WOMENS-HEALTH Messages for December, 1997: Re: Getting preg. after Depo Provera

Re: Getting preg. after Depo Provera

From: Lisa (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Wed, 31 Dec 1997 21:46:20 -0600 (CST)

Messages sorted by: [ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]
Next message: Kelly: "Re: endometrial polyps"
Previous message: Kelly: "Re: All the best in the New Year to everyone at the WH Forum"

At Wed, 30 Jul 1997, R.Daniel Braun, MD FACOG wrote: >
>At Wed, 30 Jul 1997, anonymous@obgyn.net wrote:
>>
>>Valerie:It took me 11 months for a period to resume after depo-provera.
>>The pamphlet info. that your Dr. should have given you, and discussed
>>with you states that it can take up to 18 months for fertility to
>>resume. I Would ask your Dr why you were never informed of this if in
>>fact you were never given this vital info. At Wed, 30 Jul 1997, Valerie
>>wrote:
>>>
>>>I have been on Depo Provera injections since January 1996 and my last
>>>injection was April 1997. We were planning on starting to try for #2 in
>>>a few months. I was surprised to find that Depo Provera can remain in
>>>the body for several months to a year. If I had known that, I would
>>>have stopped the injections sooner!
>>>
>>>Not only that, I understand it could take 3 months to a year before I
>>>even have a period again. Does that mean I would have to wait until my
>>>first period comes to know that I can conceive?
>>>
>NO, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO CONCEIVE ABOUT 2 WEEKS BEFORE YOUR FIRST
>PERIOD. THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS TAHT YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT WILL BE.
>iN VERY RARE CASES, IT CAN TAKE EVEN LONGER.
>
>>>Anyway, is there some way I can rid my body of Depo Provera faster?
>>>Increased exercise or something like that?
>NO NOTHING LIKE THAT CAN DO ANY GOOD AS FAR AS GETTING RID OF THE DEPO
>ONLY TIME CAN DO THAT. tHE REASON HAS TO DO WITH HOW WELL YOUR BODY
>ABSORBS THE OIL IN WHICH THE PROVERA IS DISSOLVED.
>
> Also, does the body have to
>>>be 100% rid of Depo Provera in order to conceive? If one can still
>>>conceive with traces of Depo Provera, could it harm the embryo?
>NO AND MOST LIKELY(99.99%) NOT. RESPECTIVELY
>
>>>I don't know if this is relevant or not, but I had occassional spotting
>>>with the Depo Provera. In the last 6 months or so, spotting was almost
>>>nil.
>PROBABLY NOT RELEVANT.
>
> Another side effect is weight gain but I don't know if mine was
>>>due to the Depo Provera or simply unable to get rid of "baby fat".
>THERE IS SOME ARGUMENT ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WEIGHT GAIN IS A SIDE EFFECT
>OF THE DEPOPROVERA. A FEW STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT CONTROLS NOT GETTING
>THE PROVERA GAIN JUST AS MUCH WEIGHT. ALSO THOSE WHO DON'T USE SOME
>FORM OF CONTRACEPTION GAIN 20-50 POUNDS OVER HTE NEXT NINE MONTHS.
>
>>>Thank you for taking the time to read this! I know there are a lot of
>>>questions in this message.
>
>--
>R.Daniel Braun, MD
>
> "Heisenberg might have slept here"
> Unknown or Indecisve
>

-- Valerie, I'm sorry you were not properly informed about the effects of the Depo Provera shots. Unfortunately, I can't say that's the case in my situation. I started the shots in 1992. I was determined not to have any more children....I have two from a previous marriage. I'm 32 years old, and relatively healthy. I have never had a problem getting pregnant. Even now, I'm remarried and my husband wants us to have a child. So, I decided to not get the shot that was due in November. Well, I just found out that I'm 4 weeks pregnant. However, this pregnancy is deemed to be an "unhealthy" pregnancy....or a blighted ovum. My HCG levels are not increasing at the "normal rates." The ultrasound shows a sac with a size consistent with the estimated number of weeks I should be pregnant. But, the doctor is convinced I will inevitably miscarry. Why?....I don't know. Perhaps I was not supposed to get pregnant so soon after stopping the Depo Provera shots. I don't know why. This is extremely disappointing. Now, I'm just sitting around waiting for the miscarriage to happen. At first I didn't believe it. But, after reading the many stories on the internet from other women experiencing blighted ovums, I'm starting to believe. Of course I can continue to try to get pregnant. But, should I rush it? Should I try artificial methods of conception before 12-18 months? Or should I just let the Depo Provera take its course in leaving my body? Afterall, I am 32 years old. Though that's not old....it's not young either!!! So, again, I apologize for your doctor's error in not adequately informing you. But, now that it's happened....why rush nature? You could end up more hurt and disappointed than you'd planned. I know that I'm pregnant right now.....but the question is why isn't my baby progressing at a normal rate. The bigger question is am I in fact pregnant with a fetus, or is it just an empty sac.....as the blighted ovum is described?

Good Luck......If you do become pregnant soon, I pray that your pregnancy is a healthy one. On a happier note, my sister had the Depo shot...stopped it, got pregnant one year later (exactly) and has a beautiful, healthy 1 year old girl. In fact, she's repeated that same cycle and is expecting her second child in August. So, all of our bodies react to Depo differently. If it's meant to be, it will!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Take care.......Lisa (Ljack21@aol.com)

Next message: Kelly: "Re: endometrial polyps"
Previous message: Kelly: "Re: All the best in the New Year to everyone at the WH Forum"

Women's Insurance Checklist from Auto Insurance Quote

use when must restrict search to only the women's health forum...
Enter search keywords:
	Returns per screen: Require all keywords: