fear I have about
>most doctors).

Ask her the same questions you've asked here. She may not have "the" answer immediately, but she should be able to explain the likely possibilities, and more importantly, help you stop bleeding.

Good luck

--
Kelly Shanahan, MD, FACOG
S. Lake Tahoe, CA

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In reply to: Anonymous: "Comming Off Depro-provera"
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