Expert: Norman Solberg - 9/10/2011

Question
I was on the depo shot for two years. I was taking a three month dose once a month. My doctor felt like that was what would be most beneficial way to control the symptoms of my Endometriosis,fibroid cysts,and the pain that comes with it. I stopped taking it because I felt, well, crazy actually. It was too much I think. My question is now i have not had a period since and have the symptoms of menopause. Do you think that high of dose could have put me into early menopause? I'm only twenty-six.

Answer
You don't say how long it's been since your last depo shot, but it's common that women don't have a period for months after coming off the shot.  Usually women won't have symptoms of menopause after the depo shot, so I'd report that to your doctor.  A blood test for FSH will show whether you are in premature menopause.  I've never heard of high dose depo provera causing early menopause, and I don't think it could.  While it often takes time for normal ovulation and periods to resume after depo provera, by 18 months, the effects should be gone and you would be back to your normal cycles.  That should be true of both normal dose and high dose depo provera.