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About Provera Medication for Menopause

Menopause refers to a period of time in an adult woman's life where the menstrual cycle stops. This is generally considered to be the point at which a woman is incapable of becoming pregnant, thus signaling the end of her reproductive responsibility. Menopause will cause certain reactions to the lack of the hormones normally produced in the menstrual cycle, including progesterone and estrogen. Medical research has led to the development of a pharmaceutical derivative of progesterone called medroxyprogesterone, popularly known as Provera.

  1. Importance of Hormonal Balance

    • The balance of hormones in the female body is a critical issue, and any deviation from the regular production or presence of both progestin and estrogen can affect a woman's health in a variety of ways, whether she is fertile or not. This is why hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has become a common approach for the treatment of hormonal depletion during pregnancy as well as the symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes, mood swings and sleeping disorders.

    Use

    • The progestin hormones in a woman who is not menopausal regulate the function of the uterus lining (endometrium) in preparation for impregnation. The National Library of Medicine states that when menopause occurs, these hormones continue to be produced, which may lead to overgrowth of the uterus lining (endometrial hyperplasia) and abnormal bleeding. Hyperplasia in the uterus lining can lead to the growth of tumors, which may develop into malignant cancer growth. Provera is prescribed to treat these conditions in menopausal women.

    Problems

    • The problems that may occur from prescribing hormones depends on the combination of the types of hormones used and the length of prescribed use. According to the American Pregnancy Association, combining estrogen and progestin in HRT has the potential to cause less serious conditions, such as weight changes, hair loss, nausea, insomnia and jaundice. However, there are possible reactions of a more severe nature from taking these HRT combinations, such as heart disease, stroke, dementia and pulmonary embolism.

    Signs of Complications

    • According to the American Pregnancy Association, there are several possible signs of complications. These include major depression, severe abdominal pain, jaundice or prolonged, heavy vaginal bleeding. According to the UPMC, one study has shown that Provera is linked to slightly increasing the risk of breast cancer, especially in patients under the age of 35. Another study, also reported by the UPMC, has shown that there is no proven link between Provera and breast cancer. You should inspect your breast often to check for any new lumps that may form.

    Conclusions

    • The use of Provera to treat menopause can be a safe and reliable method under a physician's care. Any patient who is prescribed Provera should be aware of the possible side effects and things to look for that could be signs of a more serious issue.

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