I was on depo provera (shot) for approx. 7 years and my last shot was in November of 2005. My husband and I have been trying to fall pregnant since February of 2006. I read in many places that it may take 10-12 months before I become fertile again. My cycle became pretty regular around March 2006. The only apparent side effect is very painful and heavy periods. I did see a doctor about this and was examined and everything came back fine. I just have very painful periods now, which I never had cramps prior to now. I'm concerned though because we're going into 16 months of trying and I think my "clock" is ticking since I recently turned 35.

Has anyone in the room experienced this or know someone who has and what steps they took if any?

Thanks for any advice.

Yanie

Yanie, has your husband been tested?

Seeing that you were on for so long, it may take longer than most women for you to fall pregnant. It is good that you got your check up and I commend you for being proactive in your health care. But it is important that your husband be checked also.

Another thing, are you regular? Do you know when you are ovulating?

I talked to my husband and told him he may need to get checked. He is willing but we were waiting a little to make sure the delay isn't due to the length of time I was on the shot. I'd say I'm regular - my cycle is either the last week of the month or the first week of the month and lasts for 3 days. I'm afraid I can't say when I'm ovulating. I never remember how that works...

It is usually around 12 - 14 days after the first day of your last cycle that ovulation begins.

Has your cycle always been only 2 days? Even before the shot?

No - When I first started (age 14) my cycle was more like 5 days. As I got older the days became shorter. I don't really remember when they became shorter but I'm guessing in my 20's - I'm 35 now. I never had cramps before the shot though. They are debilitating most months. I have to take naproxin for the pain.

Hun, when was your last physical?

November 2006 - one of the reasons I haven't been back to the doctor is because my doctor switched me to another doctor in her office (a male, her husband) and he was very "unsympathic" of my discomfort. He just kept prescribing me these darn pain pills. After I got the examine back in August 2006 and everything came back fine I didn't worry that I was may be having more severe female problems. I planned on making an appointment with a new doctor I found under my new insurance plan with the next week.

As far as the cramps... mine got worse after Depo as well... according to my doctor... it's actually because your body is re-adjusting. I had very severe cramps for about 6 - 8 months before things got back to somewhat normal. My best recommendations for the pain is a heating pad cranked up on high. You should normally begin ovulation 3-4 days after the last day of your period (per a recent conversation with my obgyn) and that can last for 2-3 days. If you go to babyhopes.com the have a fertility calendar that you enter the 1st day of your last period and it will tell you when your most fertile days should be. Good luck!

It took me 18 months to fall pregnant after the depo all though I had regular monthly cycles a few months after last shot