Depo Shot & Breast Milk

Not necessarily. My mom can still express milk and she had her tubes tied after my sister was born 24 years ago.

OK, everybody can calm done. Galactorrhea, or lactating is a common side effect from Depo. Should stop as you get back to normal cycles and if you are having milky discharge from both sides this is more likely hormonal and not a breast tumor. As mentioned previously, can take up to a year to get cycles back after coming off Depo.

I don't want to scare you but if you have fluid coming from you nipples and it has been that long since you breast fed, you need to see your doctor ASAP. This could be an early warning sign of ductal breast cancer. It won't hurt to check it out!

I was on the shot the last time for about a year and have been off of it since June, I just had a period in Jan. and had a regular one this month. It takes a long time for it to get out of your system.
As for the breastmilk thing...you can still sometimes express a little bit. I had a friend who hadn't even had a kid yet and was able to a few drops, I don't remember what it ended up being, noting serious and I think it went away on its own.

Just what happened to me, I got pregnant on depo TWICE (the doctor convinced me the first time was only a fluke--I have since found out it's actually quite common!)

Wait a week and test again -- even if you get your period, still test. I hear a lot of women say they get a period and were pregnant.

With my second son, I started having milk leaking at about 4 months into my pregnancy, the dr laughed when I mentioned it and said "well you wont have any problems having enough milk this time around" My first son was premature and I fought until he was about 4 or 5 months old to keep enough milk in to srictly breastfeed him.

After my 14 year old was born, I got the depo before I left the hospital. I had the second shot 3 months later. I got terrible migraines from it, and didn't get a third, but it took almost 18 months to get my period back (it stays in the system for a long time). A change in hormones can cause milk production (even in men!). I would suggest just wait about 6 months. IF you are trying to get pregnant, ask your dr if there is something that can help flush the depo from your system (although I doubt there is). Hope this helps.

A.,

Some women can express drops of milk for years (like 10-15) after they are done nursing. I know, crazy!

you had better call your ob-gyn and get in right away. My ob-gyn is John Anstey ###-###-#### and he is awesome.

I didn't start having periods for 15 months after I stopped getting the Depo shot. From what I understand, it usually takes 12 to 18 mo to be able to get pregnant.
The breastmilk thing really sounds hormonal, which brings me to this - PLEASE make sure you are getting VERY regular check-ups with your regular doctor AND an eye doctor! Taking the Depo shot is what my doctor and I believe triggered a rare disorder in my body. (I say "believe" just because nothing is completely proven, but...) An eye doctor can diagnose the problem just as quickly as a neurologist. What IS proven is that the problem (called Pseudotumor Cerebri) IS hormone related. My theory is just that it's always better safe than sorry!

I have had 2 kids my oldest is 4 and young one 1,I can still express milk from both breast and have done so for many yrs. It is annoying every now and then i'll leak needless to say no longer breastfeeding,wish I could of continued. Never been on cotraceptives so unsure on how soon you'll start but I do hear it can be soon or a few months to get back on you cycle track.

You really should visit your doctor. Not to alarm you, but there are several medical reasons a person can express milk. I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. My first signs were the abscense of periods and producing breast milk for no reason.

When I stopped Depo it took quite awhile for my cycle to come back--several months at least. Everyone is different, but it's not uncommon to be able to express some milk at wierd times--chalk it up to hormones-.

It is perfectly normal to go for a year before your body begins to cycle. If it is normal when it returns, you are very lucky!!! Depo shots put your body into a menopausal mode. Don't use that again if at all possible. I did it and will never do it again. As for the milk, I didn't deal with that.

did you find yourself moody on the depo shot? i got off it many years ago because i was very moody toward my husband and it caused my divorce. By the time I figured out what it was he had already had enough. ladies...if you are on the depo shot and become moody toward your husband and cant explain why...GET OFF THE SHOT!!!!

I was on the Depo shot for about a year before I had children. I bled non-stop for 6 months. After that I decided to get off of it. I had to get on pills to get my system regulated again. I will never again go on the shot, and I do not recommend it to anyone. It was horrible for me. Chances are the shot has yet to work its way out of your system. If you are really concerned, I would suggest going to see your GYN. Also, I have been able to express milk since my daughter was born 4 years ago. There was a 18 month gap between her nursing and when my son was born and I started nursing him, and I was able to express a steady stream of milk that whole time. That is totally normal!! I hope this helps!!