My Depo Story - Christen Hogan

I first got the Depo shot when I was 15 and I didn’t have a bunch of crazy symptoms, however I did gain 50lbs. I only got 2 shots back then and once I started gaining weight I stopped.

Fast forward to 2017 after I had my 3rd baby I thought Depo would be best fitting because I have a terrible memory when it comes to remembering taking the pill everyday, the Nuva ring didn’t work with me along with other birth controls. Within the first week I felt side effects, I began having non stop mood swings and anxiety issues. I remained on the shot for 1 year and it was the worst experience of my life. Non stop anxiety to the point I couldn’t leave my house, I gained 150 lbs. in under a year. My blood pressure was high from it, mood swings never went away, vaginal dryness, no sex drive and sweating issues. The last months I was on the shot I was so fat that I couldn’t even walk 2 blocks to the store, my bones would feel like they were breaking, I would exercise and eat healthy but I kept gaining more weight, that is when I chose to stop getting depo. 

Now it has been just over 2 years that I’ve been off depo and I have been battling with fertility issues. The sweating issue is still a problem I’m dealing with, trouble losing weight and getting in shape, depression and anxiety. Stopping the depo shot felt like my whole body was in a withdrawal.
I hope this information helps other women who are thinking about getting the shot. It may seem like an easy birth control method BUT what you will go through / after math is not worth it!!