Progesterone

ashley2824

Hi everyone! 

Just wondering if anyone else was put on progesterone "supplement" for low progesterone levels. My dr started me on Crinone tonight. I had to take it for my 2nd PG that ended in a loss so now I'm stressing out! I didn't need it with my first PG, but I was at a different Dr and I didn't really have any issues so I wasn't monitored closely.  

Has anyone else started it? 

JordanL1221

Do you know what your number is?

with my first son, I was at a 10.5 and took it twice a day. With my second son, it was 13 after fertility treatments and so I was on it then as well. Carried both until 39+2!

i totally understand though, my first was a loss with low P.

ashley2824

No she didn't say what the number was, just that it was low. I was in shock so I didn't think to ask. Thanks for the encouragement though, good to know you had 2 successful pregnancies while on it. 

Breath_Easy92

I'm on it, Tuesday I went to the OB and told her I felt like something wasn't right. I've not been pregnant before but I guess she trusted my intuition and she drew blood. HCG was great but my progesterone was 12.6 she said that it's not terribly low and some doctors don't even put you on supplement unless your 10 or under but she have me 200mg progesterone oral to be safe. She said she wasn't too concerned though because it's early and she expects it to come up easily.

HollyGolightly09

This is probably a dumb question, but is progesterone one of the things they automatically check with the initial blood workup? Or, is it only done if requested/suspected to be a problem? 

Sugargirl1019

HollyGolightly09 said:

This is probably a dumb question, but is progesterone one of the things they automatically check with the initial blood workup? Or, is it only done if requested/suspected to be a problem? 

It's typically only drawn if you're under the care of an RE or if you have a history of loss. OB's won't draw a progesterone level with your hcg unless there's a reason to.

stephann85

Just a tip with the vaginal progesterone supplements... panty liners will be your best friend and hopefully save your underwear and invest in some wet wipes. My first time using the suppositories I had no idea what to expect and totally ruined some undies. I like the Always Infinity pads, they seem to have the best coverage without making you feel like you are wearing a diaper and Cottenelle Fresh Care Wipes (granted I think any wet wipes would do). Hope this is helpful.

Breath_Easy92

Mine are oral? Is there a difference 

stephann85

@Breath_Easy92 I was given the choice or oral or vaginal. I was told that there may be more side effects with oral but on the other side they are much cheaper and often covered by insurance. I pay out of pocket for the suppositories. I get really nauseous with pills so I thought it would be worth the extra money to bypass the stomach.

ashley2824

@HollyGolightly09 it's not in the normal work up. I was tested for It during my 2nd PG because I was spotting a lot. I ended up losing the baby because he was sick (T13 and holoprocensaphaly) so they said the low prog could have been from the baby being sick. So this PG, they wanted to monitor me more closely which is why I got bloodwork done already and my HCG and prog was checked. 

ashley2824

@stephann85 thanks for the tip! I was actually on it before so I prepare and made sure I started wearing pants liners. But I did the same thing the first time around, didn't realize how messy lol

ashley2824

@Breath_Easy92 my Dr said she only prescribes the vaginal suppositories. They found them to be more effective than oral. The major downside is the price, it was $360 for a month supply. 

HollyGolightly09

@ashley2824 @Sugargirl1019 thanks! I was wondering if it would have been checked with my last pregnancy because a couple of weeks before I miscarried all the blood work they had done was good. But, since not I decided to request it be tested this time.... headed there now!

SuperKristy85

@stephann85  yes!!! They should warn you about that. I took mine at night and ruined a set of sheets  


*TW*
I took progesterone orally with my last pregnancy but It was most likely too late to help when we found out my levels were so low and it ended in a missed mc. I moved from my obgyn to an RE and this pregnancy he has had me on it vaginally twice a day since the day after ovulation. My last level was 23. 

Sugargirl1019

Mine was 13.1, and my doctor doesn't want to start supplements despite 2 back to back  losses. How do REs typically feel?

juliebeannn

My progesterone was drawn with each of my betas. They were 23, 15, 16 and 19. They aren't worried and when I asked about supplementation they said they only supplement if below 12. These guys are considered the best in my state so despite my worry, I'm trusting them.

