Need some provera help please! (VERY long, sorry!)

cowbella · 04-22-2009, 03:52 PM

Hi, this is my first post. I’m hoping maybe someone can help me, as I am confused about provera! Is it normal to have a ton of breakthrough bleeding with provera? I took my first round of provera last cycle and have had breakthrough bleeding almost daily. I talked to my doctors nurse and she said it was fine. I was supposed to have started provera again on CD 35, but here it is CD 38 and I am scared to take it. I don’t want to go another cycle bleeding almost daily (though it is very light). I am also supposed to start clomid but I’m worried that if I do actually conceive I’ll keep bleeding and some how cause another miscarriage, I have already had 3 or I may somehow bleed an embryo out (ok, I know that sounds crazy!) with all the breakthrough bleeding.
I am so confused on what to do. Part of me wants to just wait on AF to show on its own, but who knows how long that may be and then part of me just wants to go ahead and start the provera so I can get on with a new cycle.
Another thing confusing me is I started spotting the first time CD 17-21, it stopped a few days and then started back CD 29 and hasn’t stopped. When I talked to the nurse she told me I should have counted CD 29 as CD1 and considered it a new cycle and told me I missed out on this cycle to take clomid, but I just don’t think CD 29 was actually the beginning of a new cycle because I never start that early and also it has just been very light spotting and my AF’s are always very heavy. Also I have been spotting for 10 days straight now and my AF never last that long, so that’s just added more to my confusion.

Anyway, she told me to go ahead and start the provera right away, that even if CD 29 was actually the beginning of a new cycle that it would be ok to take provera and I should start again a few days after stopping it. But I’m worried that I’ll just go a whole new cycle just like this one, just daily light spotting and not knowing if it’s AF, when to take clomid, etc.
One more thing she told me is I may start AF before I’m finished with the 10 days of provera so I asked if I should stop provera if this were to happen and start clomid on CD 3. She said no, finish the provera but don’t take provera and clomid together. So I asked if I would just have to skip TTC that cycle if it were to happen and she said she didn’t know and that was a question for the doctor, but she hasn’t called me back with an answer.
Sorry this is so long, I’m just really confused as to what I want to do and I just want to do things right. Is there anyone that can tell me how a provera/ clomid cycle should work? Has anyone had almost daily spotting while taking provera? And can breakthrough bleeding cause you to not to conceive or to miscarry? ~Thanks!

AnotherDreamer · 04-22-2009, 07:33 PM

I am a little confused on what's happening.

You have breakthrough bleeding mid-cycle, or while your on Provera?

As always, talk to your doctor's office to be safe.

If it is spotting/bleeding while on Provera, that can happen. If I start spotting or bleeding while on Provera, I used to just stop taking it and let AF come.

If the spotting is mid-cycle, no that is not normal and your doctor should further investigate the cause.

As far as the spotting as CD1, no that is wrong. Unless it is more than spotting, a full bleed, it is not cycle day one. If your doctor's office believe this is the case, I think you should consider seeking a new doctor's office. It sounds like they aren't taking you very seriously anyway.

Sorry I can't be more help.
Best wishes.

shapo · 04-22-2009, 09:52 PM

I don't know how much help I will be, but I have taken Provera & Clomid for over 4 cycles now. I don't have AF on my own, so I start Provera on day 35 and usually have AF by day 46 or so. I do always consider when I start bleeding my day 1, but I don't have continuous bleeding like you do. I'm thinking maybe just try to get a "fresh" cycle or something? I see why you are so confused... I would be too! If I were you, I'd be asking to talk directly to my doctor or a nurse that does know more.
P.S. Do you like Fertility Friend... can you tell me how to become a member?

AnotherDreamer · 04-22-2009, 11:03 PM

Shapo: I do like it

You can just go to the website and sign up. They have a free version, if you don't want to pay for it. They give you a trial of the V.I.P. paid version for about a month. I pay for the V.I.P. version, but that's just my preference.

cowbella · 04-23-2009, 01:08 AM

Thanks for the replies! I never had mid cycle spotting until I started the provera. I just feel like I have messed up my cycles even more now that I took the provera. At least before I knew AF would eventually show, now I just don't know if I try to wait it out if it will.
Does any one know if breakthough bleeding can cause a miscarriage? I think I can deal with the provera/ spotting as long as I knew if I did happen to conceive that the break through bleeding wouldn't interfere some way.

AnotherDreamer · 04-23-2009, 02:14 AM

Cowbella: So you're talking about mid-cycle spotting then? I think you should find a doctor who will investigate the cause of the breakthrough bleeding. Because no matter what they say, it's not normal. They should check your hormones out. I can't say if it will cause a miscarriage, but I can tell you it's not good. It could mean you have progesterone issues, or estrogen issues, or something else. It could be nothing, but it may be something. It's better to find the cause at this point. You never know, what's causing it could be causing other issues. Usually they will put you on Provera for an extended time to keep the bleeding away, or try putting you on birthcontrol pills. That could fix the problem, and when you go off it may be cleared up... but it would probably be better to see what's going on with your hormones first. Doctors like to patch problems as they come, instead of finding the cause. So, you may need to be assertive, and tell them you want them to find out what's going on and that it is not normal.

cowbella · 04-23-2009, 11:15 AM

I was origanlly prescribed provera for endo. Has anyone heard of this? The nurse told me the mid cycle bleeding is normal. She said I'm just passing alot of old blood and its cleaning me out. I expected a little, but not almost every day. And then when she told me I should have count CD 29 as CD 1, the confusion really started.
Today is CD 39, I don't know if I should go ahead and start provera again and try to start a new cycle or just wait for AF to maybe show its self, and hope it will eventually show.

Alwayz_yourz · 04-29-2009, 02:09 PM

If I were you, the first thing I would do is to talk to the Doctor, not the nurse. I know they mean well, but nurses don't have the same medical traning that a Dr does. You should either ask your Dr to return your call or make an appointment to see him. I do agree that there seems to be some hormone issues. It sounds like your body is not regulating the progesterone and estrogen like it should be. That being said, it may just be best for you to make an appointment.