Provera and Pregnancy: Understanding Ovulation Suppression & Period Changes

Question
QUESTION: *WELL I STARTED TAKING PROVERA 3 MONTHS AGO BECAUSE I DIDNT HAVE MY PERIOD  FOR AT LEAST A YEAR SO PROVERA NORMALIZES THAT!! BUT HOW AM I SUPPOSE TO KNOW IF IAM PREGNANT OR NOT? IF I KEEP ON TAKING THE PILLS WOULD I STILL HAVE MY PERIOD IF IAM PREGNANT?*

ANSWER: Dear Crystal

You cannot get pregnant while you are on Provera. This drug is a progesterone hormone which acts by suppressing ovulation. If you seek pregnancy, you should stop provera and plan for your pregnancy

Good Luck

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: OH THANK YOU BUT WHATS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PROVERA AND OTHER BIRTH CONTROL PILLS BECAUSE I WENT TO THE DOCTOR BECAUSE I WOULDNT GET MY PERIOD AND BEFORE I WAS ON BIRTH CONTROL PILLS  AND THEN I WENT BACK TO THE DOCTOR AND HE TOOK AWAY THE BIRTH CONTROL AND GAVE ME PROVERA AND HE TOLD ME I AM GOING TO GIVE YOU THESE BECAUSE U ARE NOT HAVING SEXUAL INTERCOURSE, AND HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT WITH PROVERA IT WAS GOING TO BE MORE EASILY FOR ME TO GET PREGNANT? SO IAM A LITTLE CONFUSED!!

Answer
Dear Crystal
What your doctor is doing is that he is trying to bring you an artificial menstruation. Whatever you are using provera or the pill, both build up the endometrium to a certain level, above which the hormone is not capable to support more growth of the endometrium. Consequently endometrial shedding occurs and bleeding. This is totally different than having a normal menstruation which require having a functioning ovary and ovulation, then your endogenous estrogen and progesterone will do the job. Having exogenous hormones does not allow for ovulation and no pregnancy can occur with these drugs unless as a side effect.

I do hope that these info are helpful.