Delayed Period & Potential Ovulation Issues: What Could Be Happening?

Question
My cycles are generally 36 days long.  I temp, so I know that my ovulation date is around cycle date 25.  During my last cycle I got sick right around ovulation time, had high fever for 1.5 weeks and was taking antibiotics.  My temperatures did not show a jump, so I assume I never ovulated.  On cycle date 37 I had some spotting, which I NEVER have.  I am now on cycle date 52 with no signs of menses and a negative pregnancy test as of yesterday.  I also traveled heavily in the past two weeks and was very stressed and exhausted.  I've never had any gyn. problems.  Today my doctor prescribed Provera for 10 days.  He didn't run any tests and just asked if an HPT was negative.  I want to get my menses going because we want to start trying for a baby next cycle.  But I'm scared of anything hormone-related and for that reason I've never been on BCPs and always used a rhythm method.  
What is a medical reason behind prescribing Provera to jump start menses?  Will I have medical problems if I let it run its course and start naturally?  Will my cycle be back to normal after this or may I skip an ovulation due to this treatment?  Sorry for all the questions and thank you for any advice!


Answer
You will n ot have any problems with your cycle in the future if you use Provera to "jump start" your period. If you hve a decrease in the amount of progesterone, Provera (10mg twice a day for five days) usually will start your period within ten days. If your period does indeed start, it means that your pituatary/ovarian axis is working and you have no ovarian failure. It confirms that all is well and that you merely had some hormonal imbalance this month. If you do not take the provera, you may not start your period at all. The Provera (pregesterone) merely gets the period going again. I would suggest that you follow the advice of your doctor. In order to conceive, yoou should be getting regular periods so you can calculate the exact day of ovulation and concentrate on intercourse around the day of ovulation each month. Good Luck.