Progesterone Supplements - anyone used these?

[missartymiss]

Hi everyone

I am new and after nearly 12 mths trying, lots of tests and 4 cycles of Progesterone supplements I decided to register and find some support on line...

As I mentioned above, have been taking Progesterone supplements in the form of a troche for 4 cycles, with the most recent cycle the 1st possible one where we could have fallen pregnant - no such luck

Just wondering if anyone else has taken the supplements at any stage pre conception and what your experience was? other than the low progesterone we supposedly have no other issues preventing us from being blessed with a family...

I would appreciate any stories anyone has to share

Thanks

[LittleMissyMoo]

Welcome :D

I'm not sure what progesterone suppliments are for but I'm very interested. Can you fill me in?

[ringneck]

if you can find mummytomason (haylie) on here somewhere she should be able to help you out i am pretty sure she fell pregnant while using progesterone

[cmd'smum]

do you mean progesterone pessaries? I took them after O to help with prog levels in order to make sure there is nice thick lining for implantation.

[missartymiss]

Hi ladies

thanks for your replies - and sorry for the delay in responding

from what I understand from my Dr and the various stuff I have read online (mainly US / UK) they are to increase the Progesterone levels and yes - to make a nice comfy lining ready for implantatition

I have not managed to find anyone who has ever taken Progesterone at all, either in the form I have (dissolves in the mouth), or pessaries so I was just wondering if anyone else had experienced using it in any form?

I'm back to the Dr end of next week so will ask more and post more info if I can find any

Have a fab day everyone....

[KatiesMum]

Progesterone supplements prescribed in Aus are usually either a pessary (kind of like a tampon) or a gel ....

They are used mainly in IVF - but can be used by women who have a short luteal phase or simply have low progesterone levels after ovulation. These are almost always used in conjuntion with other ovulation drugs and monitored by a Fertility Specialist.

I know that in IVF, prog supplements are often taken until 13 weeks pregnancy. I am not sure when used for luteal phase issues if you continue taking it - but as Ringneck said above - MummytoMason will be able to answer that as she did take progesterone - and fell pregnant the first cycle of taking it.

Have you been prescribed clomid?

Good luck - and welcome to bubhub. You will find an amazing group of women offering enormous amounts of support and information ...

:hugs:

[cmd'smum]

Progesterone supplements prescribed in Aus are usually either a pessary (kind of like a tampon) or a gel ....

They are used mainly in IVF - but can be used by women who have a short luteal phase or simply have low progesterone levels after ovulation. These are almost always used in conjuntion with other ovulation drugs and monitored by a Fertility Specialist.

I know that in IVF, prog supplements are often taken until 13 weeks pregnancy. I am not sure when used for luteal phase issues if you continue taking it - but as Ringneck said above - MummytoMason will be able to answer that as she did take progesterone - and fell pregnant the first cycle of taking it.

Have you been prescribed clomid?

Good luck - and welcome to bubhub. You will find an amazing group of women offering enormous amounts of support and information ...

:hugs:

Yep, she is right!

I took progesterone supplements in gel form which needed to be inserted either rectully (sp?:laughing:) or vaginally. I was prescribed them after O was confirmed by a BT as I had taken clomid and pregnyl to help me O. They say that because O is brought/forced upon your body, after you stop these medications your body might not be able to sufficiently produce natural progesterone levels on its own IYKWIM? They wean you off them when you are 12 weeks pg when you prog levels drop anyway and the placenta takes over the function of maintaining the pg (from what I remember :o)

HTH

[missartymiss]

Thanks ladies for the info and welcoming support

I am not at the point of IVF just yet and have had this prescribed by a 'hormone specialist' in what he calls his fertility treatment plan...

Sounds like what I'm experiencing is a little different to some of your experiences

We have had all the basic tests and everything came back 'normal' with the execption of my progesterone level which was only a little low, but I have had a short luteal phase and a few incidents where I have had a definite implantation bleed and then ended up with a period - so therefore there is issues with the implanting

I have alot of questions to ask my Dr this week and will post some more info when I have it

Thanks again :wave:

[cmd'smum]

All the best!:babydust2::babydust2:

Just wondering, howdo you go about finding a "Hormone Specialist"?:D

ETA: Progesterone pessaries arn't just for IVF patients

[kezzaskids]

I used a progesterone cream and fell pregnant on my 3rd cycle. I had to keep using it for the first 12 weeks and then could taper off. I wasnt on IVF pr anything I just had a low progesterone level. I think a few mums due in nov have used it.

[missartymiss]

thanks ladies

I found my hormone specialist thanks to my Mum and her menopause and also my chiropractor! I have always had a terrible time with periods but constantly told it wasn't endo or anything to worry about... anyway Mum was seeing this Dr for her menopause and taking hormones to help manage all her symptoms and it was working a treat. When at the clinic she saw some younger women there and after a bit of discreet investigation found out he also assisted with general hormonal problems for men and women including assiting with fertility

I initially went to him for some help with regulating my cycles and to feel better (PMS was also horrendous and worse since coming off the pill) and then with the hope that we could end up with a +ve pregnancy and little one eventually

In the process of making an appt to see him earlier this year my chiro (who knows we are ttc) asked if I had considered seeing anyone to help balance everything (with our 'tests' all normal we weren't encouraged to look to IVF yet). Anyway he also recommended the same Dr so I figured it was a sign

The first 3 mths I had to take the progesterone every day and was advised that we would be wasting our time ttc as taking it constantly pre conception it would act like a contraception. The 4th cycle I had to take it days 12 - 26 and then see what happened

When we do get a BFP I will need to take the progesterone daily for 12 weeks... sounds similar to other experiences

I got my period on day 28 so now it's time to start the cycle again and ask alot more questions...

