Trying to Get Pregnant After Being on the Depo Shot

Updated on March 12, 2008
J.G. asks from Redford, MI
17 answers

I am currently on the depo shot and have been on it for about 5 years. This year I am planning on getting pregnant, and am worried about how long it may take. Has anyone experienced difficulties getting pregnant after being on the depo shot, especially after being on it for so long.

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So What Happened?

So I went off the depo and switched to Loestrin 24. I was only on that for a few months before my doctor took me off because my blood pressure was to high, that was in July, I found out that I was preganant in October, and am due July 5th:)

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L.L.

answers from Detroit on

Hi J.!

It took me a year before I could get pregnant with child #2. Good luck on getting pregnant! If you do get pregnant, be careful going back on the shot too soon after you deliver. I did and I bled for almost 6 months!?!? I loved the depo shot, but not after that!! LOL

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J.C.

answers from Kalamazoo on

I was on the shot for a year and I went off it because I didn't like the way it made me gain lots of weight along with the other issues it caused for me. I was off the shot for about 3 years before we started trying to conceive. It did take us a full year of trying before we had success. My Dr. did tell me just before we started trying that it can take 3-4 years for your body to get back to "normal" after taking the depo shot. I would recommend that you see your dr and see if she/he has any advice for you. My dr. just told me to take the prenatal vitamins and to have sex every other day.

Good Luck!!! I hope you have success in conceiving soon!

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D.C.

answers from Detroit on

J.-
It all depends on your body. Everybody is different. I have only used the depo as birth control, and personally like it. I like many others don't have a regular period while on it. I was on depo before having both of my sons. It was right around 18 months of no shots before I got pregnant with both. every doctor I have talked to about depo has told me that it takes right around 12-18 months for the effects to totally wear off and you can get pregnant, but I wasn't on it for 5 years. the first time was 1 1/2 years, and the 2nd was about 3 yrs. If I were you I'd talk to your doctor. They can help you out!!!!

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J.F.

answers from Grand Rapids on

Good morning. Sorry to tell you but my friend was on the shot for 5 years too and it took her a LONG time to get pregnant..I hope you are luckier than her...She now is 29(30 in April) has 2 wonderful sons and a daughter on the way. Just be patient and don't give up. She just joined this group so she may reespond as well and give you more information.

Good Luck-
J.

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E.S.

answers from Grand Rapids on

J.,
I'm sure you are going to recieve a vast majority of responses to this. Every woman has a different story. I personally believe DEPO to be one of the worst form of BC that is out there mainly because of how differently it reacts with each woman. When I was younger I had ONE shot of DEPO, after that my period never returned. I was diagnosed with PCOS, and edocrine disorder. It's not the fault of DEPO that I have this fertility issue but I do feel that it is what brought it out. I am the proud mom of 2 beautiful children. Both were achieved through fertility drugs and both took less than a year (while on the drugs) to conceive. All in all, it is going to depend on your own body and fertility issues that you are predispositioned for. My advice is this: give yourself plenty of time to adjust being off of the shot. Don't be too heart broken (some hurt/disappointment is always there) if/when pregnancy doesn't happen right away. You'll get there. It won't be any less special through fertility drugs if that's your route chosen! GOOD LUCK !!!!

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M.J.

answers from Detroit on

It took me 18 months to get pregnanat after I had my last shot. And I never had a period. Hope this helps.

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R.W.

answers from Jackson on

Some women don't have a problem but the vast majority end up with long term infertility issues. For those women it can take anywhere from a year to 5yrs to conceive.

Depo is an evil evil little shot.

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A.A.

answers from Lansing on

Hi J.,
I was one of the ones that did have to worry about trying to get pregnant after i stopped taking the shot. I was on it for a total of 3 years and I ended up with 3 kids while taking it. Talk about different reactions to it LOL. Anyways, i just wanted to wish you good luck and i hope all goes well with you!

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K.K.

answers from Grand Rapids on

Hi J., MY SISTER WAS ON THE DEPO FOR THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME AND WHEN SHE GOT OFF IT SHE GOT PG ABOUT 6 OR 7 MO AFTER SHE HAD A HEATHLY BABY BOY SO I WOUNDT WORRY TO MUCH DID YOU ASK YOUR DOC? K.

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A.I.

answers from Lansing on

i got pregnant with my second daughter on depo but i know other who it took a year year in a half to get pregnant after stopping the shot so best of luck are you going to start right away ?If so i would start take in folic acid and pick up some pre nate vitman get your system ready folic acid halp prevent birth defect and the vit are just good for everthing eles sure hope it happens right aways for you may baby dust come your way

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K.C.

answers from Grand Rapids on

I was also on the Depo Shot for 5 years. It took my husband and I 20 months to concieve our son and we did go to see a fertility specialist. The doctor thought the shot was related. I had gained about 30lbs with the shot over time, and when I lost the weight thru diet and exercise we became pregnant! Good Luck i hope this helps.

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M.B.

answers from Saginaw on

I was on the depo shot for 10 years. When I started thinking of getting pregnant I went on the pill for 6 months or so, I thought if I got my periods back on track that it might help. When we decided to get pregnant it only took 6 weeks to get it done, so I don't think that being on the shot for so long really did anything to slow down concieving. I have heard it can take a little longer but it didn't in our case. Good luck!

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C.B.

answers from Detroit on

I actually got pregnant with my 3rd child while taking the depo shot...I went in to get my 4th shot and surprise!

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J.K.

answers from Saginaw on

Hi J., my name is jen and I was also on the depo shot very a long period of time. i had always heard that it can take up to a year after being off to get pregnant. i got off the shot in october and got pregnant in may so it didn't take that long but we weren't trying either. i have an aunt and uncle that tried and tried and nothing but once they stopped trying they finally got pregnant so my best advice if you don't get pregnant right away is let time take its course it will happen when it's meant to

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L.S.

answers from Grand Rapids on

J.,

I was on the Depo shot for seven and a half years I then was given the Lupron injection which cause your body to go through menopause. I was on that for a year and a half. After that I went on birth control pills for about two months and my Husband and I decided to stop taking anything and let nature that it's course. We weren't really trying just not preventing either. Three months later I was pregnant, and I had been told I would probably never get pregnant (because of female problems not because of Depo). So I think it doesn't matter how long you've been on. For some people it just takes longer to get pregnant but if they have been on depo they blame it on that. But in reality some people try for years and then get pregnant and have never been on depo so I think people like to have the Depo to blame when they don't know what takes so long. I try to remember God is in control and if he wants you to be pregnant nothing is going to stop that. Everything happens in His time, not ours. Hope this helps.

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A.S.

answers from Kalamazoo on

I got pregnant with my second son about 5 months after going off the shot, the first time. BUT I also reacted totally different from anyone that I have ever talked to. My bodies reaction was to make it where I couldn't gain weight for nothing. I dropped down to 110 after my first son was born (yeah i know I reacted to pregnancy different than others too lol), I never had any periods while on it, and had no hormonal problems. In fact that was how I knew when to go off of the shot lol. When my younger son was around 4 I all the sudden started gettting every side effect that came with the shot, and so I went off of it. I haven't gotten pregnant since going off of it this time though, and it's been about 3 years. (but I don't want anymore kids either, so that is a good thing for me)

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J.M.

answers from Kalamazoo on

I was on the depo shot for over 5 years and I got pregnant about 6 months after getting off the shot without trying. I now have a beautiful baby boy who is 11 months old. I am back on the shot now and I do not plan on getting off of it until I want another baby. I thought I would be safe for at least 8 to 12 months, but I was wrong. Good Luck!!!!!

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