Provera Advice

ladybug0088 · December 2013

Hi bumpies!

I am new to the bump so I guess I should introduce myself too.

In 2005 I was 19 and diagnosed with PCOS and stage 1 endometroisis. I had surgery in 2009 to laprascopically have the cysts lasered by my OBGYN and they lasered a small amount of endometriosis. I was put on birth control to help with the symptoms of the PCOS, and especially the pelvic pain that I often got before AF.

My wonderful husband and I were married in 2009. He was just 22 and I was 23. We agreed that we didn't want to wait too long to start trying for a family because we were unsure how long it would take with the PCOS, etc. However, life got busy and we were trying to pay off his student loans, therefore we just didn't get around to it.

In 2012 I decided to go off of the birth control. I was having lots of headaches and it was suggested by my general practitioner that I talk to my OBGYN about going off of it or switching to a different kind. I decided that I would prefer to just go off of it at this time and that way whenever we decided to begin our family we were ready and it would be out of my system. Plus, I would no longer have the headaches.

Needless to say, my headaches stopped and DH and I have been careful for a year (aka he has been using protection).

I have been under a bit of stress lately. I have always been regular at 28 days, however my last AF was October 10! My mom had told me that she once went 42 days inbetween and that she was sure that I would get back on schedule. I did take a test just to make sure we had not accidentally gotten pregnant, but every test came back negative. After waiting all of November and then another AF passing me up just last week I finally went to the OBGYN.

My OBGYN also did a urine test which came back negative. She also ran a blood test just to be sure and it too came back negative. She prescribed me 10 days of Provera to take to kickstart my AF.

Since then DH and I have decided we should probably start trying and to just let things happen. I'd be lying if I didn't say the possibility of a pregnancy both had us a little nervous at first because DH is in the middle of a job change, however we both found ourselves wishing it were true before heading to the doctor. We ended up being disappointed that our blood test came back negative too.

So, here we are. I plan on beginning the Provera tomorrow, but in the meantime I had a few questions and was hoping you could help:

1. How long do we have to wait after taking the 10 days of Provera before we can start trying to get pregnant?

2. Anyone have a similar situation. How did you do on the Provera? Any luck getting pregnant soon after taking it? I guess I'm nervous that with the PCOS it might take a little while.

Your advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much!

Mysterious_wife · December 2013

I don't take Provera, but have taken promitrium.(sp?) AF does not always start right after the last pill. It can take a few days.

As far as TTC, I don't think you have to wait. Once you get AF you can start at any point. You need to ask your OB, to be on the safe side.

The best thing you can do, is chart. You have two things going against you. Women do get pg with PCOS and Endo. It may take sometime or it may happen your first cycle. It really depends on your body. if you go 60 days between AFs then you should call your OB. Good luck.

ladybug0088 · December 2013

Thanks so much for your reply Mysterious_wife. I'm okay with waiting, but I feel like it would be better to start trying sooner than later. That way if it takes a year or two I won't kick myself that we should've started even sooner. HAHA!

bennikki · December 2013

I took provera when we were seeking medical help. I always got my period the second day after I took my last dose. You can start trying after your period. I would recommend reading "taking charge of your fertility", so you can look for fertile signs in your cycle. I have 45-50 day cycles, so I have to be very aware of fertile signs because I don't ovulate like the average woman. Also, with your health history, if it doesn't happen after the first year, seek a RE (reproductive endocrinologist). OBGYN's can help you with your reproductive organs and once you get pregnant, but they don't know the best way to get you pregnant, and they often won't admit it.

Siamese253 · December 2013

ladybug0088 said:

1. How long do we have to wait after taking the 10 days of Provera before we can start trying to get pregnant?

2. Anyone have a similar situation. How did you do on the Provera? Any luck getting pregnant soon after taking it? I guess I'm nervous that with the PCOS it might take a little while.

Your advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much!

You can start "trying" as soon as your period is over, but if you've already been diagnosed with PCOS you may not ovulate again next cycle.

I took Provera to end my last cycle (89 days) and AF started 2 days after the last pill. It was awful, super crampy and an unbelievably large amount of blood. I imagine that's because I didn't have a period for 3 months though...

Definitely start temping and read the tutorials on FertilityFriend.com, those will help with figuring out what your temps actually mean. Remember that a healthy couple only has a 20% chance each cycle to get pregnant and it can take up to a year. So don't get discouraged if it doesn't happen right away.

Welcome and good luck!

alieelyse · December 2013

I was prescribed provera because I wasn't having regular periods. At times I would go 12-14 weeks without one. I took it in December and was pregnant early that January. We weren't specifically "trying" but that time we weren't not trying lol. And now I have an adorable two year old.