Progesterone supplements help!

rae0315 · December 2014

Hi all, I'm new here but desperately in need of advice. We have been TTC for almost a year and recently started seeing doctors. I have been charting for a few months and consistently spot throughout my entire luteal phase starting 2-3 days after ovulation. I see this as an obvious problem and have basically diagnosed myself with a luteal phase defect. My regular MD ordered a 7dpo progesterone test which was within normal but just barely. We live in a very small town 5 hours from the nearest city that would have an RE so normal protocol is to start testing with an OBGYN so MD referred me to one in town but I won't get an appointment for months! Being impatient I asked my MD about progesterone supplements, he called the OBGYN he referred me to and I got an RX for Provera for 10 days. Now I believe my MD knows pretty much nothing about this, I wasn't given any instructions at all, maybe he just assumes I know it is supposed to be started 2-3 days po. Anyhow, I got a positive OPK today, perfectly timed sex with pressed and I just can't decide if I should use the provera or not!!? All my research (and by research I mean recent medical journal articles...I am also a health care professional but not an MD) says vaginal supplements are better than oral pills and that if you get pregnant you need to stay on progesterone for 8-10 weeks. Should I call my MD, ask for the vaginal gel with a refill in case I get pregnant? Or realize that I am completely self diagnosing, my MD will do what I ask but has no clue what should be done, and wait to see the OBGYN in a few months?! Has anyone else with a diagnosis of LPD been treated with progesterone during the luteal phase? Thanks in advance for any help! Also, hubby is going next week for a SA.

BunnyBerry · December 2014

Hi there, I am so sorry you're dealing with this.

If your progesterone was in the normal range, then I wouldn't necessarily self-diagnose with LPD. Fibroids and endometriosis can also cause that kind of spotting. Possibly other things that I'm not familiar with.

Why is it going to take several months to see an OB? Is it because they want to wait until you reach the 1 year mark TTC? If they are willing, I would push for help because 2 weeks of spotting each cycle is not something you should have to wait for answers on, TTC or not. Perhaps they will put you on the waiting list?

I can't see any harm in taking progesterone support, except perhaps side effects, especially if your levels were on the low end. I can't imagine that the gel vs. oral would make a massive difference for you if you already test okay.

deelopi9 · December 2014

My suggestion is not to take the progesterone and wait and see the OBGYN, just make sure they do monitoring. I was initially diagnosed with LPD, low ovulation/progesterone, however, was under the care of a RE. They did perform the 7dpo bloodwork and RX the progesterone suppositories (1) 200mg in the am and (1) 200mg in the pm. One you go in for your betas your doctor will determine if you need to take it after pregnancy. Like you I had mid-cycle break through bleeding/spotting. After seeing another RE they diagnosed me with PCOS. LPD may not be your diagnosis so I would wait.

Wishing you all the best!

Edited for grammar

rae0315 · December 2014

Thanks ladies, I do feel like I should probably wait rather than basically treating myself but it is so hard to do nothing cycle after cycle when there is clearly a problem! Also, I am going to be working out of town for a week away from my hubby during my fertile period next month so if nothing happens this cycle I am out for two months

The wait has nothing to do with how long we have been TTC, just the normal wait to get into an OBGYN in my town. I'm in Canada, in a rural community and there aren't enough specialists for the number of people who need to see them.

rae0315 · December 2014

Some more info, I am 31 years old and was on the pill for 14 years. Been off for ten months but every month I have this hope that my body is going to fix itself. The first few months I charted I was ovulating on CD22/23, last cycle and now it switched to CD17/18 but still had all the spotting last cycle.

deelopi9 · December 2014

That must be so frustrating to not have access to the clinics you need to get into in a normal timeframe. I've been in your shoes. IF is a roller coaster of ups and downs. In the 4 years since we started this process there have been months where we were benched some by doctors others by our choice. Each time it felt like time was slipping by and our "chance" was taken from us. Hugs, it's not easy.

rae0315 · December 2014

Thanks for the support ladies. @rainbowbridge14‌, that is exactly what I needed to hear and the advice I would give myself if I were thinking clearly. I think I will wait it out until I can get an appointment with the OBGYN, maybe even call and see if I can be on a cancellation list. I don't think calling my MD will do any good. He isn't going to order more tests to actually diagnose me properly but I am sure he would write me any prescription I asked for.

redandblue · December 2014

Hey there! Sorry you are in this situation. I am also in Canada and know the long waits for OBGYN's however the wait for RE is much less! I was actually surprised! I'm not sure what part of Canada you are in, but I am in Ontario. I actually found a clinic in my city and was able to get an appointment approximately 2 weeks after my referral. They do require a referral from your GP, but should be an easy process. You probably would have to go there for the testing, but might be able to get some of the monitoring locally, if you are a far distance. The other thing that I discovered was that all of the initial testing and parts of the treatments are covered under OHIP (again I'm not sure what province you are in, but in Ontario lots is covered). We had to pay a $225 annual fee after completing the test to get monitoring etc. covered for a year. The medications are not covered, unless you have benefits, but for example the monitoring and actual insemination is covered for the IUI process. So I guess what I'm getting at, is look into a RE, don't wait for the referral to OBGYN. As I'm sure you will hear (or know) OBGYN are for keeping you pregnant, RE's are for getting you pregnant. GL.

rae0315 · December 2014

Thanks @redandblue. I am in Alberta and the nearest city with an RE is a five hour drive away! So it is definitely something I have thought about but since I have only been off birth control since last February I feel like I am being excessively impatient and I keep hoping there is going to be a simple solution.

rae0315 · December 2014

I apologize ladies. I had no idea this was such a tight knit community and it never would have occurred to me to post an "intro". Clearly I am ignorant in the world of online forums. I have been struggling lately with having no one to talk to about TTC as I have not confided in many friends about it and my husband is happy so long as we are BDing a lot. So I would like to stick around but maybe I'll do some "lurking" and try to get the hang of things before I do much more posting. Thanks again to everyone who was supportive and offered advice, I really do appreciate it.

emmuffy · December 2014

Welcome OP. *Waves from Toronto*. Sorry to hear you are having a hard time getting referrals. I don't know much about rural medicine, but my understanding is some REs offer satellite programs or consultations via Skype. I hope you are able to get the help you need.

MrsP924 · December 2014

Oh boy.... I have been slowly lurking the 3T board for quite some time. Nariadreaming has told me numerous times to come join everyone here as it was a much better place for me with now dealing with Unexplained infertility. i haven't intro'ed here yet but it makes me nervous too to see the snark here. Its what i expected with the TTC page and i was under the impression that this place was more pleasant considering all that we are going thru. Infertility is hard enough, but I'm feeling as if i need to stay clear some more and continue to lurk. I was going to intro today but i think ill just stay in the dark for a little longer. Naria you know i love you and i appreciate all the support you have given me and the encouragement to come here. OP i hope you stick around more and i hope to get to know you more. Today and the last few months have been hard on me lately so when I'm in a better place i will intro seeing how thats what should be done here i guess.

rae0315 · December 2014

Hi MrsP924! I get where you are coming from. I definitely had second thoughts about sticking around here but decided not to let the comments of basically one person get to me. The majority of people have been welcoming and supportive. I hope you stick around and we do get to know each other better!

MrsP924 · December 2014

Thanks rae0315

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