SuperKristy85

@Sugargirl1019 all Dr's are diff but with a previous pregnancy my obgyn put me on progesterone with my level at 12.5. My current RE has had me on it from the day after I ovulated (before we even knew I was pregnant yet). And even with taking 400mg a day my level is still only 23 

sableeg

I'm so interested in this thread!  I have lab work scheduled tomorrow (Monday) and they said they would be checking my progesterone levels which I didn't have done in my first pregnancy.

*TW* I'm guessing based on what I'm reading here is that they are checking because I had severe early onset preeclampsia last time and my daughter was stillborn. *TW ENDED* 

I will take anything and do anything to make sure this pregnancy is healthy, but I'm concerned because I have Factor V Leiden (heterozygous) and will be on Lovenox once I pick up the prescription today for the duration.  Doesn't progesterone cause blood clots?  I know I can't be on most birth control because of the Factor V.  Is that because of the progesterone or the estrogen?

Anyone in the same boat?

SuperKristy85

@sableeg I don't know the answers to your questions but I am so sorry to hear about your daughter. I can't even imagine how hard that was and what you're going through now. 

sableeg

Thank you @SuperKristy85! I appreciate that

ashley2824

@sableeg I'm so sorry for your loss. I know they say a loss is a loss, but I cannot imagine going through that. And sorry I can't help with your questions. I've never heard progesterone causes blood clots, but I never did a lot of research on it. They told me it could help from miscarrying so I just did it. I almost didn't want to hear the bad side effects bc I wanted it to work so bad.

sableeg

Thank you @ashley2824! I get my levels checked tomorrow and if I need it I'm definitely going to be asking those questions! 

JP927

I am on daily progesterone injections until about 12 weeks of pregnancy but that's because the pregnancy was conceived with IVF. So far my levels have been over 25 (last one 33) so looks like they're working!

@sableeg - sorry for your previous loss. I have heard of estrogen increasing the risk for blood clots, but not progesterone. Definitely sounds like a good idea to double-check with your doctor though!

sableeg

Thank you @JP927!

Texafornian

SuperKristy85 said:

@Sugargirl1019 all Dr's are diff but with a previous pregnancy my obgyn put me on progesterone with my level at 12.5. My current RE has had me on it from the day after I ovulated (before we even knew I was pregnant yet). And even with taking 400mg a day my level is still only 23 

Yeah my level was 13.2 but they're putting me on it anyway to get me to at least 15. I think it's due to my age and a previous loss last year though...

LaceyC1020

My progesterone level at 4+5 was 17.8. I'm switching from Crinone back to progesterone injections. Crinone is super gross and it can cause a lot of irritation and bleeding. I've heard that the progesterone injections are the gold standard and they really don't hurt if you ice the injection site first! I've had issues with my progesterone levels in the past, so I hope that was a good number!!! They only talked about HCG when they called. It went from 246 to 896 in 2 days 

ashley2824

@LaceyC1020 crinone is so gross, now that I've been on it almost a week, it's getting worse.  that's awesome your numbers went up to much!!!

Texafornian

Ok...I know it should've been obvious as the pill is reddy brown but I wish my doc had mentioned that the discharge is ALSO reddy brown like blood! Such a cruel joke!!! Thankfully wore a pad to bed but man...was NOT prepared to see my toilet paper this morning. Grrr.

stephy_p

My OB sent me for an HCG and Progesterone test the day after I go at my first BFP at home. I was barely pregnant at that point. My HCG was at 36 and my progesterone was at 12. She put me on progesterone suppositories I have to keep using until 10 weeks. Blah. A follow up test a few days after the first one showed my progesterone was up to 20.4 and HCG was 722. I kind of wonder if I really need the supplements, but I guess I'd rather be safe than sorry.

mc123mc

I am amazed some of you got into see your OB's so early on. Mine wanted me to wait until 8 weeks but since I had a loss and then was on progesterone throughout my second pregnancy I insisted on earlier. They gave me an appt when I'll be 6 wks. 

