Fertility After Depo Provera: Understanding Your Chances

Question
i just recently decided to get on the shot .  I recieved my first shot on december 21st 2006 and i am not due for my next shot untill march, but my husband and i just decided that we want to get pregnant again.  What are my chances of getting pregnant after this shot wears off being as i only had one shot, will i be able to get pregnant by may?  Is there any way to undo the shot?

Answer
Dear Tiffany,

Every woman is different, but normally Depo Provera is not a form of birth control that is recommended for women who are planning on becoming pregnant in the near future. This is because after the last shot of Depo Provera, it can take over 6 months for the drug to leave the body. HOWEVER, this should be decreased somewhat for you since you have only had one shot.

For some women who take the Depo shot, fertility returns immediately. For others, it may take 6-18 months or longer for the body's hormone cycle to go back to normal. There is just no way to precisely predict whether or not you will be able to be pregnant by May. You will know more after March when you are able to see if your cycles return to normal. Once your cycles return, it indicates ovulation and you should be fertile.

And, unfortunately, no there is no way to "undo" the effects of the Depo shot. The book Contraceptive Technology says: "It is not possible to discontinue Depo Provera immediately. Weight gain, depression, breast tenderness, allergic reactions, and menstrual irregularities may continue until Depo Provera is cleared from a woman's body, about 6 to 8 months after her last injection. After discontinuing Depo Provera, women may also have a 6 to 12 month delay in return of fertility."

You might TRY cleansing techniques to detox or eliminate the synthetic hormone from where it is stored in your body's tissues: drink lots of water every day, eat lots of fresh raw organic vegetables, drink raw vegetable juice, sweat in a steam room or sauna, get lots of exercise and fresh air. Otherwise, there is no antidote to the Depo Provera shot.

I hope this information has helped you and answered your questions. I wish you well and good luck in your efforts!

Brenda