Ask Dr. Greenfield Lack of Periods after Getting Off Depo-Provera
QUESTION
Dear Dr. Greenfield, I have been off Depo-Provera since Jan.12, 2001 and I still have not started my period. My breasts are real sore and my nipples are swollen. I have taken two pregnancy tests and they both came back negative.
— Tasha in Versailles
ANSWER
May 23, 2001
Dear Tasha, While Depo-Provera can be a great contraceptive, the medication can take as much as a year (in other words until January of 2002) to get out of your system. During this time, many women don't have regular periods, which can be frustrating especially if you want to conceive.
Pregnancy tests are very accurate, and by the time a woman is having any symptoms of pregnancy (like breast tenderness) the test would be positive if she were pregnant. Your breast tenderness may be a sign that your own hormones are coming back and that you will start to cycle again soon.
If you do not get a period in another few weeks and you are not pregnant, see a doctor to discuss your options. For those who do not want to get pregnant, it is often helpful to take birth control pills for a few months to regulate your cycles and so that you do not have to wonder every month if you are pregnant.
Also remember that if you are trying to get pregnant (or are not using a method of birth control), you should make sure you are getting plenty of folic acid to protect the baby from certain birth defects.
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