From your question, it is unclear why you are taking a birth control pill. If it is for contraception, the level of progestin in your blood may not be the progesterone level measured in the blood test. LoEstrin contains norethindrone acetate which is a type of progestin - a hormone with progesterone like activity as opposed to progesterone per se. Therefore, it might not show up in the blood test for progesterone, even though your body has plenty of progestin for your needs. In general, people should not need to add Provera (which is medroxyprogesterone acetate - a progestin). Don't worry if your progesterone level doesn't go up. Also, the birth control pill prevents you from ovulating so your own progesterone level won't go up either. There is no reason to break your pills into pieces.
Machelle Seibel, MD
Thank you so much taking time out to help everyone that posts questions here. I am greatly appreciative
Before I was switched to Loestrin FE 24 I had a vaginal and pelvic ultrasound the only thing found were cysts on my ovaries. I had more ultrasounds after 7 months of being on Lo for swelling in my uterus and 3 three 3 inch fibroids were found. That explains my swelling but not the weight gain. Then I found that PCOS runs high in people with low levels of progesterone. I took all the findings and lab results to my OBGYN and he agreed with the low progesterone.
I was taken off Loestrin for 2 reasons. The weight gain and 4 out of 7 months that I was on it I stopped having periods. I was instructed to to take the Provera by itself since my progesterone levels were in the negative. I did not want to do that because the chances of pregnancy were a bit higher. That's when my doctor told me to take the Provera and Ortho Cept together.
I reduced my calorie intake to 1000-1200 and added more cardio. I still have another 14-15lbs "all" in the middle. With the amount of exercise and food I ate I should not have gained that much weight. It's only when my doctor changed my pills that I packed on the weight. Every doctor I have known swears that birth control does not cause weight gain. I would have to disagree. It's not water weight. I took diuretics one month followed the instructions and not one ounce difference in my clothes or scale. Another month I did the Master Cleanser detox for 7 days where you do not eat ,you only drink fresh squeezed lemon water and cayenne pepper. Still clothes and scale stayed the same. I was told my ovulation pains are phantom pains. I feel them and soon after I have the stretchy egg-white discharge with bleeding the next day or 2.
When I looked up things in the body that could cause abnormal weight gain lack of progesterone was one of them and also read that it's almost impossible to get the weight off with low progesterone levels. I was a size 4, two months later I was barely fitting into an 8. I am 38 yr. I know premenopause can happen around this age but I'd like not to think about that. So taking Provera with the Ortho Cept in a lower dose is not advisable?
Thank You Again,
Squeakyy