Question:
Can someone explain to me what happens if you haven't seen your period?

I haven't seen a period in over a year now. My GYN prescribed MEDROXYPROGESTERONE which I think is a generic brand for Provera. I have taken it but I was told that I don't have to take it every month. When I first got onthe pill I had a good one (don't mean to be gross but with a lot of clots). I thought that was good but the next month I barely saw a period just spotting. I asked my doctor if that was bad and he said no it happens sometimes. he tells me that my weight may be the reason why I do not get a period, But never really said anything else can be wrong. He hasn't tested or checked so how does he know that there is not somthing else wrong?I haven't taken the pill in about a year now! I plan to start on August 1 please let me know if this is the right thing to do? Can someone tell me if i need to get other test taken or what? What happens if I don't get a period?    — dainty (posted on July 25, 2001)

July 25, 2001
Just to answer your wuestion from my personal experience, I have times where I'll bleed for 2 or 3 months non stop and then don't for 3 or 4 months... again it's caused by my weight and I refuse to take MORE chemicals to keep it "normal"... Of course it'd be nice to know when it's coming around, but like most obese people, I take enough chemicals..
   — Elizabeth D.

July 25, 2001
Any other symptoms besides Obesity and Amenorrhea (lack of periods)? Do you suffer from any of these symptoms: *Irregular or absent menses *Numerous cysts on the ovaries in many, but not all, cases *High blood pressure *Acne *Elevated insulin levels, Insulin Resistance, or Diabetes *Infertility *Excess hair on the face and body *Thinning of the scalp hair (alopecia) *Weight Problems or obesity that is centered around your midsection You may want to visit a Endoncrinologist. Visit these sites for futher information: http://www.pcosupport.org/pcosinfo/whatis.html or http://www.inciid.org/faq/pcos1.html#1.2 (since this is a syndrome, you could have ALL of the symptoms and have PCOS, or you could only have one or two and still have PCOS, you do not nescessarily have to have ALL of them! If youhave any of them - you should visit a Doctor)
   — Karen R.

July 25, 2001
I just got off of provera about 3 months ago. I had been keeping track of my periods every month on the calendar and had even tried to become pregnant but couldn't. Finally one day I was looking at my calendar and I noticed that there were some months where I had a period at 28 days, some at 34 days, some at 14 days and some months I didn't have any at all. I got in to my Ob/gyn. Had a year history to show her. She decided to do some testing because I had already been told I have cysts on my ovaries when I had an ultrasound 11 years ago. She did several blood tests and a fasting glucose test. I was diagnosed with PCOS. The way she explained it to me is when you have a lot of fat on your body, it absorbs your hormones and causes it to be off balance. This can effect your period , it can either make you bleed excessively or not enough or not at all. The pill will regulate you and control your flow. I took it and it worked. She also put me on Aldactone and that seemed to supress my facial hair growth. But I've never liked being on the pill, and only complied for about 3 months. But in those 3 months I was regular. Now I'm back to constantly feeling like I'm going to start but I never do. If you don't get your period, over time it can build up. The way I understand it is your body spends a month preparing for a baby. When that baby doesn't come then your body must get rid of the lining in the uterus(through your period) If you don't have a period it builds up and I think it can eventually cause cancer. My doctor told me that if I don't loose the weight, with my PCOS, that I could end up having to have a hysterectomy. I hope I explained this to you well enough.Oh, I think you could probably do the provera bleed every couple of months- personally thats what I'll probably end up doing.
   — K T.

July 25, 2001
I am 20 years old I had the same problem I had went one full year with out a period!! I was scared so I went to se an endocrylonigst I thought I had hormonal problems only to find out that I had PCOS which is poli cystic ovanian sydrom. With the Pcos I also ended up getting hair on my face and diabeties type 2 the doc put me on ACTOS to help it helped for about 5 months then my periods stopped again. He then recomended that I have this surgery to help my weight problem and I ended up lossing 40 pounds so far along with not having diabeties and getting my periods back! If you need to look up more information about PCOS go to www.soulcysters.com ! I know i didn't help with your question but I hope i helped alittle
   — Heather G.

July 25, 2001
I am 20 years old I had the same problem I had went one full year with out a period!! I was scared so I went to se an endocrylonigst I thought I had hormonal problems only to find out that I had PCOS which is poli cystic ovanian sydrom. With the Pcos I also ended up getting hair on my face and diabeties type 2 the doc put me on ACTOS to help it helped for about 5 months then my periods stopped again. He then recomended that I have this surgery to help my weight problem and I ended up lossing 40 pounds so far along with not having diabeties and getting my periods back! If you need to look up more information about PCOS go to www.soulcysters.com ! I know i didn't help with your question but I hope i helped alittle
   — Heather G.

May 13, 2002
I just had my surgery 4/15/02. It set off what seemed like a bad period. I had been on DepoProvera since July of 2000. The first week the flow was like a normal period. The second week I started bleeding so heavily I was using a tampon and a pad an hour. After a round of Provera and a two different rounds of high-dose birth control pills the bleeding still hadn't stopped. My hematocrit had dropped from the mid 40's to an 18. I ended up having to have 3 units of blood and a D&C. They found the uterine lining to be as thick as 18 mm in places with an ultrasound (on the pelvis and an internal one). 5-8 mm is considered to be a thick lining. My new OB GYN doc explained that an obese woman on progesterone can cause a heavy lining to build in the uterus even if there is no period. The progesterone interacts with the estrogen in the fat cells to cause this. I would definitely get a second opinion if this doctor is not willing to listen to your concerns.
   — REBEKAH T.

May 13, 2002
I am a year post op ( in two weeks!) and am 6 pounds under goal weight. I was diagnosed with PCOS bfore surgery, and after surgery I had periods every month for the first 5 months and now I haven's had one since December. The doctor just put me on a 10 day course of the same medicine (which is Provera, you're right)and I am on my 5th day of taking it. I don't really have an answer to your question, I just wanted to add that as a post op I am also missing my periods! I figured once I lost the weight that would take care of years of not having them, but nope. May I also add, that already I hate this medicine!! I feel bloated and also moody and a bit hungrier than I have been in a year! UUUGH! It better work cause I really don't want to take this stuff again after this... Good luck,
   — Vicki K.