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Women's HealthCare Group

Patient Information - Gynecology/Women's Health

How to Take Medroxyprogesterone

What is Medroxyprogesterone?

Medroxyprogesterone, or Provera, is a hormone that affects the lining of your uterus. It stabilizes the inner layer, or endometrium, of the uterus and acts like progesterone, the body’s natural hormone, in the last half of the menstrual cycle. Each month, your body makes progesterone after ovulation to prepare the uterus for pregnancy. If you do not become pregnant that month, the progesterone level drops and the uterus has a withdrawal bleed, or a menstrual period. Provera helps to cause more predictable bleeding in patients who are not ovulating regularly, and therefore do not have regular periods. Provera does not make you stop bleeding if you are already having a period, but it can cause you to have a period after you have stopped taking it.

How Do I Take Medroxyprogesterone?

After you finish taking the medication, you should have a period within 1-2 weeks. You should start taking Provera on the same day each month, and continue taking it for the total number of days that your doctor prescribed (usually 10-14 days). Please do not start late or skip a pill, because this may cause irregular bleeding.

Do I Need to Use a Birth Control Method?

Provera taken in this manner is not a birth control method, so you could become pregnant if you are not using another method such as an IUD, foam and condoms, or previous surgery for you or your partner to “tie” your tubes (tubal ligation for you or vasectomy for him).

What Are the Side Effects?

Side effects can include headaches, mood changes, weight gain, bloating, nausea, and fatigue. Please call your doctor if you have any questions.

When Should I Call My Doctor?

You should call your doctor if you do not experience a withdrawal bleed, or period, within 2 weeks after taking your pill. You should also tell your doctor if you are having excessive bleeding that requires changing a pad every hour. If you have symptoms of anemia (fainting, feeling weak or dizzy, or “blacking out”), please call your doctor immediately.

What Do I Bring to My Next Visit?

You should keep track of when you have a period and record it on the menstrual cycle record. Also, please keep track of the dates when you took the medroxyprogesterone pills and bring all of this information to your next visit.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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Last Modified: September 04, 2002