How to Stop the Depo Shot

The Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection is an injection of hormones given to women for the purpose of preventing pregnancy. It is commonly known as the "Depo shot" The Depo shot is effective for 13 weeks, so women must make appointments at their local clinics every three months to stay on this form of birth control. Many women prefer this method over having to remember to take a pill every day.

Instructions

1. Cancel your next appointment to get the Depo shot. Do this only if you are sure that you no longer want to be on this form of birth control.

2. Wait for the thirteen weeks to pass. You may have canceled your appointment for the next dose, but you still need to wait for the current dose to wear off.

3. Begin an alternate form of birth control after 13 weeks if you still do not want to become pregnant. If you are stopping the Depo shot because you want to conceive a child, you can begin trying when the 13 weeks have passed.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have been using the Depo shot for an extended period of time, it can take between six months to a full year to regain your fertility. Drinking lots of water and consuming organic foods may help you to regain your fertility more rapidly.

• The Depo shot does have side effects. These can include irregular bleeding, a weight gain of five to ten pounds, tenderness of the breasts, and depression. Since there is no antidote for the Depo shot, you will need to wait the three months until the hormone is out of your system before you see relief from your symptoms.

References

• What is the 3-month Depo-Provera shot?
• Depo Provera