Provera

What is Provera?

Provera tablets were part of a group of medications called progestogens, which mimic the effects of the hormone progesterone in the body.

Low levels of progesterone in your body can trigger off all sorts of unpleasant symptoms including heavy, irregular or absent periods, anxiety, depression and hot flashes.

Provera could help improve all these. It was also recommended as a treatment for period delay.

How does Provera work?

The main active ingredient in Provera was medroxyprogesterone acetate. ^[1] It mimics naturally occurring progesterone in your body.

During your monthly cycle, your body produces differing amounts of this hormone and once that level drops, a period occurs.

If you have irregular or very painful periods because of endometriosis, Provera will help boost the levels of progesterone in your body, so your unpleasant symptoms decrease. You can also take Provera tablets to delay a period (hello honeymoon, holiday or exam season).

Are there different Provera doses?

There were three different strength doses.

Usually, we recommended starting off on Provera 5mg to treat heavy and painful periods. This could be decreased to Provera 2.5mg if the initial dose was too high and gave you side effects. It could be increased to Provera 10mg if the starting dose wasn’t quite enough.

How to take Provera

How you took Provera depended on what you were taking it for.

Taking Provera to delay periods

You could take Provera to delay your period. It was an off-label treatment though, so you needed to talk to your clinician first. Typically, you’d start by taking your tablets three days before your period was due, then take your prescribed dose everyday, three times a day. Your period would start about three days after your last tablet.

Taking Provera for heavy periods and other period problems

• Take 2.5mg to 10mg every day for 5-10 days, starting 16-21 days after your last period started.
• You should continue to take Provera in this way for two complete menstrual cycles.
• Occasionally, once you stop treatment, you may experience what’s known as a breakthrough bleed.

Taking Provera for endometriosis

Provera for endometriosis should be taken in a 10mg dose, 3 times a day for 3 months and the beginning of the treatment should occur on the first day of your period. The active ingredient in Provera can stop uterus cells from growing outside your womb, which causes the symptoms of endometriosis. It can also make your periods shorter and less painful.

How long does Provera take to work?

Depending on what type of period problem you were taking Provera for, it could take about 5-10 days to work.

Once you stopped taking it, you could experience a breakthrough bleed 3-7 days after cessation.

What to do if you miss Provera doses

If you miss a dose of Medroxyprogesterone (Provera), don’t panic.

Don’t take two tablets at once to make up for the missed dose. If you take too much at once, this can increase your chances of developing unpleasant side effects.

Take your Medroxyprogesterone (Provera) as soon as you remember, and then carry on as normal.