Provera and Ovulation: Understanding Your Cycle After Medication

Question
Hi there,
If you can't answer this question I understand. I possibly had a chemical pregnancy in march. I have not had a normal menstrual cycle since then. which normally they are quite normal. so my dr. prescribed me provera to jump start my period. my question is do you think that ovulation should occur after this induced period or do you think since the provera makes me bleed ovulation will not occur?  also, we are trying to conceive. I took a ovulation predictor test just to see what happened and it turned out positive. i am on my 4th day of the pill, could i be ovulating on provera? really weird. please help.  thank you in advance.

Answer
Dear Megan,

Changes in your menstrual cycles after a miscarriage or other pregnancy loss are not uncommon. It is a delicate balance of estrogen and progesterone that causes menstruation to occur every month. The estrogen rises in the first half of the cycle. After ovulation occurs, the progesterone rises in anticipation of a potential pregnancy. If pregnancy does not occur, the ovary stops making progesterone, and the level drops. This sudden drop in progesterone is what causes the uterus to shed its lining, a.k.a your period.

Provera is synthetic form of progesterone. If your uterine lining has been stimulated by estrogen, and you then take Provera, the same type of changes occur that trigger a menstrual period when the Provera is stopped. So bleeding after Provera indicates that you make enough estrogen to stimulate growth of the uterine lining and that the cervix and uterine lining are structurally normal. Typically however, the short course of Provera only works to bring on bleeding. It does nothing to induce ovulation or address any underlying conditions that might be associated with a lack of ovulation. If you are ovulating, it is likely just a coincidental event.

I hope this has helped you and answered your question. I wish you well.

Brenda