Provera?

What do you know about it? I've been prescribed this until my surgery date. I had a very heavy bleeding episode this weekend, and almost passed out. I called the doctor to see if I needed to be seen, and he only called in this prescription for me and I asked to have my blood drawn, since I still feel very tired and weak.
I am concerned this will NOT stop my uterine lining from growing and I will have another episode. I was using progesterone cream until last week when I got off track. And that's when the trouble started....
Can anyone else tell me about their experience with this drug? Thanks!

My experience is with depo Provera - same drug, different delivery method. At the time, I thought it was fabulous. I felt great and didn't have a period for the entire three years I was on it, plus another year after I stopped using it. It definitely did what it was supposed to do.

Now, the dark side... in the decade since I stopped using it I've been diagnosed with breast cancer twice. The WHI study results, which also came out long after I stopped using depo Provera, indicate that long term Provera use leads to a slight increase in breast cancer rates. Progesterone itself is not associated with the same increase, at least not according to currently available data, and I am using a small amount of USP progesterone cream daily nowadays.

Just my , but... if you have increased risk factors for breast cancer, I'd use something else. If you don't, then it would probably be a good thing to try for the short term, just until you get to surgery - but I would not recommend it for longer term use.

I hope this helps. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
s,
-Linda

I took Provera for 12 months prior to my surgery and it stopped nearly all the bleeding and most of the pain (endo) BUT I was told it is usually only prescribed short term (3 months). If you are only taking it until your surgery then I would say give it a go, it is certainly gentler than some of the other hormonal methods.

Good luck for your surgery

Donna

I was also prescribed Provera for the 2 months before my surgery. It was at my request because I wanted something to stop my bleeding so I could concentrate on preparing for the surgery. Unfortunatley I bled almost every day. Not a full flow, but enough for a mini-pad. Also had cramps. Even when the doc increased the dosage, it didn't help. I wanted to stop taking it, but was afraid the flow would only increase so I just rode it out.

I know everyone is different, but all in all, it didn't work well for me and in hindsight, I wish I would have just suffered through my last two periods instead.

Good luck!

I have a "mini pad" bleed everyday, too, even using progesterone cream. I just want some reassurance that I won't have a super huge bleed, like I recently did, before surgery. I don't mind a little bleeding, its just the heavy stuff that's worrying me.
Also, did anyone notice any other side effects? Hair loss, hair growth, etc? Thanks for your replies!

I was also put on Provera to "manage" my blood loss, while determining the best surgery procedure and while dealing with my severe anemia (need my hemoglobin/ferritin to increase before surgery).

I am not happy about being on it, and I am still absoloutely bleeding and cramping, although abit less than "normal". I am concerned about the risk of loss of bone density, as I do have osteoporosis in my family....I wasn't asked about that before I was put on it, and as dumb as it sounds, I didn't realize it was Provera because he just called it Novo-Medrone.

I have had extremely tender breasts (unusual for me) and almost daily headaches.

Sorry if I sound like a downer, just sharing my experience!

I see him again on the 20th and I am very anxious to move along in the process so I can get off this stuff. I am not seeing a huge benefit so am not completely sure why I need to be on it. I will be asking about that on the 20th.

Wishing you the best!

I have been on Provera off and on for over 3 years...... I took it every month for the 1st through the 10th.... then I would have my period which was 4 days and it was the only way that I would have a period. If i didn't take it i wouldn't have one..... or if i did it would last for 5 months..... and trust me that is not fun, especially when your doctor doesn;t like you and yells at you about everything.

You shoudl do jsut fine with it till your surgery Best of luck to you!

	Quote:
Originally Posted by kudzuhoney Also, did anyone notice any other side effects? Hair loss, hair growth, etc? Thanks for your replies!

The light bleeding and cramping was by far the most annoying to me but if you don't mind, you should be fine on it until your surgery. As far as other side effects, mine weren't to bad. I too had breast tenderness which was just bothersome. I was also a little more crabby. I also found that my appetite increased substantially. I would get these insane cravings. I started carrying healthy snacks with me so I wouldn't binge on junk food and that worked great.

Good luck with everything!

Thanks everyone! I started it yesterday and already notice how drowsy I feel. Press on!

I have been on Provera for about 40 + days. It has calm my extreme heavy bleeding although it did not stop it completely. I bleed for 37 days so I have not been bleeding for 3 days now but I feel as if Im about to start my period again with cramping and back pain. I seen a new ob/gyn today to schedule my davinci procedure on the 09/02 and he just prescribed another round of provera 20 mg.