What are the real side effects people notice (weight, acne, mood, libido, periods), and how long does it usually take for your cycle/fertility to come back after you stop?

Q: What are the real side effects people notice (weight, acne, mood, libido, periods), and how long does it usually take for your cycle/fertility to come back after you stop?A: The birth control shot’s biggest “personality traits” are period changes and delayed return to fertility. Many users get irregular spotting at first, then lighter periods, and about half stop bleeding entirely after a year. Some people gain weight (especially if they gain early on), some notice acne shifts, and some experience mood or libido changes — but responses are very individual.After your last Depo shot, the medicine can keep suppressing ovulation for months. On average, it takes about 9–10 months from the last injection for fertility to return, but for some it is as quick as 3 months or as long as 18 months. It does not permanently damage fertility; it just sticks around longer than most methods.If your body feels like it missed the memo on what is “normal,” unpack it with Gush — cycles, side effects, and all the messy middle.

Birth control shot side effects and how long fertility takes to return

How the shot changes your period and bleeding

When you flood your system with progestin, your uterine lining stops doing its usual monthly drama.What most people see:- First 3–6 months:- Irregular spotting.- Random light bleeding.- Sometimes longer or more unpredictable bleeds.- This is your endometrium (uterine lining) adjusting to constant progestin instead of the normal estrogen–progesterone rhythm.- After 6–12 months:- Bleeding usually gets lighter and less frequent.- Many users see their periods shrink or vanish.- By 12 months:- Around half of users have no bleeding at all (amenorrhea).Why this happens hormonally:- Without the usual estrogen rise in the follicular phase, your lining does not build up thick every month.- Constant progestin keeps it thin and unstable.- Eventually, there is almost nothing to shed, so your “period” just… stops.Is not bleeding safe?For most healthy users, yes. On the shot, no period does not mean blood is stuck inside you; it usually means there is no significant lining to shed. gynecologists use progestin-only methods intentionally to suppress bleeding for people with heavy periods, anemia, or conditions like endometriosis.You *should* get checked out if:- You have extremely heavy bleeding (soaking a pad or tampon every hour) for several hours.- You pass large clots repeatedly.- You bleed for weeks on end without a break in the first year.

Weight changes on the Depo shot

Weight gain is the side effect people are most stressed about — and the one most weaponized against women.Here is what research shows:- On average, Depo users gain about 5 pounds in the first year.- Some people gain more, some stay the same, a rare few lose weight.- Teens and people who gain more than about 5% of their body weight in the first 6 months are more likely to continue gaining.Possible reasons:- Progestin can increase appetite.- It may change how your body stores fat.- Mood shifts and fatigue can lower movement and change eating patterns.What you *don’t* need:- Shaming from doctors.- Being told to “just eat less” like that fixes hormones or capitalism.What you *can* do:- Track your weight, appetite, and cravings for the first 6 months.- Notice if your hunger feels constantly turned up.- Build small, sustainable habits (regular meals, protein, movement you do not hate) instead of crash diets.If your body feels like it is changing in ways you really do not consent to, that is a valid reason to reconsider the method.

Acne, skin, and hair on the shot

Because the shot is progestin-only (no estrogen), its effects on acne and skin are different from combo pills.Estrogen-containing birth control often helps acne by:- Reducing androgens (testosterone-type hormones).- Stabilizing hormone swings across the cycle.Depo does not bring that estrogen. So:- Some users see no change.- Some notice more breakouts or oiliness.- A few notice improvement because ovulation is suppressed and hormonal spikes flatten.Hair-wise, a minority of people report increases in shedding or changes in texture, but this is not as strongly tied to Depo as it is to some other progestins.If acne is a huge trigger for your self-esteem, talk to a provider about layering in skincare or derm support rather than silently suffering.Cycles and side effects rarely read the script exactly. If your skin, weight, or bleeding pattern on the shot feels oddly specific to you, bring your whole story to Gush and get a tailored breakdown instead of a one-size-fits-none answer.

Mood changes and mental health

Hormones absolutely talk to your brain, and pretending they do not is gaslighting.On the shot, people report:- Mood swings.- Irritability.- Feeling flat or numb.- In some cases, worsening depression or anxiety.Not everyone gets this. Some feel exactly the same, and a few feel *better* because their cycle is more stable and they are not dealing with PMS hell.Biologically, progestin can:- Affect neurotransmitters like GABA and serotonin.- Change how reactive your brain is to stress.Pay attention if:- Your mood tanks within a few weeks after a shot.- You notice patterns across injections.- You start having dark or intrusive thoughts that feel new.You deserve mental health support *and* birth control that is not sabotaging you. Those are not competing needs.

Libido and sex on the shot

The shot can nudge your sex drive in either direction:Possible changes:- Libido drop: less interest in sex, slower arousal.- Libido boost: less pregnancy fear means more desire and better orgasms.- No change at all.Other sex-related effects:- Some people notice vaginal dryness, which can make sex less comfortable.- Others have fewer cramps and more relaxed pelvic muscles, which can make sex feel better.If your desire disappears and you miss it, that is not shallow or “just hormones.” That is a quality of life issue and a valid reason to reassess.

Bone density and long-term health

One of the more serious long-term side effects of Depo is its impact on bone mineral density.- Estrogen helps protect bones.- Depo lowers your natural estrogen production by shutting down ovulation.Studies show:- Some loss of bone density while on the shot, especially in teens and young adults.- Most of that bone loss appears to be reversible after stopping.Old guidance said “never use Depo for more than 2 years,” but newer recommendations are more nuanced. If it is the best option for you (for privacy, medical reasons, or preference), staying on it longer can still be a reasonable choice with monitoring.Support your bones by:- Getting enough calcium and vitamin D.- Doing weight-bearing movement: walking, dancing, lifting, climbing.- Not smoking or vaping nicotine if you can avoid it.

How long does it take for your period and fertility to come back?

Here is the part providers sometimes skip: Depo is long-lasting, and your fertility does not snap back instantly when you stop.What happens after your last shot:- Each injection is designed to suppress ovulation for about 13–15 weeks.- After that, the drug slowly clears, but “slowly” really means *months*.- Your hypothalamus and pituitary have to start pulsing GnRH, FSH, and LH again.- Your ovaries have to relearn how to grow follicles and ovulate.Typical timelines:- First bleed: some people get a period-like bleed 3–6 months after their last shot; others not until 9–12 months.- Return of ovulation: on average around 9–10 months after the last injection.- Full fertility: most people who are going to conceive will do so within 18 months of the last shot.Depo does not permanently harm fertility. It just stretches the “off” time longer than methods like the pill or the ring, where you can bounce back in a month or two.

What to expect when your cycle returns

When your periods do come back, do not expect them to be perfectly regular from day one.You might see:- A few months of irregular cycles (short, long, or all over the place).- Stronger cramps as your uterus gets used to contracting again.- A noticeable follicular phase (rising estrogen, more energy, fertile-type cervical mucus) and luteal phase (progesterone, PMS-type symptoms).Pay attention to:- Signs of ovulation: stretchy egg-white mucus, mid-cycle cramps, temperature shift if you track.- Cycle length: average cycles are 21–35 days, but after Depo it can take months to settle into a pattern.See a provider if:- You have no period at all 18 months after your last shot.- You have been trying to conceive for 12 months after stopping (or 6 months if you are 35+).- You have intense pain, very heavy bleeding, or symptoms that feel extreme.Your fertility is not broken; it is just recovering from a strong, long-lasting hormonal shutdown. That deserves real information, not vague reassurances.