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Suggest Treatment For Heavy Prolonged Bleeding Due To PCOS
Question: My doctor and I are trying to resolve heavy, lengthy bleeding due to PCOS. I recently stopped FIbristal and 3 days later began to "spot" again... This has gone on for 12 days... or so I call it spotting; perhaps it was a period and I didn't realize it? I've never had a 3-5 day easy period in my entire life. None of my bleeding has every been normal or consistent. I was to begin taking birth control pills when my period started, and he said I would actually bleed. My doctor says the spotting was not a period, yet was not overly impressed that I hadn't starting taking the pills. Now I have 5 days of medroxyprogesterone to take. Once the 5 days are up, I am to have a period within 5-10 days. If not, I am to call my doctor. Everything I read says a withdraw bleed may occur, but that is not a period. Once I see any amount of vaginal blood, I plan to begin the BC pill. Does that count as a period anyway for this purpose?
Brief Answer:
Yes it does count as period
Detailed Answer:
Hello mam,
Thanks for posting in HCM.
As per the description you mentioned you are going to take medroxyprogesterone tablets for 5 days and then stop. What you are doing here is what normally body does.
Naturally few days before periods starts the progesterone levels in body dip thus causing shedding of the uterine walls and causes period to occur. This exact mechanism we mimic by using external progesterone which we give for 5-7 days then stop it and then period occurs after 3 to 5 days.
And then as soon as you get your period ( which is same as withdrawal bleed) you can start with your birth control pills.
I hope i have answered your question well.
If you have any query kindly revert back with me will be happy to answer.
Thank you
Yes it does count as period
Detailed Answer:
Hello mam,
Thanks for posting in HCM.
As per the description you mentioned you are going to take medroxyprogesterone tablets for 5 days and then stop. What you are doing here is what normally body does.
Naturally few days before periods starts the progesterone levels in body dip thus causing shedding of the uterine walls and causes period to occur. This exact mechanism we mimic by using external progesterone which we give for 5-7 days then stop it and then period occurs after 3 to 5 days.
And then as soon as you get your period ( which is same as withdrawal bleed) you can start with your birth control pills.
I hope i have answered your question well.
If you have any query kindly revert back with me will be happy to answer.
Thank you
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
I have take 3 pills so far, one per day, and have not really noticed any difference in stopping the spotting. What am I to do if I am still spotting once I finish the last 2 medroxyprogesterone pills? Should I go back to the doctor or can I start the BC pill then?
Brief Answer:
wait for 2-3 days after finishing progesterone meds
Detailed Answer:
Hello, Thanks for following up. Sorry for delayed reply.
Right now we are keeping your progesterone levels high for 5 days by giving you medroxyprogesterone and we are going to stop it after 2 more days.
After stopping, in about 2 to 3 days you should have proper period with moderate flow like your other normal periods.
If you continue to have spotting then also, then you might have to consult your gynecologist to find out if there is some other reason for this spotting.
95% females revert back to usual periods with this regimen.
There should be a gap of sometime when the levels of progesterone will be low causing the uterine wall to slough off and cause period. If you immediately start the BC pills, there is no dip in progesterone and you wont bleed properly because the hormone level will be still more than what is required to cause period.
So as of now, take your 2 tablets then wait for 2 to 3 days more and if you still do not get your period then you consult your gynecologist before starting the BC pills.
I hope i have answered you satisfactorily. If you have any more query kindly write back to me will be happy to answer them.
Thank you
wait for 2-3 days after finishing progesterone meds
Detailed Answer:
Hello, Thanks for following up. Sorry for delayed reply.
Right now we are keeping your progesterone levels high for 5 days by giving you medroxyprogesterone and we are going to stop it after 2 more days.
After stopping, in about 2 to 3 days you should have proper period with moderate flow like your other normal periods.
If you continue to have spotting then also, then you might have to consult your gynecologist to find out if there is some other reason for this spotting.
95% females revert back to usual periods with this regimen.
There should be a gap of sometime when the levels of progesterone will be low causing the uterine wall to slough off and cause period. If you immediately start the BC pills, there is no dip in progesterone and you wont bleed properly because the hormone level will be still more than what is required to cause period.
So as of now, take your 2 tablets then wait for 2 to 3 days more and if you still do not get your period then you consult your gynecologist before starting the BC pills.
I hope i have answered you satisfactorily. If you have any more query kindly write back to me will be happy to answer them.
Thank you
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
My 5 days of progesterone are done as of last night's pill. I have continued to spot all 5 days while taking the medication. The last 2 days it appeared to diminish significantly but I have still spotted some today. Is this normal? Should I see the doctor tomorrow for more progesterone to completely stop any more spotting? or simply wait a few more days until the spotting turns to more serious bleeding to occur and then start the birth control pill?
Brief Answer:
Yes advisable to consult your doctor
Detailed Answer:
Hello, thanks for following up.
Usually with 5 days of medroxyprogesterone the bleeding ceases and then we give a break for few days to get a proper period with good flow. After which we restart the BC pills.
But as you said that your spotting significantly had decreased last 2 days, the effect which was desired was happening. But it might be not enough and you might need a few more days of pills so i feel it will be advisable to see your doctor whether to take for few more days and wait for total stoppage of spotting.
But do not start your BC pills before you have a proper period. That will again disrupt the cycle.
So ask your doctor whether few more days of medroxyprogesterone can be taken so as to have a proper period after stopping it and then only start your BC pills.
Hope it helps.
Revert me back with what your doctor advised.
Thank you
Yes advisable to consult your doctor
Detailed Answer:
Hello, thanks for following up.
Usually with 5 days of medroxyprogesterone the bleeding ceases and then we give a break for few days to get a proper period with good flow. After which we restart the BC pills.
But as you said that your spotting significantly had decreased last 2 days, the effect which was desired was happening. But it might be not enough and you might need a few more days of pills so i feel it will be advisable to see your doctor whether to take for few more days and wait for total stoppage of spotting.
But do not start your BC pills before you have a proper period. That will again disrupt the cycle.
So ask your doctor whether few more days of medroxyprogesterone can be taken so as to have a proper period after stopping it and then only start your BC pills.
Hope it helps.
Revert me back with what your doctor advised.
Thank you
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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