No period with prometrium

tawny · 10-18-2007, 12:14 PM

Hi,
i was wondering if someone might be able to give me some advice.

I have taken prometrium twice before this last cycle and Af always showed up. this time its been 30 days since my last pill and no AF. I took a test two weeks ago and it was BFN, so i don't think i am pregnant.

The doctor will not do anything else for me until i start, then its just my last round of clomid. I don't know what to do, i am so frustrated right now.

I take metformin 2250mg a day, prenatals, vit E, and just started B-12 and flaxseed oil capsules.

If anybody can give me some advice i would appreciate it. Thanks

*~SugarPlums~* · 10-18-2007, 12:18 PM

Did you tell your Dr that this time the prometrium did not work? If your not pg (and I would test again to be sure since it has been a week) then he may need to give you another round of prometrium. If he will not then you may want to give npc a try. good luckG

tawny · 10-18-2007, 01:11 PM

Yup, i told the nurse and see said there was nothing to do until i start. I will test again in the morning, jsut to make sure.

I bought NPC from GNC, its in the purple box. But when i bought it i was reading that it did not contain enough in it. So i wasn't for sure.

If i do use it, do i use it for 21 days, or 14 days? Thanks for your help

*~SugarPlums~* · 10-18-2007, 01:54 PM

To bring on af , they usually apply it 2 x day for14 days then stop. Usually it can take upto 14 days for af to come.

My nurse told me that once and I told her ' so, since I have periods on my own maybe once a year, that is how long you want me to wait? I told her to leave a message for my Dr stating that waiting was not an option, she called back later and said they faxed in the rx. Nurses don't always let the Dr know whan you have called. If the Dr said af should arrive within x amount of days and it still does not show up (if no bfp) then you need another dose or another med.

pamb · 10-18-2007, 02:36 PM

When I took prometrium last year and didn't start af, my dr started me on provera for 7 days. I took it upon myself to take a pg test on the 6th day of my provera and to my surprise it was a BFP! Maybe you're preg and the initial pg test was wrong. Good luck!

tawny · 10-18-2007, 02:59 PM

Thanks ladies, I have an appointment with the doc on nov 14 for my annual. But i just get so frustrated with them. I looked into going to a new doctor but my appointment isn't until jan. So i was just wondering if there was anything else i could do myself.

Sugarplums, thats what i thought that the doc should have given me something else to take, or at least do blood work to see whats going on.

pamb, i am going to test in the morning just to make sure. But i haven't had any symptoms so i don't think so. But you never now.

i really appreciate all your help. Sometimes i just feel so lost on this journey.

*~SugarPlums~* · 10-18-2007, 03:05 PM

Mpo, I prefer provera over prometrium to bring on af. I got severely depresses(SEVERELY!) on prometrium.

I do hope you ge a surprise in the am!

Sparrow78 · 10-23-2007, 04:30 PM

Hi ladies...I'm having this problem too. My new RE wanted me to take Prometrium on days 15-25 I took 400mgs/day. My last dose will be two weeks ago this Friday and no signs of AF. I've never taken Prometrium before, but I have taken Provera with my old OBGYN and I'd usually see AF within three days of my last dose. I haven't called my doctor yet since it can take up to 14 days to see AF and that won't be until Friday. I don't want to POAS quite yet, though I don't even think a BFP would be possible this cycle, it would still get my hopes up, ya know?

Danger Kitty · 10-23-2007, 05:11 PM

The prometrium may not have worked because you simply didn't have enough lining to shed. If it's been more than 2 weeks since discontinuing the progesterone supplementation, it won't work.

In a normal cycle, estrogen causes the lining in your uterus to build until you ovulate. Once you ovulate, your body produces progesterone to support a pregnancy. If you are not in fact pregnant, the body stops producing progesterone, and when the levels of it fall sufficiently, you have a period to shed the built up lining.

If you are prescribed prometrium (natural progesterone, derived from yams) or provera (synthetic progesterone), you take it long enough to simulate a luteal phase, and then the withdrawal (after you stop) stimulates the bleed.

You have a few options - take an oral contraceptive for a cycle (yazmin is one option), or take a cycle of estrogen for 15-20 days (to build the lining), then continue estrogen WITH PROGESTERONE for 7-10 days.

hth,

dk

tawny · 10-23-2007, 05:52 PM

Hi,
i just wanted to say its been 4 weeks since my last prometrium pill and AF is here. She just took her sweet time getting here.

