A woman alleges that prolonged use of contraceptive injections led to the loss of more than half her teeth. Alexandra Hale, 32, began using the three-monthly Depo jab in 2015 when she was 22 to alleviate severe menstrual cramps.

However, after four years, Alexandra started experiencing toothache and one by one, her teeth began to decay and had to be removed - a mystery she couldn't solve. By 2022, all but one of her molars were gone, making her self-conscious about smiling or laughing.

She also began suffering from intense migraines, which forced her to take time off work. Baffled, Alexandra decided to investigate the side effects of Depo online and found other users reporting similar issues.

After discontinuing the jabs, she noticed no further deterioration in her dental health. However, she now faces the financial burden of getting a full set of implants, for which she has set up a Go Fund Me page.

Alexandra claims she was not informed about the long-term risks associated with Depo, despite guidelines from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommending patient monitoring after two years due to potential impacts on bone mineral density.

Alexandra, a veterinary care assistant from Manchester, shared: "This is very difficult for me - I cover my mouth now if I laugh in public. It's really upsetting - your smile is the first thing people notice about you.

"I can only laugh openly in front of close friends or people who know what has happened to me. There's such a stigma about having bad teeth, people always look at me.

"I worry that they'll think I have bad dental hygiene or take drugs. What happened to me could have been avoided with the right checks. I just want people to know that you should always review your health choices. Make sure you are aware of side effects. Have an annual review with your doctor."

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Alex's periods began when she was 13, but within three years she was enduring two agonising days each month, plagued by debilitating pain, nausea and headaches at the onset of every cycle. Her periods were extremely heavy and stretched across five days.

She recalled: "The pain was shocking. I just couldn't get up for two days. I was always missing school or college."

In 2014, whilst working at a cinema, colleagues shared how they managed period pain through contraceptive implants, pills or injections. Alex ruled out an implant and struggled with swallowing tablets, so her GP at Grove Medical Practice in Altrincham – which has since shut down in 2023 – prescribed Depo in 2015.

The injections seemed to work wonders for Alex, completely eliminating her period pain. "I thought it was the best thing ever," she remembered. Every six months, she'd check in with a nurse who would monitor her blood pressure and ask how things were going.

However, she never had a proper review with a GP and claims she was not informed about any potential risks to bone density associated with Depo. Beyond having one tooth removed as a teenager and her wisdom teeth extracted due to their awkward positioning, her dental health had been solid.

However, in 2019, Alex started experiencing toothache that kept her awake at night. Despite her low sugar diet, regular brushing and flossing habits, and occasional diet coke intake, dentists questioned her dietary habits.

They filled her teeth, but starting from the back, her molars began to break and by 2022 all had been removed except for one on the top right. In total, she lost 14 teeth. Alex said: "We couldn't work out what was going on - it was so weird."

When migraines began, Alex wondered if they were a side effect of the Depo jab she received in 2022. Online, she discovered others discussing migraines and tooth loss while using Depo.

Alex revealed that she consulted a GP who confirmed this could happen, leading her to switch from Depo to a contraceptive implant. In 2024, while shopping with a friend, she learned that Depo should not be taken for more than two years without regular check-ups.

Alex said: "Everything just came crashing down. I was so shocked. I felt really let down."

Depo is a progestogen-only injection, and according to NICE guidelines: "The use of the progestogen-only injectable is associated with a small loss of bone-mineral density (BMD) with long-term use (more than one year). However, this is usually recovered after stopping the injection.

"If a woman wishes to use progestogen-only injectable long-term, review her every two years to assess the risks and benefits of the injection and to decide whether treatment can be continued."

Alex is on a mission to raise £15,000 for a complete set of dental implants, both upper and lower. She explained: "I've been advised that's what I need because my remaining teeth are so damaged.

"I just wish the NHS could take responsibility for what has happened to me and pay for this. If I'd had the proper checks none of this would have happened to me."

Dr Helen Westwood, who is currently treating Alex at Timperley Health Centre but was not her GP when the issues arose, confirmed: "I confirm that the Depo injection is associated with a loss of bone mineral density which can affect dental health.

"The bone density usually recovers on stopping Depo. The NICE guidance advises that the risks and benefits are reviewed every two years."

www.gofundme.com/f/please-help-me-be-able-to-smile-with-confidence.