How long will Depo side effects persist?
Question
I’ve been bleeding off and on for about 2 1/2 months now. It is very irregular. I’ve been bleeding two weeks in a row at times. And then once the bleeding stops it starts a week and a half later. Should I be concerned at all? How long does it usually take to get Depo out of your system? And will my hair grow back? Why do they keep giving girls these crazy drugs?
Answer
Last Updated: July 24, 2013
I’ll assume from the last part of your question that you have been taking Depo-Provera, the once every three month progestin-only birth control injection. You should be concerned that you might have lost enough blood to become anemic.
It can take several months for the medroxy-progesterone acetate in Depo-Provera to leach out of the body. The effects on a woman’s hormonal system can last many months more, unfortunately.
Your hair will eventually grow back as the growth cycles of the cycles normalize: give it about six months.
As for “why do they keep giving girls these crazy drugs?” The reasons, of course, are the same reasons we have a culture of death which treats a beautiful gift, fertility, as if it were a disease, and sexual intercourse as if it were designed for casual recreation and hedonistic pleasure instead of for married couples’ emotional, spiritual and physical unity and participation in creation.
Don’t get any more injections and do not take the birth control pill. If you are single, do all that you can to abstain. Despite what society tells us, we are fully capable of controlling our sexual desires.
If you are married, get into a Natural Family Planning (NFP) class right away (CANFP can help you find a teacher) and start to appreciate the natural beauty of your body and the wonderful cycles it has.
Go see a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant knowledgeable regarding NFP and supportive of pro-life approaches to fertility (CANFP and One More Soul can help you find such a medical provider) to check if you are anemic or if you need any other medical evaluation.
George Delgado, M.D., F.A.A.F.P.
It can take several months for the medroxy-progesterone acetate in Depo-Provera to leach out of the body. The effects on a woman’s hormonal system can last many months more, unfortunately.
Your hair will eventually grow back as the growth cycles of the cycles normalize: give it about six months.
As for “why do they keep giving girls these crazy drugs?” The reasons, of course, are the same reasons we have a culture of death which treats a beautiful gift, fertility, as if it were a disease, and sexual intercourse as if it were designed for casual recreation and hedonistic pleasure instead of for married couples’ emotional, spiritual and physical unity and participation in creation.
Don’t get any more injections and do not take the birth control pill. If you are single, do all that you can to abstain. Despite what society tells us, we are fully capable of controlling our sexual desires.
If you are married, get into a Natural Family Planning (NFP) class right away (CANFP can help you find a teacher) and start to appreciate the natural beauty of your body and the wonderful cycles it has.
Go see a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant knowledgeable regarding NFP and supportive of pro-life approaches to fertility (CANFP and One More Soul can help you find such a medical provider) to check if you are anemic or if you need any other medical evaluation.
George Delgado, M.D., F.A.A.F.P.
Answered By:
George Delgado, M.D., F.A.A.F.P.
George Delgado, MD, President and Founder of Steno Institute and Medical Director of Culture of Life Family Services (COLFS), San Diego, is a Professional Member / Supporter of CANFP. Board certified in both family medicine and hospice and palliative medicine, Dr. Delgado received his medical degree from the University of California, Davis, and completed his residency at Santa Monica Hospital/UCLA. Dr. Delgado is a Natural Family Planning Medical Consultant, trained in NaProTechnology. He and wife have four children and seven grandchildren.
