Periods after Depo-Provera
I had my last Depo-Provera injection four months ago and have not had a period since. As I am thinking about conceiving now, should I wait until my periods start again?
There can, occasionally, be some delay in the return of fertility - even if you do experience the occasional menstrual loss. The last injection has a significant anti-fertility effect for about 15 weeks - the average delay being about five to six months. (Underweight women regain their fertility faster.)
In some women who have used the injection, secondary amenorrhoea - which means no periods at all - does persist, and has to be treated by the doctor in order to stimulate ovulation.
I would suspect that your menstrual cycle has not yet established itself - but remember, when your first ovulation occurs, you will only then get a substantial loss at period time if the egg does not become fertilised.
There is no reason to wait for your first period - which, if it comes will mean that any released egg was not fertilised. The only advantage in waiting is that you know that your cycles have become re-established.
My advice would be that if you do start your menses and there are only very scanty losses for anything more than the next few months - you will need to ask your doctor's advice with regard to further stimulating treatments to restore ovulation.
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