Questions on Progesterone suppositories?

[Rhiaberry]

Hey all, so Im now pregnant for the 6th time, am trying to play it calm this time round (all previous pregnancys were early m/c's) I have now concieved again (last time was feb 2012) so I am sooo happy.... and yes a little nervous.

I had some dark brown spotting for 3 days and It influenced me to test, I had given up hope for concieving and was concerntrating on my weight loss, to my suprise I tested positive on thursday evening! No squinting to see it either.

I then the following day went to My specialist and he prescribed me some cyclogest 400mg to be taken once a day. My first dose was last night before bed- I feel some unusuall sensations in my cervix and some slight cramping.
My questions on these progesterone suppositories are:

Will this actually prevent me m/c another baby?
What good comes from taking this?
What were your side effects?

Any information and your storys would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Amsan]

I honestly don't remember any side effects from mine.. but Progesterone is the hormone that KEEPS you pregnant, from the way my doctor explained it to me. My last two pregnancies they noticed I had issues with low progesterone, with ended with 1) MC and 2) ectopic.

This time around they didn't catch it until late, but if it helps any at all I'm now 12 weeks 5 days pregnant!

The side effects list that came with your suppositories should explain some of the side effects. I think they may have some cramping involved.

 

[AP]

I never had any side effects, and cramping is perfectly normal even when not taking them .

 

[TMonster]

Miscarriages happen for a number of reasons but usually due to a bad sperm or a bad egg. 30% of pregnancies result in a miscarriage during the first trimester and in most cases nothing can be done about it.

There are certain cases where the corpus luteum can't produce enough progesterone to maintain the thick uterine lining which is necessary until the placenta takes over between 10-12 weeks. In these cases you have a viable pregnancy but because the progesterone dropped it sends a signal to shed the lining and brings about a period resulting in a miscarriage. Taking progesterone will keep the lining thick and will prevent you from bleeding. On the down side, if you do miscarry, you may not know it because you will be keeping the progesterone levels high artificially and will have to stop if an ultrasound shows that you miscarried. This isnt always true and it depends on many factors.

Think of progesterone as the glue that kinda seals everything shut.

Usually progesterone isnt necessary unless you miscarried previously due to low progesterone levels, used fertility aids or had a progesterone drop (which sadly is all too common because many doctors dont even test progesterone levels.)

My progesterone started off strong at 28 but within 3 weeks dropped to 9.9 and I was started on 100mg of progesterone twice a day. It did make me feel much safer knowing that I wont miscarry due to a progesterone drop. I am off the suppositories now and I am glad. A bit nervous still but glad because the suppositories are nasty.

Word of advice... use panty liners.

Good luck!

 

[Rhiaberry]

Miscarriages happen for a number of reasons but usually due to a bad sperm or a bad egg. 30% of pregnancies result in a miscarriage during the first trimester and in most cases nothing can be done about it.

There are certain cases where the corpus luteum can't produce enough progesterone to maintain the thick uterine lining which is necessary until the placenta takes over between 10-12 weeks. In these cases you have a viable pregnancy but because the progesterone dropped it sends a signal to shed the lining and brings about a period resulting in a miscarriage. Taking progesterone will keep the lining thick and will prevent you from bleeding. On the down side, if you do miscarry, you may not know it because you will be keeping the progesterone levels high artificially and will have to stop if an ultrasound shows that you miscarried. This isnt always true and it depends on many factors.

Think of progesterone as the glue that kinda seals everything shut.

Usually progesterone isnt necessary unless you miscarried previously due to low progesterone levels, used fertility aids or had a progesterone drop (which sadly is all too common because many doctors dont even test progesterone levels.)

My progesterone started off strong at 28 but within 3 weeks dropped to 9.9 and I was started on 100mg of progesterone twice a day. It did make me feel much safer knowing that I wont miscarry due to a progesterone drop. I am off the suppositories now and I am glad. A bit nervous still but glad because the suppositories are nasty.

Word of advice... use panty liners.

Good luck!

THankyou sweety, I have been tested for everything else, chromosomes are normal everythings normal. the only thing i didnt get back the was progesterone levels, now this month i was being tested once a week for progesterone, 2 years later!! but still dont know the results of that yet until i see him on monday, Out of the blue feel pregnant, and I have hope this time because of the suppositories But there is doubt in my mind, cause its all i know, unfortunatly.

Advice on panty liners noted thankyou!

 

[xxDreamxx]

I am on progesterone suppositories 200mg twice daily. I had fertility treatment and although my progesterone started at 108 it soon dipped to 54. In the clinic I go to, they don't like under 70 for fertility treatment pregnancies. Anyway the progesterone is working for me but does give me a loose stomach (diarrhoea) but it will be worth it in the end.

 

[TMonster]

THankyou sweety, I have been tested for everything else, chromosomes are normal everythings normal. the only thing i didnt get back the was progesterone levels, now this month i was being tested once a week for progesterone, 2 years later!! but still dont know the results of that yet until i see him on monday, Out of the blue feel pregnant, and I have hope this time because of the suppositories But there is doubt in my mind, cause its all i know, unfortunatly.

Advice on panty liners noted thankyou!

