All of this playing around with your cycle is all well and good... until you *want* to have a baby. I have known more people who have a very hard time getting pg after going without periods. Half of my friends are trying to get pg over a year... all because of hormone issues and not ovulating from being on depo or taking pills back to back...

You can only decide for yourself!

bucketgirl-
I haven't given any medical advice one way or the other. I have told what happened to me, and what my opinion is. I wasn't planning on delving this deeply into this subject, but since this has obviously caused misunderstanding...

I DID ask my doctor. I was advised by him to take the depo shot. Unfortunately, with depo, it is administered in office. There is no drug information sheet from a pharmacy or warning label. And most doctors will tell you it's completely safe. Many women have taken depo and never suffer a single side effect-I realize that. But tens of thousands just in the U.S. have pretty severe cases-and I wish someone would have informed me of the possibilies that I faced beforehand. Depo was poison in my body. I regretfully admit that I did not do my own research before taking the shot, and I just took my doctor at his word that it's completely safe "you might gain 5 pounds" is what I was told. Had I looked it up on my own beforehand, I would have found information that may have made me think twice. There is currently a class action lawsuit against Pfizer, the makers of depo. In November 2004 (my shot was in 2001) the fda issued an order making a warning mandatory on all packaging and advertising of depo, stating that the injection causes the loss of calcium from bones, and that the longer it is used the more calcium lost, and that this calcium does not return once injections are stopped-thereby possibly leading to osteoporosis, bone loss, bone fractures, etc. Many healthcare providers, since this warning has been issued, limit a patients time on Depo for a maximum of 2 years. Other Depo-Provera side effects, which are not mentioned, include excessive weight gain (some have reported up to 50 pounds in one year), hair loss, headaches, migraines, dizziness, nervousness, depression, excessive body hair, weakness or fatigue, decreased libido, increased risk of STD'S and yeast infections, abdominal pain, muscle stiffness, and severe joint pain-and MANY more. Approximately half of the people who try Depo find that the side effects they experience are unacceptable and discontinue use after one injection. Average duration of depo use for the other half who try it is 12 months. Depo has only been in use in the U.S. for about 13 years, and it's long term side effects are not known. There are thousands that claim Depo has caused everything from panic disorders to fibromyalgia to early menopause that lead to infertility. I wouldn't exactly call that a great track record, and it is certainly not what my doctor told me-the majority of women who try depo do not receive these warnings. No-we should not seek our medical advice from people on the street or on the net. But we should try to get all the information possible (prior to making a decision) that our doctors either don't think important or don't have the time to give us. How would we know what to ask, as good consumers and all, if we haven't been informed some other way? Doctors aren't perfect. They're people like any of us. Do you know how many misdiagnoses and fatal medical mistakes are made all the time due to misinformation, miscommunication, and doctors that are hurried due to time constraints?
I have spent MANY "all days looking this stuff up" because I am one of those people who suffered long term effects. Some people may still, after researching, think the risk is worth the benefit. I'm not picketing for anti depo here, and I'm not trying to send anyone to their doctor to say "I can't listen to you cuz this girl on a forum said....". The sad fact is that in this day we have to be responsible for our own choices and not just rely blindly on any one doctor-there are too many new drugs and differing opinions. Cancer patients who were given no hope seek another opinion/treatment and go into remission-my grandfather is one of them. He learned of a treatment center 2 states away from another cancer sufferer's blog on the net. Someone suffering from a disease joins an online support group and learns of a new specialist/medication/procedure their doctor did not inform them of. It happens every day. While our periods are not quite as serious a matter I'm sorry, but I don't buy into the whole we shouldn't seek any advice or experience of others to get information to talk with our doctors about, or that may lead to further research or even just a second thought. I'm not selling snake oil here. Just offering some insight that may possibly not have been there for alot of people-I wish someone had warned me.
For the record-and so I don't get berated AGAIN-these posts are nothing more than my personal opinion and experience. Any person reading anything on the internet at all whatsoever should seek the opinion of a physician and not rely solely on any info you receive anywhere but in a doctor's office.

I agree with both sides of the debate (and yes, that is possible).
On one hand, we shouldn't be acting directly on the advice of others, and on the other hand, we shouldn't rely on doctors to tell us everything. They just don't have that kind of time.

As suggested in my previous post (and including a starting base for the initiator of this forum), get some information. Do a little research. You'd be surprised what you find out. Then take all the information you've gathered, and make an appointment with your doctor. Sit down, and go over everything, be prepared with a list of questions. WRITE THEM DOWN! So as not to forget. And don't forget second opinions. And third. And sometimes fourth. When dealing with something so serious, I make it common practice to speak to several different minded physicians. But then again, that's easy for me to say, I live in Canada. I pay 40.00 a month for Alberta Health Care, and can get all the medical treatment that alots me (including most major surgeries). Solution? Move to Canada! I kid! And the dry air, no doubt, wouldn't be a good solution to your acne. Hehehe.

Good luck in this. I believe if you value your body and your mind, you will do what is necessary for you to be happy and healthy.

rebeleagle1965: I did want to say that I'm really happy your father found alternate options, and that he's doing okay now

I had my checkup done at a Planned Parenthood in the US. Now I'm back in China and the last time I went to see a gynecologist, she said that depo didn't exist! I don't know if it will help to see a doctor who doesn't know or understand me.

I'm very glad to find out that not having my period can prevent cancer though because I don't want to have children - ever. I think I will delay it this time. That way I can see the effect of this new pill and if it doesn't work out, I will switch back after my next period. BTW, the info sheet indicates that it's called "Desogestrel and Ethinylestradiol Tablets". Does anyone know what that means?

I found the info sheet of the other pill I was taking and that one was called "Compound cyproterone acetate tablet". Each tablet contains 2 mg cyproterone acetate and 0.035 mg ethinylestradiol.

I thought I'd add my 2 cents worth...I have talked to my doc about doing back to back packs, because of health reasons (I have endometriosis), and he put me on them back to back for 3 months/packs at a time, and take me off for a week, then go back on them. So I'm not going without my period completely...as in forever! I would definately consult your doctor to find out what the best way to do it for you would be, and not just do it to experiement.. that's not safe or healthy!

Ah, because you're in China, medical information on birth control can be scarce.

I will see what kinds of information pamphlets I can get from my gyno. In the meantime, I suggest you get on the net (to reputable sites that are endorsed) and study your little butt off!