does the mini pill induce a period? i have been on it for 7 days and i have been spotting a little bit.
Printable View
does the mini pill induce a period? i have been on it for 7 days and i have been spotting a little bit.
Hollo I had 4 periods in under 4 weeks with it. I found it dreadful and it doesn't suit everybody either. I don't know whether it induces it or it causes the hormones to even out a bit, but I couldn't take it and had a depo shot instead.
sorry, i just realised i put this in the wrong forum (feel free to move it). well i havent had a 'period' like i used to have them, it has just been a bit of spotting for a day and thats it. what is a depo shot and can you get it if you breast feed?
Hollo it's the depo provera shot and yes I am breastfeeding successfully with it. You have to have it every three months but it's less permanent than an IUD or the implanon. Just google it. Theres heaps of info out there on it.
Depo Provera
Depo Provera is a hormone used for contraception. It is given by injection and its effects will last for three months at a time. It is similar to progesterone, which is one of the two main hormones made by a woman's ovaries during her normal cycles.
How it works
When a woman has Depo Provera, her body senses the presence of the hormone so that her own hormone production is 'switched off'. Because of this, her ovaries will not release an egg and this is how pregnancy is prevented. This is very similar to how 'the Pill' works. Depo Provera is also sometimes used in the treatment of endometriosis.
How well it works
Depo Provera is a highly effective method of contraception, more effective than the combined pill. If 100 women use Depo Provera for 1 year, possibly only one of those women will fall pregnant, that is, 99 will not. No form of contraception is totally effective. Depo Provera will only continue to be effective if injections are given every three months when due.
Side effects
Periods
Because hormone levels are low, most women develop very little uterine lining and have reduced periods. After two to three injections, many women will have no periods at all because there is no lining building up to shed. Some women will have nuisance bleeding, which is usually light and irregular. Occasionally a woman will have troublesome heavy bleeding, which can usually be controlled by hormone treatment.
Other effects
a small amount of weight gain sometimes occurs, although many women have no change and some lose weight
some women may be troubled by headaches, abdominal discomfort and mood changes
some women have a reduced interest in sex, particularly women who are prone to depression
A small minority of women experience other side effects, which may be a nuisance but are unlikely to be serious. These include allergic reactions, fluid retention and breast soreness.
The advantages and disadvantages of Depo Provera?
Advantages
Depo Provera is highly effective with a very low failure rate.
For many women the loss of periods is an advantage with relief of symptoms such as premenstrual tension and period pain.
Depo Provera is also likely to cause some reduction in risk of ovarian cancer, endometrial (uterine) cancer, endometriosis and possibly pelvic infection.
An injection is given every 12 weeks and no other effort or remembering is required.
Disadvantages
Some women do not wish to see their doctor every three months for an injection.
Some women experience side effects as already described, which may be uncomfortable or unpleasant.
Once the injection has been given, the hormone cannot be removed. If a woman wants to stop the Depo Provera she has to wait for it to wear off. In some women, periods can be slow to return after the injections are stopped; sometimes it takes up to 6 or 12 months. However, more than half will fall pregnant within 12 months and over 90 percent within two years.
Other things to think about
Hormone levels are very low while using Depo Provera, so there is some concern that this may lead to some thinning of the bones (osteoporosis) in women who use Depo Provera for a long period of time. The importance of this is not yet known, but the changes would be expected to happen more slowly than those that occur normally after menopause and reverse after the injections are ceased.
Women commonly worry about drugs of any kind and cancer. Although it is extremely difficult to prove a complete lack of risk, Depo Provera has not been shown to have any effect on the risk of breast cancer. It should be noted that protective effects against cancer of the ovary and uterine lining are very likely. No ill effects on the developing baby have been shown to occur if Depo Provera is given when a woman is already pregnant or in the very rare case where a woman becomes pregnant despite the injection.
Who can use Depo Provera?
Depo Provera can be used by most women who do not have any serious medical problems and by many women who use other forms of contraception. It may also be suitable for women who cannot take the combined pill for medical reasons.
Who should not use Depo Provera?
Depo Provera is not suitable for women who are experiencing the following:
Bleeding disorders or taking anticoagulant medication
Undiagnosed abnormal bleeding
History of some forms of cancer
Certain other serious medical problems.
Already pregnant
Wanting to become pregnant within 12 months.
Special information if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
Return to top
Depo-Provera is not given to pregnant women. If an unexpected pregnancy occurs 1 to 2 months after a Depo-Provera injection, the baby is more likely to have a low birth weight or other health problems; birth defects are possible if you use the drug during the first 3 months of pregnancy. Children born to women who were taking Depo-Provera show no signs of poor health or development. Because Depo-Provera does not prevent the breasts from producing milk, it can be used by women who are breastfeeding. However, to minimize the amount of Depo-Provera that is passed to the infant during the first weeks of life, the drug is not given until 6 weeks after childbirth. Studies show Depo-Provera is not harmful to the infant then or later in life.
wow, thanks for all the info. i think it will suit me better as i am having trouble remembering to have the mini pill at the same time everyday. i will go see my GP about it. thanks again