[mommy2067]

Hi all....well I am thinking ahead to when we begin our ttcing again and I wanted to ask some questions about progesterone...not that I know for sure or not whether my levels were a factor in my recent (and prior) m/c but I am wondering...Progesterone does decrease with age and for some levels are just lower normally...but I have had 2 children sooo.... I know from reading that it is necessary to sustain a pregnancy...at least that is what I am led to believe...I did have b/w done last week to see where my overall hormone levels were at (which I am told should return to normal within a month) and my progesterone was going to be checked to...but I am thinking it might not be overly conclusive as it would be returning to pre-pregnancy levels??...but I don't know how quickly...

I am almost hoping that this was the issue as there would be solution to it...where as if it is chalked up as a chromosomal defect (ie...defective egg or sperm) as with age the eggs in a woman's basket tend to not only be fewer but less perfect... well than who's to say it might not happen again...or that it was some environmental factor which could be so random (yep entertained that thought too...for ex. my car was leaking gas and I inhaled the gas fumes...not on purpose!! but they were there and I know that when pg they say you are not supposed to pump your own gas b/c of the fumes so of course I think the worst....) or if we decide to go on Clomid to speed up the egg popping process then what...Okay this isn't exactly asking my questions but I guess it is part and parcel of where I am coming from...Anyway...my questions...here they are:

When was it determined that you needed progesterone? Prior to conceiving or after? Was your therapy oral/injection/suppository(cream?)? Were there side effects? How long before or during your pregnancy did you have to be on progesterone? How often did you take it? What were the numbers/levels that determined you needed the therapy? Did you take a prescription progesterone or an herbal/organic/homeopathic version?

I think that about covers it...thanks for all and any info...and for reading this long post..I have done some research on the net but wanted some personal experiences to help me make some choices...Thanks ladies...

[quagmire8]

well, this is my progesterone story:

started spotting, called the doctor, it was a doctor on call. told me to go home, get it bed, but if was a m/c there was nothing to be done and to call my doctor on monday. called on monday and got blood work. HCG and progesterone. the HCG was very low, but confirmed the pregnancy. the progesterone was super low (5). the doctor thinks that i m/c so that is why my progesterone dropped, but the nurse thinks that my progesterone was low causing my m/c. to be safe i now take progesterone every month from day 16 until AF shows up or i get a BFP. i take a 200mg pill every day starting on day 16. as far as side effects, well, the progesterone mimics pg symptoms, so i have no idea if i will get a BFP every month. when i first started taking it, it made me sleepy, but i am used to it now.

i dont think that taking progesterone can hurt anything, even if that isnt your problem. goodluck to you!

[landj111]

They never checked my progesterone levels when I had my m/c. I really wish they had now I wonder if my progesterone dropped. I do have a thyroid issue I wonder if that may have caused my levels to drop. I will have to talk to my gyn and endocrinologist. I hope everything works out for you heather.

[angelstarsmum]

Originally Posted by mommy2067

When was it determined that you needed progesterone? Prior to conceiving or after? Was your therapy oral/injection/suppository(cream?)? Were there side effects? How long before or during your pregnancy did you have to be on progesterone? How often did you take it? What were the numbers/levels that determined you needed the therapy? Did you take a prescription progesterone or an herbal/organic/homeopathic version?

I think that about covers it...thanks for all and any info...and for reading this long post..I have done some research on the net but wanted some personal experiences to help me make some choices...Thanks ladies...

Normally the docs like to put you on progesterone before you concieve, but other wise they chec your levels while pg (as soon as you find out) There is no harm in having progesterone anyway for piece of mind! Normally they like you levels to be 10 and above.

Progesterone come in suppositries(sp) or cream.

Side effects are normally sickness sore bb's Normal pg symptoms but a little worse.
Progesterone is normally taken for the first trimester or until 14 wks or so.
I had my levels checked from 6wks pg on, (every week) i took clomid too and my levels were fine but if they were on the low side i would have taken it as a precaution. Hope this has helped hun.xxxxx

[maryavan]

Progesterone also comes in a pill to be taken orally. That's what the dr. prescribed for me w/ the last pregnancy. She'd talked about suppositories, but w/ my numbers, she went with the oral pill. Of course, she didn't tell me about the change. So I thought my pharmacy screwed up. Unfortunately, it took the office 2 weeks to get me my prescription. I'd told them she wanted me to start progesterone immediately w/ a pregnancy. They made me wait for testing and then I had to wait for them to bother to give me results. Grrrr. I have to wonder a little bit about the delay w/ that m/c...

B/c I'm not having troubles w/ having regular cycles, my doc only wants me to start taking progesterone AFTER I know I'm pregnant. I'm not to wait for blood testing of my progesterone levels. Just start as soon as I get a positive from POAS or blood test. At least for the next time (if we have a next...). That at least gives me an excuse for being so impatient to test! I mentioned that other people are told to take before, but for me, she was afraid that might goof my regular periods up. We still have no idea why after 18 years of extreme irregularity and PCOS, I have been regular for over 2 years. So I can see her concern.

[mommy2067]

Thanks for all your helpful and personal responses...I am still not sure if that was the reason or not but I am not ruling it out...I figure at this point and at the point that my b/w was done the results wouldn't have been conclusive anyway...I am considering starting Clomid which I hear as part of what it does helps regulate hormones or helps encourage your body to produce its own hormones anyway..as well as helping to pop out those eggs!! I guess what we could do is once I am pg again is take my levels then and see if I need the extra progesterone...I have also been researching alternatives to the progesterone...more along the natural supplement lines that stimulate your bodies natural production of progesterone and other hormones...so I guess we'll see...Re: the clomid though I have to still get a script for it and find out when I can start taking it...My doc says we can start bding again right away when we are ready but with the clomid I think I have to know where I am in my cycle...which I do if it was my cycle from before but having had the m/c not sure whether that one still applies!!??? Any ideas...???

[landj111]

I'm starting my first dose of clomid tomorrow on cycle day three. What I did is I got my script had it filled pretty much had it all ready for my next cycle. Make sure you doc gets blood work every month especially your progesterone levels around day 21.

[angelstarsmum]

Originally Posted by mommy2067

I have to know where I am in my cycle...which I do if it was my cycle from before but having had the m/c not sure whether that one still applies!!??? Any ideas...???

you can take clomid this month cos you normally take it during or just past your cycle! But i know in UK Wales they like you to have at least one clear cycle.
When you've taken clomid your doc will have b/w done on day 21 of cycle to check your progesterone levels and this will also tell him if you 'O'd. Good luck hun