Turtlegirl68 · 10-23-2007, 06:31 PM

I had the same problem. I took Prometrium for 12 days and it took a month almost for AF to show up. When I called the Dr. about it the nurse told me to take a HPT, I knew I wasn't pregnant, I mean I just got dx'd the week before I took the Prometrium and based on the u/s the doc said it was all but impossible for me to get pg yet. Well the nurse insisted that's what I needed to do. So, not knowing about the cheap tests at $Tree or HEB, I spent $15 on a test and of course BFN!!! The next day when I called back I talked to a different nurse who had actually talked to my dr and she said that based on the u/s, my endometrial lining was REALLY thin and that's why I had no period. I was so aggrevated!! The first nurse should have waited to talk to the dr before telling me anything like that. Anyways, maybe you will get a nice BFP instead!!! Crossing my fingers for you!!!

Sparrow78 · 10-24-2007, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danger Kitty

The prometrium may not have worked because you simply didn't have enough lining to shed. If it's been more than 2 weeks since discontinuing the progesterone supplementation, it won't work.

In a normal cycle, estrogen causes the lining in your uterus to build until you ovulate. Once you ovulate, your body produces progesterone to support a pregnancy. If you are not in fact pregnant, the body stops producing progesterone, and when the levels of it fall sufficiently, you have a period to shed the built up lining.

If you are prescribed prometrium (natural progesterone, derived from yams) or provera (synthetic progesterone), you take it long enough to simulate a luteal phase, and then the withdrawal (after you stop) stimulates the bleed.

You have a few options - take an oral contraceptive for a cycle (yazmin is one option), or take a cycle of estrogen for 15-20 days (to build the lining), then continue estrogen WITH PROGESTERONE for 7-10 days.

hth,

dk

Thanks Ann, this makes a lot of sense in my situation. I had an AF visit all on my own that was really heavy and long. I was actually still being visited when I started the Prometrium. In the back of my mind I thought that could have something to do with it. I gave in and test last night, just to be sure, and as suspected, BFN. It was just easier than really getting my hopes up and getting the BFN next week. I'll just call the doctor the beginning of next week and see what he wants to do.

Danger Kitty · 10-24-2007, 01:33 PM

Sparrow - progesterone is sometimes prescribed in the case of an on-going bleed in the hopes that it will tell the body "stop bleeding already!!" If you've gone a really long time since then, you may want to do the combo protocol (or OCs) to "reset" things.

Some docs will go ahead and start a clomid or injectible cycle without inducing a bleed if all of your bloodwork and your lining is consistent with "normal" cd3 tests, but most will require a bleed of some sort.

Tawny - if it took 4 weeks since you discontinued the prometrium, the eventual period was likely NOT related to having taken the prometrium. It could have just been your body trying to "get back on track".

Finally, one word of caution - both prometrium and provera are prescribed to bring on late periods. However, you will want to confirm that you are NOT pregnant before taking provera - it is a synthetic version of progesterone, and has been associated with a higher risk of birth defects than prometrium. Prometrium is often used in IVF and IUI protocols to support early pregnancy. Provera is never intentionally prescribed for this purpose.

hth,

dk

Sparrow78 · 10-25-2007, 12:35 PM

It had been prescribed because I had not had a period since April (which had been Provera induced) but I had had some irregular bleeding in August and September. The Sept. spotting turned into a full-on period after my RE appointment, it had started to slack off once it was time for the Prometrium. If I still don't see anything over the weekend, I'll call the RE and see what he wants to do. I have had some crampiness and tender boobies, so maybe something's coming. I just need a confirmed CD 1 so I can schedule the HSG...

Thanks a lot Ann!

Danger Kitty · 10-25-2007, 03:06 PM

Sparrow - my *first* experience with prometrium (the only time that *just* prometrium has ever worked for me) was so that I could get an HSG (horrible thing - your level of comfort / discomfort can depend ALOT on the finesse of the person doing it. GL with it!).

I went off BCPs in late March of '05 (after being on them since '89) to TTC. First 2 cycles were beautiful - opk / temp confirmed Os, 29 and 30 day cycles. Went to gyn for pre-conception visit. Found I had a uterine anomaly. Told to call as soon as my next period started to schedule an HSG. Waited. Waited. Waited. Finally, got a scrip for prometrium in August.

In the time between my last "normal" period (late May) and the prometrium induced cycle in August (so, 2 1/2 months), I gained 25 pounds with no change in diet or exercise. Thought "WTF?!?" Wish I had known about PCOS back then!!!!