Will keep you all posted... and BTW he is in Perth if anyone is interested I am happy to send on his details :thumbsup:

Also... I am 36 and hubby 35 and have no other kids or ever been pregnant so.... :fingerscrossed: our time will come soon

[kezzaskids]

I also am in perth...as you can tell.....and my chiro was also my progesterone suggestor (?) I used a cream called gestone, the only difference was I used it all cycle and it obviously didnt work as contraception in my case. Make the most of your fertile days and go for it and hopefully you will get your BFP very soon.

[missartymiss]

thanks kezzaskids.....

it's just a matter of hanging in there and staying positive on this little ride

[mumwannabe]

:yes:I think i go to this specialist too, Dr W?

Anyway, I have PCOS and have been on the progesterone troche since Feb, this month was our first to TTC but we were both too sick and in the process of buying a house so might have to go on hold for a bit.

I really am interested to see if you get your BFP soon, I was a bit worried that we have to start the progesterone on day 12, I thought we should start after ovulation but he assures me many have got there BFP using his method so I am very curious to know if it works.

Good luck, if you ever wanna chat about it feel free to PM me. :yes:

[cmd'smum]

missartymiss, goodluck :fingerscrossed: you'll get that :bfp: in no time!!!

I'm in Perth too and was actually looking for a good Dr to go to for my PCOS.

Can you please pm me his details? Do you need a referral from a GP and how long do you need to wait to see him?

ta:wave:

[missartymiss]

Hi again ladies... apologies for taking a few days to update / reply... just been busy and can't access this site from work

Anyway all went well at my appt - recommendation was to complete 3 full cycles taking the Progesterone day 12-26 and if nothing has happened at that stage head back to Dr and take it from there... although I get the impression that everyone at the clinic doesn't think this will be the case

Yes mumwannabee - it is Dr W and cmd'smun - I will send on details as requested

Thanks again for your support ladies...

Will update as I have any more to tell and best of luck to you all too... :wave:

[Mummy to Mason]

I have replied to your PM :) I replied not knowing you were already on progesterone so sorry if I am giving you info you already know :o


We have had all the basic tests and everything came back 'normal' with the execption of my progesterone level which was only a little low, but I have had a short luteal phase and a few incidents where I have had a definite implantation bleed and then ended up with a period - so therefore there is issues with the implanting

This exact same thing was happening to me- I would have what I thought was an implantation bleed and I had ALL the right pregnancy symptoms but then my period would turn up a few days later. On one occasion I even got a faint BFP before my period arrived, indicating a very early miscarriage :(

Good luck, I truly hope you get your much deserved BFP very soon :hugs:

[dkangel2]

Hi there i am in NZ and just knew to the site. My progesterone level was .7and it should be 5.0 to 10.0. I am studing homeopathy and my teacher put me on this. The cream is about $60 for 2 tubs and you only use 3/4 teaspoon a day. She said it has helped alot of ladies get pregnant. I am also on a homeopathy plan so if anyone wants to try it i can send it to them. Will let you know how the ceam is going. thanks.

[mrmoosmum]

Hi there

I have a short luteal phase and have had a 2 m/c's this year, one of which barely showed on the HPT, so I suspect I have low progesterone. Do you need to see a doctor to get progesterone? Are there any forms that you can get at health food shops or the chemist?

[dkangel2]

I went to the hormonal clinic and she sent a letter to my doctor who had to write out a prescription. They can give you a thyroid test but ask for the t3 and t4 test that gives you a more positive test. This will check a true reading . Ask for prescription for the cream.
hope all goes well.

[mummytobeinnovember]

Hi missartymiss, what you’ve experienced sounds identical to the issues we’ve had as well.

I’ve been ‘pregnant’ five times in the last 12 months so thankfully we get pregnant easy enough, I develop symptoms and have positive hpt around 7-8 DPO and then inevitably get my period a day or two later.

I have only just started charting to find out if in fact I have a short luteal phase and turns out I do, between 9 and 10 days.

Not sure what to do now, have an appt with my FS in a couple of weeks.

Have you had any luck with the treatment your specialist prescribed?

Thanks

[dbdb]

Hi there,

I was really interested in this thread, as I went to my GP today but my concern is very light AF (2-3 days). I chart and have good temp rise and 13 day LP so the GP wasn't too worried and said to try for 3 more months, and then we would consider progesterone. I was worried that with light AF, my endometrium might not be fattening up!

Have any of you had light AFs before progesterone, or is more for short luteal phase?

Thanks!

:)

[missartymiss]

hi ladies

just realised there were these recent posts in the thread so thought I had better update you on what I am doing now

after taking the progesterone for 7 full cycles without any BFP, or real improvement in my luteal phase, and a couple of cycles in there where I dont think I actually ovulated DH & I made the decision to stop taking the progesterone - I know it works for alot of women but it just wasn't right for me

I also did a little bit more research re how they test for progesterone and discovered that progesterone, unlike alot of other hormones actually fluctuates during any given day, as well as throughout your cycle, making it very difficult to actually get a definitive test result to confirm it's low, etc

I did return to the specialist and generally wasn't happy with some of the alternate options he suggested - no need to go into that here

I am now into my 1st full cycle with no progesterone support and have been seeing a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner and am having regular accupuncture and taking herbs as prescribed by him - I have never felt better

so I wish you all the best with your journeys, but in the end this option wasn't the right solution for me

if you have any more questions please feel free to pm me and I'll get back to you

:wave: