I will shortly be taking my first Depo Provera injection, and would be grateful if any existing users of this drug could answer the following questions.

I have been taking a Progestin based oral contraceptive for the last 5 months (Marvelon) in order to try to eliminate my libido. I have found that this has reduced, but not totally stopped my sex drive. My ultimate aim is to stop myself from being attracted to members of the opposite sex (I am a straight male) as I am finding it extremely difficult to deal with being single for prolonged periods of time (from both a psychological and, to a lesser extent, physical point of view.) As this medication has not had the desired results, I have ordered Depo Provera as a (hopefully) stronger alternative. As I understand it, this contains pure Progestin, unlike Marvelon, which also has a sythetic Oestrogen component. My two questions are this

Can I expect a degree of gynocmastia (breast development) with Depo Provera ? I have found that with my current medication, some growth has occurred (possibly due to the Oestrogen). To me, any noticeable growth would be undesirable.

Would Depo Provera totally eliminate my interest in the opposite sex ? My ultimate goal would be to have no sexual interest in women at all – in other words I would stop ‘fancying’ them, and react to them the same as I currently do to a man.

I am also concerned about ‘shrinkage’. I may stop taking the medication at some point in the future, and would like the option to be able to return to ‘normal’ without any permanent side effects.

TIA

Touche

Touche36 you have raised some very good questions and maybe i can answer some of them.First i have been on this drug for the past two years and yes i have lowered my libido and sex isent a problem for me at this time but i have had some brest growth but for me that is not a problem and as for shrinkage i havent noticed and dont care.Now i still have an intrest in the opposit sex but i dont lust after them eather my life is finaley under control now and i just love it this way.Their will always be side efficts to any medication for me it is weather i wanted to be the old person i dident like or the one that i can get along with.

Good luck my friend

Thanks for your comments Sag. I'm glad things have worked out for you. I will post again and let you know if they do for me, once I have been on the Depo for a while. I will be taking the shot in the next couple of weeks - so watch this space !

Touche36 (imported) wrote: Sat Apr 03, 2004 10:58 am I will shortly be taking my first Depo Provera injection, and would be grateful if any existing users of this drug could answer the following questions.

I have been taking a Progestin based oral contraceptive for the last 5 months (Marvelon) in order to try to eliminate my libido. I have found that this has reduced, but not totally stopped my sex drive. My ultimate aim is to stop myself from being attracted to members of the opposite sex (I am a straight male) as I am finding it extremely difficult to deal with being single for prolonged periods of time (from both a psychological and, to a lesser extent, physical point of view.) As this medication has not had the desired results, I have ordered Depo Provera as a (hopefully) stronger alternative. As I understand it, this contains pure Progestin, unlike Marvelon, which also has a sythetic Oestrogen component. My two questions are this…

Can I expect a degree of gynocmastia (breast development) with Depo Provera ? I have found that with my current medication, some growth has occurred (possibly due to the Oestrogen). To me, any noticeable growth would be undesirable.

Would Depo Provera totally eliminate my interest in the opposite sex ? My ultimate goal would be to have no sexual interest in women at all

– in other words I would stop ‘fancying’

Touche36 (imported) wrote: Sat Apr 03, 2004 10:58 am them, and react to them the same as I currently do to a man.

I am also concerned about ‘shrinkage’. I may stop taking the medication at some point in the future, and would like the option to be able to return to ‘normal’ without any permanent side effects.

TIA

Touche

Depo-Provera prevents the body from making gonadotropin. Gonadotropin causes the body to make both male AND female hormones so DP is non-feminizing. I suspect that anyone who is experiencing gynocomastia is either taking female hormones along with DP or has saggy pecs.

As far as penile shrinkage is concerned I have not experienced it. I have noticed my testis shrinking slightly & becoming less sensitive, like those of a pre-pubescent. This is great if you ride a "crotch rocket" like a motorcycle or Jet Ski. I hope for more shrinkage.

While you are on DP you will have little to no interest in sex. If you stop taking it your libido will slowly return.

Hi from N.Z

I want the testicles to return into the body and the penis shrink untill I can be sure of sergical removal. Will Depo leave me with an empty sac.

How can this be done.

piercedx8 (imported) wrote: Wed Apr 21, 2004 2:09 am Hi from N.Z

I want the testicles to return into the body and the penis shrink untill I can be sure of sergical removal. Will Depo leave me with an empty sac.

How can this be done.

Well DP or Androcur will most likely cause testicles to shrink but will not cause them to disappear. Penial shrinkage differs from person to person, I have notice a loss of about an inch from being on Androcur but I also very seldom play with it or get erect which will help with the shrinkage. If you are constantly playing with, getting erect etc while taking those drugs you will probably not notice much shrinkage.

Madscientist -

I took the shot 1-1/2 weeks ago and have stopped taking the combination tablets. It's too early to tell for certain what effect it is having, but so far it seems to have a similar effect to the old tablets. I think the gynocomastia has slightly reduced but I will have to keep monitoring it to be sure. I can't say I've noticed any shrinkage, but your comments about 'crotch rockets' is interesting as I ride horses.

Touche36 (imported) wrote: Wed Apr 21, 2004 2:18 pm Madscientist -

I took the shot 1-1/2 weeks ago. I can't say I've noticed any shrinkage, but your comments about 'crotch rockets' is interesting as I ride horses.

Be sure to go riding after your shot. Excercise is important after a IM injection. You will like being a "numb nuts" if you go steeplechasing.

An update - as promised.

Depo Provera doesn't seem to be as effective as the combination pill I was taking before. The gynocomastia is less, but my libido is up !

After the initial 150mg shot, I have taken a second - one month after the first. I am now about 6 weeks into the program. Is this long enough to tell or should I continue for a bit longer ?

If this continues I will have to either a) go back to the combination pill or b) try something new. I can't afford and don't want to try Androcur because of the increased risk of side-effects. However, a smaller dosage (2mg Vs 50mg cyproterone pill is available). This also contains 0.035mg ethinyl estradiol (oestrogen). Is this worth trying or I am better off just going back to my previous pill ?

Having scouted around, I think I will try Spironolactone initially at 100mg a day. This seems to be cheap, and doesn't have any oestrogen in it (no feminisation). If I have no success at 100mg I will up it by 50mg every two weeks up to a maximum of 250mg/day.

Touche36 (imported) wrote: Mon May 10, 2004 12:20 pm An update - as promised.

Depo Provera doesn't seem to be as effective as the combination pill I was taking before. The gynocomastia is less, but my libido is up !

After the initial 150mg shot, I have taken a second - one month after the first. I am now about 6 weeks into the program. Is this long enough to tell or should I continue for a bit longer.

Your libido will NEVER completely disappear while on DP but will be way more managable. You can still get an erection & masturbate to orgasm if you try hard enough. I have been on it for over a year & like it despite the "pain in the ass." I wouldn't bother with anything else.