Provera?

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-29-2003
Provera?
9
Tue, 08-05-2008 - 9:57pm

My daughter is 15 yrs. old and hasn't had her period for 6-8 months. She started her period when she was 11 and it's always been sporadic, but never this long between periods. Went to the Dr. yesterday, and she had blood drawn for tests. The nurse called today and said that her hormone levels were normal, and to start her on Provera, which should help her period to start.

After reading up on Provera I am terrified to go pick it up at the pharmacy. Is there another alternative? I am most nervous about the really bad side effects like blood clots, etc. I am also wondering, after reading up on all of this a bit, if the Dr. should have done an ultrasound of her ovaries. She's never had ovary problems that we know of, but she also hasn't had a period in a very long time.

I am confused and just want to do what's best for my daughter. At this point, I'm planning on going to Walgreen's in the AM to pick up the Provera, but I'm very hesitant to give it to her after what I have read. If you have any experience with this medication, or similar circumstance, I would really appreciate some advice!

Thanks,
Beth

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-23-2004
In reply to: iluvmochas
Wed, 08-06-2008 - 11:09am

Hi Beth and welcome to the board.


I can definitely understand your concerns when you are dealing with a 15year old and her reproductive system.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-16-2004
In reply to: iluvmochas
Wed, 08-06-2008 - 11:50am

I would not see a point in taking provera unless she was needing some sort of medical treatment that had to be done during/after a bleed. For example taking fertility medications.

There is no harm in just waiting for her period to come naturally. Many women have irregular cycles. You've already had the hormone testing and found that she is fine.


iVillage Member
Registered: 07-29-2003
In reply to: iluvmochas
Wed, 08-06-2008 - 2:53pm

Thanks for your reply. I think I will call my Dr. back. She drew three tubes of blood, so I'm not all sure what she checked... I just know hormone levels were one thing. I don't know if she checked anything that would pinpoint a pituitary/endocrine disorder. I did give her the first Provera this morning, and I hate it... I don't like medication anyway, and the side effects of Provera looked like they could potentially be serious, but at the same time, I don't know what other option there is. I called a GYN this AM that I have been to, before I gave it to her, for another opinion. The nurse said that it is common to use Provera for that reason, and she said my Dr. was probably concerned about my daughter going that long without a period.

My Dr. did say when we were there the other day that hopefully this will "jump start" her body into working correctly. I'm going to call them back right now and ask a few more questions... I wish it was me instead!

Thanks again!
Beth

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-29-2003
In reply to: iluvmochas
Wed, 08-06-2008 - 3:58pm

Hi and thanks for your response! The Dr. said it wasn't good to go that long (at least 8 months) without having a period. She didn't explain why, but from what I've read it isn't good to be exposed to estrogen that long? I'm not sure I understand, and I'm sure it isn't the same for everyone, but it does seem to me that 8 months without having a period when you have been having them probably isn't a good thing. She did say that the lining has been building up in there, and the next period she has will probably be really heavy.

I'm all for being natural, and I don't like medication/hormones, especially when it comes to my kids.

Thanks and take care.
Beth

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-16-2004
In reply to: iluvmochas
Wed, 08-06-2008 - 8:00pm

The provera does not cause a "period" though. It *can* cause some anovulatory shedding of the lining of the uterus. It doesn't always work. If there is no lining there right now to shed then there will be no bleeding. This is not the same as a period though and the provera will not do anything to balance her hormones or "cure" her irregularity.

There are some other issues you can look into that could cause irregularity though. Make sure her BMI and nutrition is what it should be. I would look over the results of her hormone tests with a fine tooth comb and request an ultrasound.

Going 8 months is quite normal for women in cultures not exposed to birth control pills.

I think provera and hormones in general are quite misunderstood. I just wanted to make sure you knew that provera will do nothing to cure her symptoms.


iVillage Member
Registered: 07-26-2006
In reply to: iluvmochas
Wed, 08-06-2008 - 9:52pm

Hi,

I just wanted to weigh in here and say that it is possible to have gynecological problems that won't show up in hormone testing. There is a condition called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrom (PCOS), which is one of the most common reasons for females not ovulating correctly. More often than not, hormone tests will appear to be normal, when there is actually a significant problem there.

You might want to visit the PCOS Board for more information about this:

http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-bhpcos

If her period doesn't arrived by about 10 days after completing the course of Provera, take her to a gynecologist. If you don't get any answers there, the next step is a reproductive endocrinologist. REs specialise in reproductive hormone problems.

What can happen with going so long without a period is that each time that her body works towards trying to ovulate, and her estrogen levels start to peak, then a little more lining will build up in the uterus. If ovulation fails, the estrogen levels will drop back for a while, before they start to build up towards the next ovulation attempt. If the failure to ovulate properly goes on for months at a time, then that lining can become quite substantial. While it might not be a big deal now, for women later in life, excessive growth of the endometrial lining can increase the risk of serious problems.

 

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-29-2003
In reply to: iluvmochas
Wed, 08-06-2008 - 10:53pm

Thanks for all the great info. Interesting about Provera not bringing on an actual period, because that's what I was told it would do. I called my Dr. today, but she was out of the office... I will call first thing tomorrow, as I need to decide whether to continue with the Provera or not. I just gave her the first one today about 11 AM so need to decide by that time tomorrow. I feel really torn, because I was hoping by taking the Provera now, even though I really don't want her to, at least her awful, heavy period would be mostly over before school starts... if all went according to plan.

All that is changing in my mind now... if it's not an actual period that the Provera would cause, why would this be the treatment? Just trying to lessen some of the lining that is building up?

My daughters both are vegetarian and have been for about 2 years. I try to make sure they get protein through beans, nuts, eggs, cheese, etc. since they don't eat meat. She is 5'3" and weighs 106 lbs. She is in cross country right now... just started training... so that isn't the cause of her skipping periods. She is a good eater and always has a good appetite. Do you think that being vegetarian could cause her to skip periods? I'll bring that up with the Dr. as well. She just asked if she was eating well, and I didn't think to bring up that she is vegetarian.

Thanks again... I'll post tomorrow after I talk to the Dr.

Beth

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-29-2003
In reply to: iluvmochas
Fri, 08-08-2008 - 11:26am

I talked to the Dr. yesterday, and she assured me that she had checked prolactin and TSH and had ruled out a pituitary problem or thyroid problem. She said everything appears to be normal as far as all bloodwork, hormones, etc. She said that a gyn would do the same thing that she recommended, which is the provera. She said that the provera would act as a diagnostic tool... if she takes it and has bleeding then her uterine lining is responding and that is good. If she doesn't have bleeding, then the lining is not responding, in which case she would have further testing done. I asked if the risks of taking the provera were less than the risk of not taking it, and she said yes. I agreed to stick with the provera.

Then this AM I picked my daughter up after cross country practice and she mentioned that it was hard for her to breathe today during her run... she said it was a shorter run than usual and it is even cool this morning. Could this be from the provera? Running.. even the long runs on the hot, humid days doesn't give her a problem. Is this a reason to be concerned?? Needless to say, I am VERY concerned about it... I 'm thinking about just waiting it out until cross country is over in October and then we'll see... hopefully she will just get her period on her own by then.

What do you think??

Beth

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-23-2004
In reply to: iluvmochas
Fri, 08-08-2008 - 12:16pm
Beth, I think at this point it is a judgement call on your part.


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