talk to me about progesterone please!

bergs720

History:  I've had 1 successful pg after 5 IUI and super low progesterone. Now I am pg again and had super low prog.  I lived in CA for the beginning of both pregnancies and was seeing an RE.  For both pregnancies she started me on 200mg prog suppositories and that never raised my levels enough, so she put me on daily prog in oil shots.

I recently moved, to a small town in upstate NY and the doctor's don't seem to know anything about prog. in oil and I had to drive 1 and 1/2 hours away to even find a pharmacy that could fill my prescription. 

When I asked what they use instead here, they said they use suppositories, gels or a once a week (synthetic) progesterone shot.  I was under the impression that the prog in oil was more natural. They said that prog in oil was a dated practice.  They also admitted that they don't do many infertility cases and "outsource" them to a city 4 1/2 hours away!!!

What do you ladies know about the different types of prog??

 TIA!

naflmj

I have done Crinone which is a gel suppository for DS and for my last pg. I do plan to ask for PIO this time around and see what he says.

ladychicago

I have always been on PIO (prog in oil), and it has always worked wonderfully for me.   At our big city clinic, it is most definitely not a dated practice, and still used frequently with IVF protocols.  

If you have troubles finding it again, I would see if you can't get the prescription called into a specialty pharmacy (like Freedom Pharmacy or see if your insurance has a specialty pharmacy for infertility drugs, if you think it may be covered).   They can usually get drugs delivered to your door next day or within 2 days so you don't have to drive!

Good for you for fighting for what has worked for you in the past.   Good luck!

bergs720

That's what I thought, I came from a big city and can't imagine a reproductive endocrinologist who deals with cases like this DAILY would be using a "dated" practice.  I am worried about the inexperience in my new small town.  I just finished my wean, so this really isn't issue until (if/when) I get pg again.  It just worries me to trust in these doctors that aren't familiar with (what I thought) were popular practices.  ugh!

NiniJ55

The suppositories don't actually hit your bloodstream so it won't raise your levels when they do a blood draw to check.  My RE said that "you are putting them up there so we know you are getting enough".

On the other hand - that sucks that nobody out there knows about PIO -- weird.  Likely the pharmacy and ship or deliver them to you - many pharmacies offer this.