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Secondary IF
tryingyetagain
member
Progesterone questions
tryingyetagain
member
in Secondary IF
I battled with my RE on the phone yesterday after asking him if he could prescribe progesterone to keep me from shedding my lining early each month (I spotted for 11 days this cycle before AF arrived). He is NOT a believer in progesterone. So now I have some questions, and am hoping some of you can help.
My RE said progesterone "absolutely" will not help me with implantation, and he said there are no medical studies to prove otherwise. I find this hard to believe, since so many women are prescribed progesterone by their doctors to help with lining issues/low progesterone/implantation/maintaining pregnancy. For those of you who were prescribed progesterone, did you have to convince your doctor, or were they already believers of progesterone supplementation?
Also, he said suppositories were "disgusting" (his words), and he didn't want to prescribe them. He said he would be willing to prescribe progesterone that is placed inside with an applicator. Anyone have info on these two forms, and which might actually be more effective (messiness aside)?
Thanks for any info you can provide.
Me: 42. DH: 46.
1st Pregnancy: MC, 11/19/00.
2nd Pregnancy: DS born 04/10/06.
3rd Pregnancy: CP, 03/11.
4th Pregnancy: MMC, D&C 11/30/11, Genetic testing revealed Trisomy 4.
5th Pregnancy: Ectopic, 2 doses of Methotrexate unsuccessful, surgery 4/10/12, right tube removed.
Tried Letrozole January 2013-July 2013 (including 2 IUIs), all BFN. After 2 1/2 years of trying for child #2, decided to "give up" after July cycle, based on AMA.
August 16, 2013: BFP our first month of "not trying!" Still in shock. Beta #1 (14dpo): 183. Beta #2 (17dpo): 611. Ultrasound 8/30/13: baby measured 6 weeks, 1 day, heart rate of 118 bpm!
Ultrasound 9/13/13: 8 weeks, heart rate of 176!
Baby is due 4/26/14
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Progesterone questions
Hmm....This is my experience with Progesterone. I know everybody is different but....My first pregnancy, I began bleeding at around 9 weeks. I went to the RE who immediately prescribed Crinone (vaginal cream from an applicator) once a day. From that point on, my lining maintained and I sustained the pregnancy. With this IUI, I was told to again start the Crinone the day after the IUI. It mimics pregnancy symptoms (headaches, crampy, exhaustion etc.) so, typical pregnancy symptoms aren't predicting a pregnancy. However, I know quite a few IF people that have taken the same thing and nobody seems to have an issue carrying a pregnancy to term or thereabouts. Crinone is easy to put in, almost like a tampon and the only nasty part is the residual comes cottage cheese like.
Hope that helps!
I think Progesterone helps with the lining. I had vaginal applicators with IVF and now I have shots in my muscle with FET. I have not had any bleeding while on it. I have a lot less side effects with the shots.
Best of luck
Anyway, I'm fairly certain my RE prescribes progesterone with IUI or IVF as a standard thing. As far as I understand it can help maintain lining making it more implantation friendly. I do know that oral supplements are absorbed less, and for me made me feel intoxicated for 20min after I took them.
I'm sorry you had to fight for it...
When I first met with my RE, I told her that DH and I would be more comfortable trying to conceive naturally for a bit longer but we suspected late ovulation/LPD played a small part in our struggle. She said she would prescribe me Endometrin to take from 3 DPO until 14DPO when I would have to test. BFN = stop progesterone and wait for AF; BFP = continue with progesterone and await beta testing.
In those 6 months, I didn't get pregnant, but I certainly don't think the extra progesterone prevents pregnancy. It could only help. I agree with pp about symptoms. My RE warned me that I would "feel" pregnant... sore breasts, moodiness, headaches, and no period, so she said psychologically it can be very difficult since I may expect bfp.
RE requires progesterone supplementation during IUI and IVF procedures regardless. It may not guarantee a pregnancy, but it will certainly help it along if I did conceive.
Progesterone isn't awful. I mean, I don't look forward to using it, mainly because it feels like a period gushing (sorry, TMI), but I found that only happened when my time to insert another tablet was approaching. It wasn't the entire time. I found myself running to the bathroom a lot to make sure it isn't AF. I went out and bought some new undies and use old ones during the TWW. Not really sexy. Haha.
Good luck!!
TTC #1 4/2009 - DD 2/5/10
TTC #2 since October 2011
2IF issues
This is all really helpful. Thank you, ladies.
Yes, my RE is definitely opinionated. And I think he seems kind of jaded, and not open to ideas other than his own. It does sound like there are a lot of doctors out there who regularly use progesterone, so I'm not sure why he is so opposed to it. Maybe it's an HMO thing.
Me: 42. DH: 46.
1st Pregnancy: MC, 11/19/00.
2nd Pregnancy: DS born 04/10/06.
3rd Pregnancy: CP, 03/11.
4th Pregnancy: MMC, D&C 11/30/11, Genetic testing revealed Trisomy 4.
5th Pregnancy: Ectopic, 2 doses of Methotrexate unsuccessful, surgery 4/10/12, right tube removed.
Tried Letrozole January 2013-July 2013 (including 2 IUIs), all BFN. After 2 1/2 years of trying for child #2, decided to "give up" after July cycle, based on AMA.
August 16, 2013: BFP our first month of "not trying!" Still in shock. Beta #1 (14dpo): 183. Beta #2 (17dpo): 611. Ultrasound 8/30/13: baby measured 6 weeks, 1 day, heart rate of 118 bpm!
Ultrasound 9/13/13: 8 weeks, heart rate of 176!
Baby is due 4/26/14
Lurking...
My RE prescribed because spot for a about a week before AF. Although my test showed my progesterone was normal my Dr thought my lining wasn't stable, which happens as you age. Im 39. I started doing the suppositories, spotting went away.
If I were you Id say I want to try it. The suppositories are not that bad. yes your discharge is a little yucky but I didn't notice any other issues.
He said he would prescribe it (to humor me), so I will start it after the IUI. I hope it makes the difference.
Thanks for the info!
Me: 42. DH: 46.
1st Pregnancy: MC, 11/19/00.
2nd Pregnancy: DS born 04/10/06.
3rd Pregnancy: CP, 03/11.
4th Pregnancy: MMC, D&C 11/30/11, Genetic testing revealed Trisomy 4.
5th Pregnancy: Ectopic, 2 doses of Methotrexate unsuccessful, surgery 4/10/12, right tube removed.
Tried Letrozole January 2013-July 2013 (including 2 IUIs), all BFN. After 2 1/2 years of trying for child #2, decided to "give up" after July cycle, based on AMA.
August 16, 2013: BFP our first month of "not trying!" Still in shock. Beta #1 (14dpo): 183. Beta #2 (17dpo): 611. Ultrasound 8/30/13: baby measured 6 weeks, 1 day, heart rate of 118 bpm!
Ultrasound 9/13/13: 8 weeks, heart rate of 176!
Baby is due 4/26/14