On Met 9months still no AF!

[CarmenB]

Hi all. I'm new to this site and have been reading for the last 2 hours! So much info! I have been on Met for 9 months now and have still not had a period. Actually haven't had a period since last Feb which is one and a half years! I've lost 11kg and am on a low GI diet but still no AF We are TTC but obviously I'm not going to ovulate if I never get AF! Did anyone else go this long on Met without getting AF? I have the runs most days but am happy to put up with that if it helps me regulate my period and have a baby! What else can I do to speed up the process?

Thanks
Carmen

[violamarie]

Try NPC or some other kind of progesterone to bring on AF... you shouldn't go so long between bleeds. NPC is available OTC. There's a thread under "alternative remedies" w/ loads of info. Or get your doc to rescribe prometrium. You take it 12 days or so, then stop, and AF comes a few days later. Then once you've had AF, wait until after you O to start another 10-12 day round of prometrium/NPC. If you don't know when/if you O, just wait until about CD 16-18 or so and then start the meds. You don't want to take progesterone before O cuz it will interfere.
I used this method every month for 6 months prior to conceiving DS. It kept AF within a 29-32 day range.

[cysterof2miracles]

What dose of Met are you on?
The lowest recommended for PCOS'ers is 1700. Some only need 1000, some need more. I was on 1500 I think when my periods started back.
Maybe you could ask your doc about upping your dose. A friend of mine from here said her lowest effective dose was 2500.
Many women get preg quickly when they find the right dose and get their period.

[lilredcat]

I'm with Rose on this one, maybe see if your doc will up your dose. My RE didn't like that my hormones weren't changing and I hadn't O'd after 3 weeks on met (500 at first then 1000) so he upped me to 1500 and I O'd less than a week later! Good luck!!!

[CarmenB]

Thanks ladies I'm on 1500mg - have been for 9 months. I can't imagine upping the dosage if my diarrohea will get worse. I'm a teacher so I'm only just barely making it to the toilet in time most days! (Too much info... sorry!) I will talk to my Dr about the NPC or prometrium. Were you getting AF before you started taking the prometrium? It sounds like you had no trouble ovulating when you were on it? I've never heard of that - only NPC and provera. Does it have side effects? I will go research it. Thanks again

[violamarie]

After I stopped BCP (Feb 2003), I had only 4 periods in the next year, and 2 of those were induced with provera/prometrium. I had no trouble on prometrium except that it made me a bit sleepy/dizzy about an hour after taking the pill. But nothing I couldn't handle. I wouldn't recommend Provera every month. If you want to use it once to start AF one time, that's OK. But it should not be used during any TTC cycle because it can casue m/c. It is a progestin, not a progesterone.
Anyway, I O'd all but one cycle when I was using the prometrium. And had AF every 29-32 days. I'm sure NPC works just as well. I'll probably give that a try pretty soon. I like that it's OTC.

[lilredcat]

Provera and Prometrium are both progesterone supplements. The difference is that Provera is a chemical version whereas Prometrium is real progesterone. My family doctor gave me Provera back in October. I read that Provera can harm a developing fetus -- can cause birth defects -- so if there's a chance you could be pg, like if you are having unprotected sex, I suggest you ask for prometrium instead. It is natural like what your body makes and will not harm a baby.

P.S. Not to freak anybody out, but..... I know so many women are followers of the Natural progesterone cream, but when I asked my RE about it he had a fit!!! He said it is not good for you! He said you can't guarantee what you are getting is actually safe, plus you can't guarantee the correct dosage AND aside from that ------ he said it is dangerous to use. It is bad for your liver apparently. I trust him implicitly, he is the #1 RE in Toronto. So please be careful and don't buy drugs or hormones without your doctor's approval.

[violamarie]

It is bad for your liver apparently. So please be careful and don't buy drugs or hormones without your doctor's approval.

Bad for your liver? I don't understand. An oral medication is the only kind that would have to be processed by your liver. A cream or suppository shouldn't make it anywhere near your liver. I'm not saying you're wrong; I'm just confused...

I will say that it is often very hard to get the straight story when it comes to western medicine vs. homeopathic/herbal. So often, both sides are so biased, and completley unwilling to acknowledge any benefit the other perspective might have to offer. For me, if a doctor or herbalist is very one-sided, it's a red flag. I prefer a more balanced approach! But that's just me

But I do agree that you have to be careful with self-medicating, even if it's herbal. Sometimes you can end up with your plate so full of different remedies, the effects of which may be poorly understood (and maybe even making your particular case even worse). Again, just MHO!

[cysterof2miracles]

Have you tried the Met XR? It usually lessens the symptoms.
Also, if you find out what causes the diarrhea (for me it is grease or sugar) you could avoid it and it may subside. Part of mine may also be the lack of a gallbladder.