Advice on the Depo Provera Shot

Go to the doctor. Sometimes it can eliminate what you are afraid of and if it is a serious problem you can start to solve it. Being afraid is normal. After all we are rightly bombarded with paying attention to these things in case it is cancer. Sometimes they are benign and sometimes they are treatable. The earlier the better. Old Mother Mary Ann (Been there done that. My lump was benign.)

I used to take Depo untill I went to school to become a Medical Assistant. My teacher was a doctor and I asked him and he said that Depo was dangerous because it stopped a womans period, he said that we need that period to cleans the womb and it is dangerous if we don't have a menstrual cycle. I had problems with Depo as it caused me to have a light period for almost a year! I gave up birth controll altogether for about 3 years and then went on the pill, which is the #1 preventative of pregnancy, the pill when taken right is even more effective than a condom and I did the research, it's true. As far as the pain in your breast I also got that when I got off the Depo shot as well as major mood swings and heavy periods along with major cramps.

C.,

Usually cancerous lumps are not painful. It is probably some kind of cyst. Please do not be afraid...go to your doctor. In any situation, early diagnosis and treatment makes a big difference. Do not suffer the pain and emotional agony. Take care of yourself.

Hugs,
C.

I agree with the other two posters.

At the very least, call your doctor and describe the symptoms. He or she will tell you if you should come in. Chances are, you will come in to be safe. And they may be able to give you some advice on how to relieve the pain.

Good luck.

Hi C.,

It sounds like you may just have fibrosystic breast syndrome. It sounds scary, but it's pretty harmless, and very common. Basically women with FBS have benign masses in their breasts, and if the masses become inflamed it leads to pain, soreness, and you can feel painful lumps in your breast. I have it, and so does my mother.

Usually, you only feel a little pain around the time of your period, but sometimes they become inflamed and you feel the pain more often. Mine was so bad one summer I couldn't sleep from the pain--all month, not just during my period. My OB/GYN said increased caffeine intake can cause increased inflamation, and sure enough I was drinking more coffee that summer. I reduced my caffeine intake and got on the pill (also recommended by my OB/GYN), and the inflamation went away. I've been on and off the pill since then with no problems, but if I'm off the pill and drinking a lot of caffeine, I get inflamed again. So maybe that's why you're experiencing the pain now that you're off depo provera.

You should definitely see your OB/GYN for confirmation, because it could be something else, but certainly don't be afraid to go to the doc. They can only help!

Feel free to contact me if you have more questions about FBS, or look it up on the internet. Good luck!

J.

Hello C.,

Please do not be scared to go to the doctor. I am guessing you are more scared of the possibility of hearing that awful "C" word than actually going for the exam. Fear is worse than dealing with any situation that arises. Go to the doctor not only for your own peace of mind but also for your family who needs their mother to stay in good health. Pick up the phone right now and make that call. Good Luck.

J.

C.,
It is very important that you take the time to see a doctor. It could be a benign growth but if not it is something that needs attention right away. The lack of the injection could cause some breast tenderness, but it will not cause a growth.

Hope this helps.

K. JJ

I got pregnant on that shot after a year. All women should have breast exams, depending if your family has a history of breast cancer. I don't know if the shot is related to it or not. Asking a doctor might help. Even research the information.

Painful lumpy breasts is a fairly common withdrawal symptom. It should go away in a few months. However, I would still recommend going to your doctor as prolonged use of Depo can cause other problems such as loss of bone density, that should be checked and treated.

In response to a previous post:
Four years ago the FDA sent out a special "black box" warning that Depo was not to be prescribed for more than 2 years due to the severe levels of bone loss it caused. There are other problems associated with Depo. If women's health and symptoms were taken seriously, this drug would never have been approved in the first place.

I got depo shots for 11 years, and did not have any pain in my breasts or lumps when I went off. You should DEFINITELY see your doctor. I know you're scared, but not going could only make the problem worse. Knowledge is power. If it's nothing, you'll feel relieved. It you need to take further action, the sooner you get started, the better.

Hi C.,
I don't know much about the depo provera shot but working as an experienced mammographer, I do know that you need to have a mammogram of both breast and a breast ultrasound. Do not wait. If it's nothing, which I hope it is, then you can have peace of mind. If there is something, then you've caught it early. I encourage you to see your doctor and get a referral for both a mammogram and breast ultrasound. Hope this helps. Kim C.

Being scared of going to the doctor is not good. You need to get a professional check up/mammeogram to see what's going on.
Don't delay.
N. H.

Hi C.,
I think it is a reaction from stopping the Depo, usually when you stop it your hormones start working and creates tenderness on your breast. I don't think nothing is wrong, but I do suggest you see a Doctor for your own peace of mind. I do know that the Depo when used for several years in some cases can cause problems with osteoporosis (weakening of your bones), you might want to check for that also. A friend of mine got osteoporosis after being on Depo for two years. My OB/GYN doesn't recomend it for more than a year.
You will be in my prayers and I am sure everything will be ok,
A.

Definitely have the lump checked by an OBGYN and if they schedule you for a biopsy, get that done asap.

it could be a cyst (fluid filled packet) that they can do something called a "fine needle aspiration" on to drain and test the fluid. It could also be a lymph node, and those often swell in response to infection or other unfun things, so they are good warning signs (if it's near your underarm, it's probably a lymph node unless you have lots of breast tissue there too.) It could also be that your breasts are very sensitive to hormones and some of your milk ducts have been stimulated a bit since you went off the depo. But you would need an actual physical exam to make sure that's all it is!!

The hopeful news is that from what I know, tumors do not normally hurt right away. If you stand in front of the mirror, can you see the lump with your eyes? Is the skin like an orange peel over the section with the lump? These are important things to make known to your doctor to let them know how urgent it is. No matter what, they should get you in to be examined urgently and right away (within 24 hours of your call.) That's because if they can't rule out the lump situation, they need to get you to a general surgeon very quickly for a biopsy.

If you smoke, stop immediately and get on the patch until you have this thing checked out and cleared. If it does turn out to be something that needs to be removed, smoking can really make everything so much worse for treatment, it's unbelievable.

Good luck and keep us posted, I know I'm sending gentle healing thoughts your way!

hi my name is H...I am goin through the same exact situation a u have described but its my right breast..just wondering how you got on at the docs i know was while ago but I am trying to find answers to ease my mind thanks

I don't know anything about the depo provera shot but I know something about breast cancer. Mine was caught early because I wasn't afraid to go to the doctor.
If you have questions about your health, why are you asking total strangers for advice? CALL YOUR DOCTOR! GO TO THE DOCTOR! GET A MAMMOGRAM. THE LUMP MAY BE BENIGN, BUT YOU WON'T KNOW UNTIL YOU GO GET IT CHECKED OUT!

Go to the dr. It is probably nothing, but if it is a problem and you go now it can be fixed. If you don't go and it is a problem it will get worse. So just go and find out. Then you will feel better and get on with your life.
good luck
J.

C., I also had problems after being on the depo shot for 4 years, but nothing like what you describe. Please, for the sake of your family if not your own health, do not delay in going to the doctor -- especially if you have a lump in your breast. It may be related to the depo provera, it may not -- God willing it is totally harmless but you must get this checked out. Early detection saves lives, and while going to the doctor isn't a picnic, better safe than sorry!!