Provera Tablets

Provera contains the active ingredient medroxyprogesterone acetate, a progestogen. A progestogen is a man made version of the natural female sex hormone progesterone, and you can use it as a way to delay your period.

You may want to delay your period with Provera if:

• you’re going on holiday
• you have a big event coming up, like a graduation day or a wedding
• you’re going to a place or event where you need to be in water, like a swimming pool or a water park

Period delay is an ‘off label’ use of Provera. This means that doctors have found it to be a safe and effective use of the medication, even though it is not listed as a licensed use by the manufacturers. Provera is usually recommended as a safer alternative to other period delay medications such as Primolut N, for women who can not use these.

Provera is also often used to manage:

• endometriosis
• heavy periods
• painful periods
• irregular or absent periods
• menopause, in combination with oestrogen, for hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

You can request a prescription for Provera for period delay through ZAVA.

You should start taking Provera 2 to 3 days before you expect the first day of your period.

For each day that you want to delay your period, swallow one Provera tablet with a glass of water 3 times a day. Do not take more than 3 Provera tablets in one day.

You should aim to leave 6 to 8 hours between each Provera tablet, so you’re taking it evenly throughout the day. If you forget to take a Provera tablet, take it as soon as you remember. However, do not take 2 tablets at the same time to make up for the tablet you missed. Missing too many Provera tablets may lead to breakthrough bleeding.

You can take Provera for up to 30 days to delay your period.

Your period should start 2 to 3 days after you stop taking Provera.

Provera is not a type of contraceptive pill (birth control) and will not protect you from pregnancy even though it stops your period. If you need contraception while taking Provera, you must use another form of this such as condoms.

Provera works by giving your body progesterone in the form of progestogen. This means you will not get a period.

Normally, your period happens when your progesterone levels drop during your menstrual cycle. By taking Provera, you top up the amount of progesterone in your body, so your body cannot tell that your natural levels of progesterone are dropping. This means you won’t get your period until you stop taking your Provera tablets.

Provera is an effective way to delay your period, as long as you begin taking it a few days before your period starts. You then need to take one Provera tablet 3 times a day until you are ready to have your period.

Follow these instructions to help ensure that medication is effective for you. Your doctor may give you further advice when they prescribe treatment.

Please note, it’s normal for some women to still get spotting or breakthrough bleeding despite using period delay medication.

You may experience some side effects when taking Provera.

Common side effects include:

• headaches
• nausea
• unusual vaginal bleeding
• a skin rash
• breast tenderness
• allergic reactions
• mood changes
• difficulty sleeping
• dizziness
• temporary weight gain
• acne
• feeling tired

Less common side effects of Provera include:

• facial hair growth
• discharge from your breasts
• oedema, a build up of fluid in one or more parts of your body

For other possible side effects, please read the patient information leaflet that comes with your Provera tablets.

You can take Provera if you have regular menstrual periods.

But you should not take Provera if you:

• are allergic to medroxyprogesterone acetate, progestogens, or any of the other ingredients in Provera
• are pregnant or think you may be pregnant
• are breastfeeding
• have ever had breast cancer
• have ever had blood clots in your veins or arteries
• have liver problems
• have porphyria, a rare blood disorder

Speak to your doctor before taking Provera if you have:

• recently had an operation
• a personal or family history of blood clots
• an intolerance to some sugars, such as lactose
• epilepsy
• migraines
• asthma
• heart problems
• kidney problems
• depression
• high blood pressure (hypertension)
• liver problems
• gallstones
• systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disease
• hearing problems

If you’re not sure whether you can take Provera to delay your period, speak to your doctor. When you request Provera through ZAVA, our doctors will ask about your medical history to check that Provera is safe for you before prescribing this.

For more information about who can take Provera, please read the patient information leaflet that comes with your Provera tablets.

Provera may interact with other medicines or supplements you currently take or have recently taken. These can make Provera less effective.

Before taking Provera, tell your doctor if you use:

• medication for Cushing’s syndrome, such as aminoglutethimide
• blood thinners, such as warfarin
• epilepsy medication, such as phenobarbital, phenytoin, or carbamazepine
• HIV treatment medication, such as ritonavir and nelfinavir
• medication for infections, such as rifampicin, rifabutin, nevirapine, or efavirenz
• St John’s Wort

Our doctors will ask about any medications you take when you request Provera through us. For more information, check the patient information leaflet that comes with your Provera tablets.

If Provera is not right for you, there are alternative treatments you can take to delay your period.

Another period delay treatment we offer is Primolut N. This works in a similar way to Provera, but it contains a different progestogen called norethisterone. Our doctors can tell you whether Primolut N is suitable for you when you request it through us.

If you already take a combined contraceptive, you can also delay your period by taking 2 strips of 21 tablets back to back. This means you will miss your 7 day break where you normally have a withdrawal bleed. However, you should not do this while taking period delay medication. Please check whether this is possible with your particular combined pill and how to do this properly. You can read the patient information leaflet that comes with your pill or speak to a doctor beforehand to find out more.

Remember, you can ask our doctors for confidential advice, free of charge. Simply send them a message through your account.