experience with Provera and TTC?

[ValH]

I've had some late cycle spotting for the past two months (this month I spotted 9 days before my period started - ridiculous). I've spoken with my doctor about it, and she's prescribed Provera for CD 21 - 28. I was wondering if anyone has ever taken Provera while TTC? If so, what was the cause of you taking it, and did it help??

I'm also a little concerned because the doctor gave me the prescription without doing any bloodwork or other tests to check my hormone levels, she just assumed that's what it is. Should I be concerned and insist on more testing? Or should I just trust the doctor and see how next month goes with the pills?

Thanks!

[ZoeJane'sMommy]

I took provera and while I do not know everything, my doctor did not do testing either, but my cycles are like 50+ days, sometimes 200 days long. She gave me this give me a push start. I took it for 14 days. This drug is very safe and used very often to treat many types of problems. It is also known as progesterone. I would say if you are spotting that long before AF that there is some slight hormone imbalance there. If you want testing definately ask for it, but if it were me I would just see if this helps the spotting stop. Here is something I found on the web, you probably already know this but here it is anyway:

Provera is derived from the female hormone progesterone. You may be given Provera if your menstrual periods have stopped or a female hormone imbalance is causing your uterus to bleed abnormally. Provera is also prescribed to prevent abnormal growth of the uterine lining in women taking estrogen replacement therapy.

Read more: http://www.drugs.com/pdr/provera.html#ixzz0xeL4GmMI

[karmab]

val- your doc is going on the assumption you have a luteal phase defect. it's a good assumption. the official way to diagnose it is with 2 endometrial biopsies in 2 separate cycles during luteal phase. i dont know anyone (im sure someone here will have, but personally, i dont know anyone) who has done this. you can google luteal phase defect and read info (caution on sources, there is a good deal of bad info out there) to learn more. not all lpd respond to progesterone, but most do. some women say b6 taken with bcomplex helps too, although i dont think it helped me.

the only thing is, provera is not used for this purpose, for luteal phase defect. does your doctor know you are ttc? provera is used like the above post re: ending very long anovulatory cycles. for luteal phase support, the prescription progesterone is prometrium, either vaginally or orally. a few use crinone. provera is never used in pregnancy, and that's the goal here.

[Maurine]

It does seem a little odd that she would prescribe it without testing anything first. When I suspected that I had a luteal phase defect, my doc did a 7dpo blood test for progesterone. When that came back low, she prescribed me progesterone suppositories. I've only ever taken provera (the pills) when I was having long, annovulatory cycles and need to start a period. I would take it for 5-7 days and then start AF.

Lots of doctors don't really believe in progesterone support during the luteal phase (they don't really think it helps). I don't really know, but I figured it can't hurt!

[ValH]

Thanks for the information ladies! Not sure I'm feeling any better about my doctor, now, though...

Karmab - yes, my doctor knows I'm TTC. She actually told me not to worry about the info online about taking Provera while TTC, and if I only took it for the prescribed time (CD 21-28) then there would be no harm for a baby. I did do some online research, but did not find anywhere that Provera was used for late cycle spotting, but instead to "jump start" a period.

I guess I'm going to give the doctor's prescription a chance, at least for one month. If anyone else has some Provera stories (preferably positive results), I'd love to hear them!

[Maurine]

Val - I have heard that people have taken provera and gone on to be pregnant, but my worry would be the sudden drop in progesterone if you stopped taking it. That might start a period, which would be potentially bad if you were pregnant. Did she tell you what to do if you got a BFP on day 28? Keep taking the provera? Because I haven't heard of that...

[ValH]

Maurine - Good question, not sure what would happen if I got the BFP on CD 28... I did read online that you shouldn't take it if you're pregnant, so I would guess I would stop taking it, but you're right, I'm not sure what the drop in progesterone would do. Why is the female body so frustrating and confusing ?!?!?!

[karmab]

if your corpus luteum is not making enough progesterone to keep you preg, and we are saying it's not here because you are spotting (and spotting usually means your progesterone is between 4-9, you want it to be at least 10, 15 or higher is better,) stopping provera on cd28 will cause withdrawal bleeding, whether you are pregnant or not, because you have essentially no progesterone of your own on board. (i would say there is a small chance when you get pg the hcg may rescue even a wimpy c.l. and make enough progesterone on it's own, but that is not a bet i would take.)

the way prometrium (or crinone) is prescribed is, you take it from o (or 3 days post o, when temps verify that you did in fact ovulate) until 14 dpo, and if you have a bfn, you stop it, get your af, and start a new cycle. (although sometimes you wont make it that far, it depends on how you respond to the progesterone.)

if you get a bfp by 14 dpo, you continue on the progesterone through (usually) 12 wks, when the placenta has grown big enough to support the pregnancy (this probably really happens sooner than this, but this is the standard recommendation.)

i would really really have concerns about this plan if i were you-

[ValH]

karmab -
Thanks for the information!

Would my temps reflect any issues with luteul phase defect or low progesterone, or could my temps be normal (i.e. consistently above coverline) and the spotting be the only sign??

[Maurine]

Val - temps close to the coverline, or ones that dip below, can be a sign of low progesterone. But, you may also have totally normal temps and still have progesterone problems.

[ValH]

Since I'm not too thrilled about the Provera treatment option recommended by my doctor, I've been reading online about other options. It seems a vitamin B-50 complex is a popular choice. You ladies have any suggestions about going that route?? Has anyone had any luck with the vitamin B helping with late cycle spotting?

I tried to buy a bottle today to try, but the local Wal-Mart was completely out - guess that means it's pretty popular!

[TryinFor1More26]

I am in the same situation, my doctor put me on provera without running the test either, but i have normal periods but my uterus is thick so she says it will thicken it, but i told her I am trrying to conceive but not having  any luck so she put me on clomid as well to help me ovulate, but i hvae been bleeding for 5 days (not normal for me) and it seems to be getting heavier so I am wondering was provera a good choice for me and I am trying to conceive

[ValH]

TryinFor1More26 - I just noticed you had posted this.  I wanted to let you know that for me, the Provera did nothing.  I still had spotting during my luteal phase.  I eventually saw a different doctor, who determined that my corpus luteum wasn't strong enough (i.e. producing enough hormones) to maintain my uterine lining or support a pregnancy.  He did prescribe Clomid to improve my ovulation.  It worked!  Second cycle on Clomid, I got my BFP.  Good luck to you!