Progesterone pros and cons...

lisa89760 · September 2014

We talked to our doctor about progesterone supplements for this cycle. His answer was "I'm not against them, but you're numbers looked good when you were tested last so you don't need them. But if you want, you can do them" He mentioned how they could make me think I'm pregnant and cause some crazy dreams...and when my husband heard that he said "yea maybe you shouldn't take anything that's going to mess with your head anymore" I am leaning towards taking them, just because obviously IUI's without them haven't worked.

So what are the pros and cons to taking progesterone supplements? I've heard some RE's give them after all IUI's. How do they make you feel? We have another appointment on Saturday to discuss more and decide on when to trigger and what to do with the progesterone supplements.

ronniesgirl1981 · September 2014

My RE gives them to everyone. They really aren't that bad. Do you know what form you will get? They can be very messy, but I've never had problems with weird dreams.

MyFirstRaspberry · September 2014

Do you know what kind of progesterone you will be using? I've used both Crinone and progesterone pills (Prometrium ?) vaginally. However, I believe another options exists for taking them orally. Using them vaginally oftentimes leaves a messy discharge that can sometimes look yellowish. If you end up using them for an extended period of time, eventually you may experience some irritation.

I did not have any weird dreams or get overly emotional on either type of progesterone. I've heard the progesterone used vaginally is likely to stay closer to where it is needed and plays less mind games - but I am not a doctor and everyone's experience is different.

Pintobean39 · September 2014

The only issue I had was they were messy. I took endometrium vaginally. I've actually never been tested for low progesterone but I'm 40 and my RE says is more common for my age. He also told me for it to work correctly you need to start it right after ovulation not once you know it's low so he just makes me take it anyway.

lisa89760 · September 2014

That's all super helpful, thanks! No, he didn't say what type yet. When we go back in Saturday, I'm going to talk to him some more. I'm at the point where I feel like I need to do something else because what we are currently doing is not working. But I don't want to do the wrong thing either.

saritacw · September 2014

I just started, five days ago, taking 200mg morning at night vaginally. I am not enjoying them because it's messy and gross. But side effects have been minimal for me--the worst is sore boobs, but I think I've been a teensy bit more emotional (I cried for 30 seconds over a radio commercial that wasn't even that sweet) and I had one night if vivid dreams.

Definitely use panty liners. Don't try to get away without. You'll regret it.

loveinkw13 · September 2014

Ever since I started seeing my RE, he has put me on Crinone after Oing. The side effects are the same as early pregnancy signs... which can be a total mind eff. I get the side effects almost every cycle - sore boobs, nausea, cramping, headaches. I am not a fan but am hoping that one of these cycles it will do the trick and get us KU.

tweetyknicks · September 2014

I had a lot of side effects when taking 200mg of Prometrium orally every night. I got really sleepy, dizzy, strange and vivid dreams, restless sleep, somewhat more emotional (though you might be better off asking MH if it was only somewhat), and all the other ones that @loveinkw13 listed.

For my upcoming IVF my new RE is having me take PIO shots. I hope those are better, or at least not worse.

eli845 · September 2014

For both IUIs, I took crinone vaginally starting 2 days after the procedure. The only side effect that I had was higher (more promising-looking) temps. Other than that, it's just messy and gross.

BunnyBerry · September 2014

Our RE does not have me take progesterone. My previous (and first) medicated cycle, the luteal phase was 14 with only one day of spotting so I guess being medicated fixed my early spotting. I saw that your progesterone when tested was 15? That's supposed to be in the healthy range, but it's not very high, so maybe that's why he gave you the option?

ashtownyeah · September 2014

I had to use them last cycle. Like PPs have said, they're messy. I didn't want to have sex while I was on them, which was like 3 weeks! My poor hubby. Also, I had the worst period ever. I was told its because your lining is thickened from the meds and can make it more painful. I didn't have any ogre symptoms, though.

Tiko99 · September 2014

I did not take progesterone during my first clomid/IUI cycle and ended up with a BFN. My progersterone number at 7DPO was 13 so I asked to supplement my next cycle. So I took 400 MG of progesterone twice a day through the vag. My numbers during this cycle were 43, so I had a strong ovulation, but still ended up with a BFN. I did have a lot of bloating and when I went off the progesterone because my period came I was a complete HOT, MANIC mess. I mean seriously manic running around the house cleaning everything with a toothbrush and thinking the government was after me. This "episode" passed the next day, but def did not make me want to take the drug again. This past clomid cycle my progesterone came back again at 43 so I did not supplement and again BFN.

If you are OK with side effects in general, I say what the hell, go big or go home, but if you have any diagnosed anxiety/depression I would think twice or do some research. I actually read that estrogen/progesterone imbalances can cause anxiety and depression in people and I have been clinically diagnosed with both anxiety and depression so being on progesterone and coming off of it made me wonder if my depression/anxiety are caused by a hormonal imbalance.

lisa89760 · September 2014

I have been diagnosed with anxiety and was on medication for a couple years prior to TTC. I think that's what my husband is so worried about...that adding more chemicals is going to make me go back into the anxiety/depression more than all this infertility stuff has.

I felt like my progesterone levels were low, but my doctor doesn't look at low/high in the good range, it's either you're in the normal range and your fine, or you're not. I keep going back and forth between doing them and not doing them!

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