Because of the loss and low progesterone last time I am super anxious. I will say that both of those pregnancies were IVF pregnancies and this one was happened naturally (happy accident I guess) so I don't know if that matters. 

Now I am second guessing myself and wondering if I should have pushed to come in earlier? I really struggled emotionally with the first miscarriage and I would never want to go through it again. If I can avoid it by getting on progesterone earlier, I'd like to. 

ashley2824

@stephy_p I think for my 2nd PG mine was around 12 and they put me on it. Better safe than sorry I guess!

@mc123mc I would've pushed to come in earlier too. After my loss with my 2nd PG, I asked if they will monitor more closely for my future PG and they said absolutely. Mine may have been a special situation since my son had chromosomal abnormalities- we saw a genetic counselor and all but they didn't seem to mind. 

Texafornian

@stephy_p how far along were you when you got your BFP and went in to the doc. I got mine on dpo12 (nothing prior) then saw my OB on DPO 15. I go back Thursday to see if my 99 HCG doubled...

@mc123mc I'd give them a call and push to come in if it'll make you feel better. Tell them you want a blood draw to check your progesterone for peace of mine as you've had a loss. I pushed as I feared they'd tell me to come in at 8wks like last time!

HollyGolightly09

@mc123mc  I started feeling anxious about not having blood drawn sooner than my first appt (scheduled for 6+5) I just called my office and talked to the nurse and told her my concerns... that after a previous loss I really wanted to at least have my progesterone checked. She was great about it, and even though my Dr was gone for the day she asked a different dr to approve the lab work. 
Point being... if you are concerned, just call and request it. 

SuperKristy85

@Texafornian yes!!! I didn't know and I didn't wear a pad :-(

@mc123mc I think 8 weeks is pretty normal if you don't have any concerns but I would understand having previous losses wanting to go sooner. Did you tell them your previous history, that might help. With your first 2 being ivf you're also prob used to the awesome treatment we get from the RE! Obgyns don't see you as much  

eahayes

Requested mine to be tested because I have 2 prior losses-- it was 14.4 and my doctor put me on suppositories (200 mg) twice a day. No side effects yet, even though I've heard many can spot on it.

Texafornian

So weird how vastly diff docs are with it! @eahayes my level was 13.2 but I'm only on the 200mg once a day!

stephy_p

@Texafornian My first lab was done at 11 dpo, then my second was done at 16 or 17 Dpo. 

ashley2824

I had an appt last night and asked the nurse what my progesterone was, she said 9.9, which worries me. I mean I know I'm on the crinone, but still. It's much lower than my 2nd PG (which was 12 something). I have my 2nd blood draw today and she said they prob won't get the results until Monday and theylll call. 

MySallyGirl

I have had to be on progesterone supplements for all of my pregnancies.  I've taken oral supplements, specifically prometrium, each time with weekly blood draws to test my levels.  It made me really nervous, but my doctor said I would've likely miscarried without it.  I am on oral supplements again with this new pregnancy and waiting to hear what yesterday's blood draw indicates.  I can understand your concerns.  My doctor said this go-round she might have me take it vaginally.  Even though I've heard that's messy, I would go for that over the injections just because the idea of injections freaks me out!

daisy62103

I'm on progesterone supps as part of my RE's protocol. I'm using ones that look like this--

They're gigantic waxy bullets and come with no applicator, so I shove them up as far as I can. Problem is they slide right out! It goes a little better at night when I get into bed as fast as I can, but sometimes I'm at the sink washing my hands and it slides out. I even try turning it after I get it in to keep it from sliding out, but that usually doesn't help. Anyone else have this problem and/or have any tips? So. Gross.

stephy_p

@daisy621 arrrrgg! Yes! I feel your pain! Mine look very similar to this and I don't have an applicator either. One thing that helps me is to squat down when putting it in. It helps you get it further in....sorry if that's TMI! I also try to lay down after putting it in for about 15 minutes or so. Obviously that's easier to do at night rather than the morning, but I try. I have to wonder how much of this stuff I'm actually absorbing considering so much of it comes back out. Ick!