17P vs. PIO injections?

Mama Angelina

My doc has prescribed progesterone injections to take weekly b/c of my IU.  I have read all about 17P helping to prevent PTL but haven't seen anything about straight up progesterone (like the one I took in first tri when I had low P).  Do any of you ladies know if progesterone in oil (PIO) injections are just as useful as 17P in preventing PTL?  How are they different?

one_more_girl

I was told by my doctor that the only acceptable form of Progesterone to prevent PTL was the injection.  However, another lady on here is using the suppositories to prevent PTL.  What are you concerns with having the shot? 

I was very leary about it, procrastinated starting and have some not so pleasant reactions, but I'm sticking it out with the help of Benedryl.  I think I'm a rare case though, I dont think that its super common to have issues with it.  I have been able to get by without Terb this pregnancy, am still on bed rest though. 

Mama Angelina

one_more_girl:

I was told by my doctor that the only acceptable form of Progesterone to prevent PTL was the injection.  However, another lady on here is using the suppositories to prevent PTL.  What are you concerns with having the shot? 

I was very leary about it, procrastinated starting and have some not so pleasant reactions, but I'm sticking it out with the help of Benedryl.  I think I'm a rare case though, I dont think that its super common to have issues with it.  I have been able to get by without Terb this pregnancy, am still on bed rest though. 

Both 17P and the PIO are injections, but I don't know what the difference between the formulas is.  I know they are both types of synthetic progesterone.  I don't have any concerns with taking the shots but I want to know that the PIO will work in the same way as 17P to prevent PTL (because I haven't read about regular PIO injections used in this way).  Are you taking  progesterone in oil or 17P? 
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schmoodle

I don't know the specifics, but my DH, who has a PhD in biochemistry and writes patents looked up the chemical compounds of each and confirmed that they're chemically different because I wondered the same thing. Especially since they look identical in the vials. He doesn't know what significance the difference has, just confirmed that there is an extra hydroxy group on the P17 (or something like that).

I've never read of PIO being used for preterm labor, just progesterone supplementation in early pregnancy. I was on PIO until 9 weeks but my OB never seemed to indicate I could have just continued those rather than starting the P17 shots.

Mama Angelina

schmoodle:

I don't know the specifics, but my DH, who has a PhD in biochemistry and writes patents looked up the chemical compounds of each and confirmed that they're chemically different because I wondered the same thing. Especially since they look identical in the vials. He doesn't know what significance the difference has, just confirmed that there is an extra hydroxy group on the P17 (or something like that).

I've never read of PIO being used for preterm labor, just progesterone supplementation in early pregnancy. I was on PIO until 9 weeks but my OB never seemed to indicate I could have just continued those rather than starting the P17 shots.

Ahh, I see.  Well then, I'll go ahead and use the 17P.  I just have to get it from the compounding pharmacy and I don't know if my insurance will cover it.  But whatever it takes!  Thanks Schmoodle.    

one_more_girl

I'm officially confused   Going to take that up with my doc at the next visit!  The reason is that I was told I was being put on 17P to begin with, but I know there is oil in my shot because I was told that could be the reason I was getting a rash.  So which am I on now, I have no clue!  But it is strictly for PTL so if its not the most effective I should find out!

schmoodle

one_more_girl:

I'm officially confused   Going to take that up with my doc at the next visit!  The reason is that I was told I was being put on 17P to begin with, but I know there is oil in my shot because I was told that could be the reason I was getting a rash.  So which am I on now, I have no clue!  But it is strictly for PTL so if its not the most effective I should find out!

Both P17 shots and the shots referred to as "PIO" (progesterone in oil) are in oil, and they look identical in the vials. So just because yours is in oil doesn't mean it's not P17 - if that's what your doctor prescribed for PTL I'm sure that's what you're on. It's a different chemical than PIO, which I think is just plain progesterone without the additional hydroxy group, and which is used in early pregnancy to maintain lining and the like.

one_more_girl

Thanks so much ladies for your patience!  Glad I am not in the dark on this one anymore