Why Provera Now??

Hi Ladies -- I hope your experiences can help me understand just what my gyn is thinking right now. I went for annual visit two weeks ago... I had become very anemic (blood count under 8), and told her that I had been having very heaving bleeding for months. My periods have become very painful anc clotty the past six months.. exceptional pain the past three months. I also told her I was diagnosed via vaginal ultrasound with fibroids several years ago and that I had had a diagnosis of endo from a lap done for a cyst about five years ago. She says PROVERA for three months... I said WHY? That won't fix the fibroids and she said NO, it wont. And sent me on my way. I have a followup in three weeks. Any insight into this protocol would be so appreciated. I am READY to get this mess out. THANK YOU so much!

Zesty,
When I was 29 (back in 1992), I had very lengthy heavy periods, and the doctor recommended Provera. I had to "create" cycles with Provera. First the Provera stopped the bleeding after a few days, then after taking Provera for a week, 10 days or so, I was to stop the Provera. Then you experience breakthrough bleeding from being off of Provera. I forget what the exact formula was, but then you waited so many days to start taking the Provera again to force another period. After a couple of cycles I called the doctor and asked if I could stop this regimen because it created 3-week cycles. Perhaps this treatment works for some people, but Zesty you have my sympathy. Good luck to you!

Hi Zesty,

As a temporary measure to hold me over until I had a Lap/D&C a couple years ago, my doctor gave me Provera to take during my period to help cut down on the flow and clotting. I was instructed to start taking it the evening of the day my period started, then continue taking it for 5 days. I was surprised since that's not how I've heard it prescribed, but it did make a bit of a difference for me. She prescribed a lot, so I stashed some and took them later during especially "productive" periods

If you still have questions regarding your treatment, by all means get your doctor on the phone and ask for some answers. It's your right to know what they're doing and why.

Best of luck to you!

Heidi

I first started having the looong periods about three years ago. My pcp found and removed a small polyp from my cervix, found the fibroids and referred me to a gyn. She prescribed Provera for days 14-25 to control the bleeding. 3 days after I stopped taking them my period would start and act like a normal period, that is until October. It started and wouldn't stop for 46 days. Three years ago she said it was an alternative for the time being to a hyst, there is a lot of concern that hysts are done unnecessarily, and it was mainly for the insurance comapany, so she could say she'd tried hormones before she recommended surgery. Three years ago my uterus was the size of a 6 week pregnancy. Now it's 16 week size.