perimenopause and depo provera questions

06-23-2005, 09:53 AM

Anyone getting close to menopause and on Depo Provera? I have some of the symptoms of perimenopause, but am not menopausal, since I am having a period, even though I've been on Depo for 2 years. I am having very light but lengthy periods about every 3 months.

There are health concerns about staying on Depo for more than 2 years, but I have high blood pressure and cannot go back to the Pill. I am afraid if I go off Depo I will go back to having heavy, nearly continuous bleeding that led me to Depo in the first place (I was just about to get a hysterectomy when the flooding stopped). A progesterone only pill did nothing for the bleeding and made me feel worse before I tried Depo.

I really don't want to go back to heavy continuous bleeding for the next 3 years until I reach 52 and hopefully will be menopausal. Anyone have experience with Depo and making the transition to menopause?

I am also concerned about birth control. I am too paranoid to rely on barrier methods - if I go to irregular periods I will worry constantly that I am pregnant. I don't want to go through having my tubes tied, and then have to have ANOTHER surgery for a hysterectomy to get rid of the bleeding.

Is there anyone with experience in these areas willing to share comments?

06-25-2005, 08:26 AM

That's a good question that I will soon be facing. I'm just 40 with no symptoms of peri menopause yet. But, would like to hear answers if anyone has them. I have High Blood Pressure which is why I do the Depo shot. I get no period whatsoever.

06-28-2005, 08:41 AM

I will go for my annual gynecology exam in early September. I'll try to resurrect this thread and report what my doctor tells me then.

I like Depo and would just as soon stay on it until I reach menopause if I can. I'm 49 and so that would be 3 more years, if I'm average.

I have no sisters, my mother is deceased as are all her sisters, and my father's sisters, so I have no close female blood relative to ask about this stuff. I have no idea if women from either side of the family tree had similar experiences to mine. I suspect I have my mother's pattern, since she had made comments about having a longer normal cycle and I had a longer normal cycle. We never talked about feminine biology stuff though, except that I asked her once when she went through menopause and she said 52. She was in her late 60s or early 70s when I asked her this, so she might not even have remembered correctly.

perimenopause and depo provera questions

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