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Menopause (Expert Forum)
Provera for irregular bleeding
Answered by
Machelle Seibel, MD - Women's Health, menopause, ReproductiveMedicine
University of Massachusetts Medical School
MA
Questions in the Menopause forum are answered by Dr. Machelle Seibel. Topics covered include menopause issues, depression, hormone replacement therapy, hot flashes, joint or muscle problems, memory problems, mood swings, osteoporosis, sexual problems, skin changes, sleeping problems, vaginal problems, and weight problems.
Provera for irregular bleeding
by nycjane, Sep 24, 2006 12:00AM
I am 47 years old and have always had regular periods, no kids, no medical problems of any kind. I am not on BCP.
I've been having spotting between periods intermittently for the last 10 months. Last December, the MD did a Pap which was normal as well as an internal sonogram, which also was normal. He felt that it was probabaly hormonal, perhaps perimenopause. He told me to track things and come back in 6 months, which I did. The spotting began again in May and he gave me 10 days worth of Provera. I got my period on Day 10. I started spotting again in July for 10 days after my period and in August I just spotted for 2 weeks with no period at all.
Went back to MD and he gave me an endometrial biopsy. It came back fine and he put me back on the Provera, this time for 12 days with a few months of refills.
Here's my question - today is Day 7 and I just started bleeding. Do I keep taking the rest of the Provera? Or should I quit since I got my period. And when do I start again?
Does this sound like typical start of menopause?
Thanks
Jane
I've been having spotting between periods intermittently for the last 10 months. Last December, the MD did a Pap which was normal as well as an internal sonogram, which also was normal. He felt that it was probabaly hormonal, perhaps perimenopause. He told me to track things and come back in 6 months, which I did. The spotting began again in May and he gave me 10 days worth of Provera. I got my period on Day 10. I started spotting again in July for 10 days after my period and in August I just spotted for 2 weeks with no period at all.
Went back to MD and he gave me an endometrial biopsy. It came back fine and he put me back on the Provera, this time for 12 days with a few months of refills.
Here's my question - today is Day 7 and I just started bleeding. Do I keep taking the rest of the Provera? Or should I quit since I got my period. And when do I start again?
Does this sound like typical start of menopause?
Thanks
Jane
Doctor's Answer
by Machelle Seibel, MD, Sep 25, 2006 12:00AM
, Sep 25, 2006 12:00AM
A. Irregular bleeding at age 47 is most likely associated with the start of menopause. Your doctor has taken a biopsy to make sure it isn’t something more worrisome like uterine cancer which is good. So now you are just trying to regulate the bleeding. There is not an absolute answer to continuing the progesterone or not after 7 days. Most doctors would say continue it because 10 days is the time it takes for the progesterone to make changes in the lining that keep it cancer free. It can be taken 12 days but doesn’t have to be.
If the bleeding continues over the next few months, your doctor might want to do an ultrasound to be sure there isn’t a polyp which is a benign fleshy growth the size of a pea to the size of a grape, inside the uterus. Some doctors would do a hysteroscopy which is a thin telescope used to look inside the uterus and see directly. Typically, I suggest patients take the progesterone the first 10 days of the month because it is easy to remember and know when to take it.
Machelle M. Seibel, MD
If the bleeding continues over the next few months, your doctor might want to do an ultrasound to be sure there isn’t a polyp which is a benign fleshy growth the size of a pea to the size of a grape, inside the uterus. Some doctors would do a hysteroscopy which is a thin telescope used to look inside the uterus and see directly. Typically, I suggest patients take the progesterone the first 10 days of the month because it is easy to remember and know when to take it.
Machelle M. Seibel, MD
Hope you get to the bottom of your issue. Please post again and share what you learn.
Hudson
I too have been spotting on and off practically the whole month of September. I've had a few days with no spotting, but then it comes back again. I'm 45 and all of this is new to me. I've had regular periods most of my life. I am really worried about this because I'm not sure if it's Peri or something else serious.
Hudson