Provera is an off-licence period delay treatment that can delay your period for up to 30 days. Provera tablets contain the active ingredient medroxyprogesterone acetate, a synthetic version of the hormone progesterone. It’s usually prescribed to regulate the menstrual cycle, treat endometriosis, and protect the womb lining after menopause in women who take oestrogen-based hormone replacement therapy (HRT). However, it can also be safely prescribed off-licence to delay your period.
The active ingredient in Provera, medroxyprogesterone acetate, is a synthetic progesterone which works by raising the level of progesterone in your body. Progesterone is one of the hormones responsible for regulating your menstrual cycle, and you’ll usually start your period when your progesterone levels drop, as it causes the lining of your womb to shed. By keeping progesterone levels raised, it stops the womb lining from shedding, delaying your period until you stop taking Provera.
To delay your period, you should take 1 Provera 10mg tablet 3 times a day, starting 3 days before your period is due to begin. Continue taking Provera 3 times a day until you no longer need to delay your period.
You can take tablets containing medroxyprogesterone to delay your period for up to 30 days. You should not take Provera to delay your period more than once every 3 months. If you need to delay your period more often or want to avoid a monthly bleed, you might need to consider the contraceptive pill instead.
Provera can cause side effects, but not everyone will experience them.
Very common side effects include:
headache
feeling sick
unexpected or unusual vaginal bleeding
Common side effects include:
allergic reaction
depression
difficulty sleeping
nervousness
dizziness
hair loss
acne
nettle rash or hives
itchy skin
cervical discharge
breast pain
breast tenderness
fever
tiredness
weight gain
Uncommon side effects include:
excess facial or body hair growth
milky discharge from the breasts when not pregnant or breastfeeding
fluid retention
Provera may not be suitable for everyone.
Do not take Provera if you:
are allergic to medroxyprogesterone acetate or any other ingredient in the medication, or any similar hormone medications
are or think you might be pregnant
have or have ever had breast cancer
have ever had blood clots in your arteries or veins
have liver problems
have porphyria, where your body cannot correctly produce certain enzymes, causing neurological issues or skin problems
Tell your doctor before taking Provera if you have or have ever had any of the following conditions:
epilepsy
migraine headaches
asthma
heart problems
kidney problems
diabetes
a meningioma
depression or a history of depression
high blood pressure
liver problems
gallstones
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
hearing problems
Provera and other medications
Before taking Provera, tell your doctor if you are currently taking or plan to take any prescribed, over-the-counter, or herbal medications, especially:
aminoglutethimide
blood thinning medications
medications for treating convulsions (e.g. phenobarbital, phenytoin and carbamazepine)
ritonavir and nelfinavir, sometimes used to treat HIV and AIDS
medications for treating infections
St John’s wort
