I can't say that I know about the medical side effects (but I truly believe you) but I can attest to the weight gain. I gained seventy pounds during the five years I was on Depo Provera, which is only now beginning to come off a year after I stopped the Depo shots. Also, I'm not complaining about not having a period for five years, but they really did hit hard when they came back, harder than they ever had during my "pill" years. Only now, one year later am I beginning to have any kind of menstrual regularity.

To stay on topic, I still contend that the local health department is the cheapest and safest way to go if you aren't accustomed to giving yourself intramuscular shots.