You have been prescribed Provera to help determine why your cycle is irregular. Finally, there may be an answer to rectify your cycle! Typically you should expect a bleed within two weeks of finishing the course. But wait… you still have no period! What could this mean? Do you continue another cycle of tablets? With no period after Provera could I be pregnant?
No Period After Provera, So Could I Be Pregnant?
Having a menstrual cycle that doesn’t seem to regulate is frustrating. You may question, no period after Provera, am I pregnant?
Yes, being prescribed Provera and not seeing a period afterward could mean that you are pregnant. Taking Provera alone is not significant as a form of birth control. However, if you suspect pregnancy you must consult your doctor.
Fertility
You don’t expect your fertility journey to have a bumpy road, we are all guilty of taking our bodies for granted and just expect the fact we can conceive naturally. Many women can be helped on their fertility journey by being prescribed Provera but can this cause any harm?
What Is Provera?
Provera is a drug that formally contains medroxyprogesterone acetate. To you and I this acts like the hormone Progesterone. It is a synthetic hormone that can program your body to give you a better understanding of when you are likely to ovulate and bleed during your monthly cycle.
Usually paired with a drug called Clomid they are both a great combination for short term fertility enhancement.
On the other hand, it is not recommended to use Provera for long term use as it can interfere with ovulation.
Why Is It Prescribed?
Let’s face it I am yet to meet a woman that enjoys having her monthly bleed but knowing when you are more likely to get a visit from aunt Flo is not only useful but it can help you prepare so you are not caught short on your period.
Naturally, as women, we are expected to run through our cycles monthly but there are certain disorders that prevent this from happening. That is when Provera could be prescribed.
If you suffer from any of the following:
- Irregular bleeding
- Abnormalities within your bleeding period
- Amenorrhea
- Excessive or continuous bleeding
- Endometriosis
- Infrequent ovulation
Your doctor may suggest short term use of Provera to help symptoms and to get your body back on track. It can also be used to delay your period.
What Should I Expect?
Your doctor may wish to order more hormone tests to ensure that you are on the best treatment plan for your condition.
You could expect to be tested for the following:
- Progesterone levels
- Oestrogen levels
- Follicle stimulating hormone
- Testosterone
- Thyroid hormone
- hCG hormone
It is important that any chance of pregnancy is ruled out before taking Provera as adding artificial hormones into early pregnancy can affect the development of the baby and could increase the chance of miscarriage. Your doctor may or may not complete all of the possible hormone tests so if you suspect the smallest chance you could be pregnant then you need to test to be sure!
Side Effects
As with any administered drug there can be those evil side effects. Firstly let’s look at the more common side effects of taking Provera.
- Heachaches
- Nausea
- Tender breasts
- Spotting
- Facial hair growth
- Acne
- Hair loss
- Sleeping difficulties
- PMS
- Fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss or gain
As you probably know most of these symptoms can be treated with a little self care at home but if they get too severe and start to disrupt your daily routine then seek advice.
To look at the more severe side effects you must inform a medical professional immediately for an examination.
- Pain, swelling, redness, and warmth in one leg
- Coughing up blood
- Difficulty speaking or slow speech
- Dizziness or feeling faint
- Weakness or numbness in a limb
- Shortness of breath
- Skipped periods
- Chest pain
- Heart palpitations
- Sudden vision changes
- Bulging eyes
- Itching
- Depression
- Jaundice
- Fever
- Skin rash/ Hives
- Difficulty swallowing
- Swelling of any kind
If any of the following symptoms arise whilst you are taking Provera, stop immediately and seek advice from your doctor.
Ovulation Stimulation
If you are having difficulty conceiving you can expect to take Provera alongside another drug called Clomid.
Provera is used to kick start your cycle; it encourages an artificial period usually anywhere from 2 to 10 days after you finish the course. To boost ovulation Clomid is taken to ensure you ovulate which increases the likelihood of conception.
Provera During Pregnancy – No Period After Provera, Am I Pregnant?
Obviously taking Provera can increase your chances of becoming pregnant but can it hinder the development of your baby? What happens if you have no period after Provera, are you pregnant?
Whilst using Provera to help increase your chances of conception it is best if you wait until after taking the directed dose to try for a baby. I know that sometimes you can get swirled up in a range of emotions and one thing may lead to another but it is for medical reasons you should refrain.
Taking provera leads to what’s called a withdrawal bleed, so there is a slight possibility that the bleed could affect a developing pregnancy and birth defects.
If you are yet to see your withdrawal bleed then you must contact your doctor. According to the advanced fertility center of Chicago The possible reasons of no withdrawal bleed are listed below:
- Hypothalamic hypoestrogenism/ low estrogen levels
- Compromised outflow tract – cervical or uterine scarring
- Premature ovulation failure
Hypothalamic Hypoestrogenism
This is a condition which indicates severely low levels of the estrogen hormone. Not having enough estrogen can affect your chances of conception due to the irregularity of your period.
Compromised Outflow Tract – Asherman’s Syndrome
Ashermans syndrome is when the lining of your uterus is compromised with scar tissue. If you are diagnosed with this then you should expect light to no periods meaning fertility is compromised.
Premature Ovulation Failure
Premature Ovulation Failure is when your eggs will stop functioning before you turn forty years old. They will stop producing the hormones required for egg release meaning that your cycle will become irregular and could contribute to infertility.
Sadly, if you do not see a bleed after taking Provera you could be facing one of the above diagnoses. Your doctor may wish to test you for pregnancy as well because the Provera hormone does not suppress ovulation but as we have distinguished it is not recommended to try for a baby whilst taking Provera.
It is important to note that the chances of conception are not ruled out at this point but looking at the broader picture you need to be prepared for all outcomes. Seek advice from your doctor to know the best step to take next.
Will Provera Replace My Birth Control?
A common misconception made by many women is that Provera will replace birth control. As mentioned when taken long term, Provera is known to affect ovulation and fertility however medical advice states that it should not be used as a contraceptive as it does not prevent ovulation.
There is a form of birth control many young women can turn to which includes the Provera hormone. It is called Depo- Provera.
Depo- Provera
Having had the Depo Provera for many years I can whole heartily tell you it was the best form of contraception for me. My first initial instinct was why have I no period after depo provera can I get pregnant?
In hindsight, the depo provera works as a suppressant of ovulation meaning there is a very low chance of becoming pregnant. It also affects the possibility of you having a monthly bleed. Mine stopped completely which as a young woman at the time, I thought was brilliant! But many women I have spoken to didn’t get on with the Depo and suffered continuous bleeding.
There is a 1 in 99 chance that a pregnancy can happen whilst on the Depo. This may seem as if the odds are in your favor but an article from Parents released that a woman named Olivia was that 1.
She mentions that the side effects from depo are exactly as you would be in early pregnancy therefore she had no idea of her impending pregnancy until she found her clothes started shrinking.
An ordeal in itself! We have mentioned the risks of taking Provera whilst pregnant can have major complications but thankfully for Olivia, her baby was born happy and healthy meaning that the continuation of taking Depo Provera had no effect on her baby.
Wrapping Up
If you are questioning No period after provera could I be pregnant? I believe the answer relies on you. If you have the need to believe pregnancy could be suspected then the only way to know for sure is to do a test.
Taking Provera whilst pregnant comes with risks as we have mentioned so if you have even the slightest inclination that you may have conceived then seek guidance from your doctor to know for sure.
