Progesterone

sprkls8506

So I've been here before but my phone broke and I just got around to downloading the app again. 

Had an appt with my RE and they are suggesting progesterone. All of my testing came back fine. I have mixed feelings about taking it. ( We have had 8 cycles of no success). Just wondering about other experiences with it.

Thanks!

leahcimmichael

@sprkls8506 Hey! Welcome back! Hope your stay here is short this time, and not just because your phone breaks. 
I have limited experience with progesterone. I had a NMC in Nov 2016 and since then had noticed spotting several days before AF. My OB started me on a 12 day course of Progesterone in June starting on day of O. I ended up having a CP that cycle. Can't say 100% if it was causation or coincidence, but after 6 cycles with no BFP, it felt like progress. I took 1 tab at bed and had very few side effects aside from fatigue. I'm not using it this cycle as we're going to be doing bloodwork and other testing. But once that is done I plan to resume using it monthly post-O. 
The research that I've done essentially says "it probably won't hurt and it might help." for me that makes it worth trying. 

vlagrl29

I have experience.  Don't take the oral pills - I had horrible effects from them.  If you go that route take the suppositories because they have very little or no side effects.  Did they test it  -  I would not take it if they didn't test it.  NO reason to.

 It created more stress for me because i had heard that if you take it at the wrong time before the egg releases that it can cause ovulation to not even happen so that is why they suggest tracking your O.  Then it caused me to spot a good week before AF and then I had to stop taking them because they delayed AF starting.  It was not worth it to me.  Got a 2nd opinion from my now OB and he said there literally is no reason to take them because my Prog is normal range.  He said the only reason to take it is if I"m pregnant and my Prog is low.

Bottom line - for me personally I don't need stress, anxiety and I don't want to track my cycles so I don't see the point of taking it.

sprkls8506

@leahcimmichael I've heard the same-can't hurt, might help! I'm honestly so tired of thinking about any of it. I noticed spotting before AF but that seems to have gone away the last 2 months. It took awhile for cycles to get back to normal. (MMC in Nov)

@vlagrl29 it would def not be oral. I haven't even decided if I will do it. Tired of all of it!

vlagrl29

Spotting before is no big deal . I spot 2 days prior and before the loss it was 5 days prior. 

Anything over a 3 indicates ovulation. Too high of prog is just as bad as too low that's why I'd test it before you take it if you decide to.

Mack2342

Prior to going to RE I asked OB about and she said there was no reason to take it.  I started seeing RE and got a BFP.  Blood work was done the day I took my HPT and my progesterone was low so RE prescribed vaginal progesterone which I took until MC at 8wks.  I had no side effects but will not take it again unless RE says it's low again that is if I ever get KU again 

BornReady

Lurking...

My RE actually felt like low progesterone was a symptom of another problem, not an actual problem in and of itself. The thinking is that it is a sign of weak ovulation, bad egg, non-viable pregnancy etc. Often progesterone suppositories can just delay a miscarriage that was going to happen anyways, as depressing as that is. 

I also wouldn't take progesterone unless you know exactly when you ovulate. I've only been prescribed progesterone suppositories when being monitored by my RE for ovulation (with a trigger shot). 

vlagrl29

I totally feel you on being tired of it all.  I feel I'm finally in a good spot mentally. I don't feel anything is wrong with me where before I was certain there was. If you ovulate you prob don't need it. I've had an ob and 2 nurses tell me Prog supplements will not help you get pregnant.

sprkls8506

My RE was not pushing it by any means. She just put it out there. She actually told me some studies have shown it to work but other studies say it has no impact. I'm going to try the better OPK. I do the strips now and sometimes they are difficult to read. Didn't even do them this month. I needed a break.