I know that many people here like to say,"your mileage may vary" (ymmv) so I do like going to the experts. Please see the following quoted study;
"here is, though, one big drawback: weight gain, enough to make you go up one or two dress sizes, according to a new study published today in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology .
In the study, more than 700 women were allowed to choose among various contraceptive methods and then were followed for three years to measure their gain in weight and body fat. Those who chose the Depo shot gained an average of 11 pounds over three years and experienced a 3 percent increase in body fat compared with an average of 3 to 4 pounds and less than half the increase in body fat for those who used other forms of contraception. I asked study author Abbey Berenson, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, to explain what this finding means for women. Here are the edited excerpts of our conversation.
Should we all say no to Depo?
Not necessarily. Only one quarter of the Depo users in our study experienced a significant amount of weight gain. Most only gained a few pounds, the same as the pill or condom users."
Later in the article it goes on to suggest that skinny white women gain the most, while obese and/or black women gain the least.
Now I would never try to influence another persons/doctors choice, I don't know enough about interpreting the statistics for someone else. I personally use depo, and find I have to fight the bulge. It does seem to be a common enough problem among many people using the drug, is listed as such on the manufactures fact sheet enclosed with every dose that I have purchased and for those reasons felt that forewarned, he could do his own research, based on a bit of guidance.
Phew, finally, I only lactated for a short period, just before another injection when my hormone levels were, perhaps, a bit low. I think it was twice, maybe a day apart, and not much quantitatively, but enough to wet my shirt right where my nipples were. I completely enjoyed it as an affirmation of sorts. I am not out at work, so guess I have to be careful. But I work in a super male dominated environment and anyone commenting would get questioned about why THEY were looking at my chest!