Out of curiosity, has his sperm been tested as well and did you have a day 2 FSH test?

Men have hundreds of million of sperm each time they ejaculate, sometimes there are sperms with no head, no tails, 2 heads, that move in a strange pattern etc. These are things that you cannot tell from genetic testing but the quality, not just the quantity of his sperm should be tested. These abnormal sperm are capable of fertilizing eggs and in many cases are the cause of early miscarriage. Something similar is true for women with their eggs. Its difficult to assess the actual quality of a womans eggs without an invasive procedure but a day 2 FSH test can give you an idea of what your reserves are like.

Hopefully it is a progesterone issue and this one will stick.

Progesterone can have a bunch of different side effects and some can even be bleeding and/or spotting. The suppositories can irritate the cervix. Also, the suppositories don't really increase the level of progesterone in your bloodstream so if your numbers are still low even with the suppositories don't freak out, the progesterone is being directly absorbed by the cervix and going exactly where it needs to.

Some people take oral progesterone or progesterone injections because the numbers in the bloodstream increase but it just makes it a longer process for the progesterone to get to where its needed.

Other side effects can include dizziness, nausea, many normal pregnancy symptoms. Try googling the specific ones you are taking for a list of those side effects.

 

[Rhiaberry]

THankyou sweety, I have been tested for everything else, chromosomes are normal everythings normal. the only thing i didnt get back the was progesterone levels, now this month i was being tested once a week for progesterone, 2 years later!! but still dont know the results of that yet until i see him on monday, Out of the blue feel pregnant, and I have hope this time because of the suppositories But there is doubt in my mind, cause its all i know, unfortunatly.

Advice on panty liners noted thankyou!

Out of curiosity, has his sperm been tested as well and did you have a day 2 FSH test?

Men have hundreds of million of sperm each time they ejaculate, sometimes there are sperms with no head, no tails, 2 heads, that move in a strange pattern etc. These are things that you cannot tell from genetic testing but the quality, not just the quantity of his sperm should be tested. These abnormal sperm are capable of fertilizing eggs and in many cases are the cause of early miscarriage. Something similar is true for women with their eggs. Its difficult to assess the actual quality of a womans eggs without an invasive procedure but a day 2 FSH test can give you an idea of what your reserves are like.

Hopefully it is a progesterone issue and this one will stick.

Progesterone can have a bunch of different side effects and some can even be bleeding and/or spotting. The suppositories can irritate the cervix. Also, the suppositories don't really increase the level of progesterone in your bloodstream so if your numbers are still low even with the suppositories don't freak out, the progesterone is being directly absorbed by the cervix and going exactly where it needs to.

Some people take oral progesterone or progesterone injections because the numbers in the bloodstream increase but it just makes it a longer process for the progesterone to get to where its needed.

Other side effects can include dizziness, nausea, many normal pregnancy symptoms. Try googling the specific ones you are taking for a list of those side effects.

I haven't have a FSH test as far as I'm aware of, the information of my results have not been discussed with me. I'm not sure that my progesterone levels are low, as I will not find out tomorrow but the specialist said he will start me on them 6 weeks plus, but agreed to supply them when I called to tell him about the pregnancy, which got me wondering to whether my levels are low?? I was going through the progesterone testing this month eg bloods draw CD 4, 21,28, 35 of this cycle...

My partners sperm has not been tested at all, they haven't seen the reason too this far as I conceived in 2011, 4 times all naturally, and again in feb 2012, miscarried all of them, like someone was cutting off a switch. Is it something I should mention to my specialist? Could a headless or two tailed sperm cause early miscarriages in the way we have experienced them?

I'm very unfamiliar with the progesterone a it's the first lot of help I have received that is not 'natural' in that respect. Does the vaginal suppositories still supply the embryo with progesterone enough to help it thrive? Or is it mainly to help the uterine lining? What would you recommend I should do?

I have also wondered why I'm on 400mg when I see a lot of other ladies only on 100mg twice daily etc. Am I on a high dose?

I really appreciate your support Thank you so much xxxxx

 

[Foxy37]

Also on cyclogest and had been on last 2 succesfull pregnancys . My doc had never heard of them but happily prescribed . All I get is a greasY groin No sIde effects and jUst 2 weeks and 5 days left on them woop

 

[Rhiaberry]

Also on cyclogest and had been on last 2 succesfull pregnancys . My doc had never heard of them but happily prescribed . All I get is a greasY groin No sIde effects and jUst 2 weeks and 5 days left on them woop

That means so much to me to hear of you two very soon to be three I presume successful pregnancys. I find them greasy, they stop the cramps I get as well, about 10mins after inserting I did I new to pee so badly! Ever though iv sat to thoroughly empty my bladder? I haven't noticed nothing else so far....

 

[zowiey]

I'm just about to Finnish my cyclogest on Weds, and I'm quite nervous! But to answer your questions, I've had 2 cycles of ivf, the first was a chem pg, and I started spotting almost straight away even with taking the pessaries, but so far this time *touchwood* everything seems ok. I get horribly constipated from them, but that's the only side effect I've had so far! Good luck!

 

[Jenna1985]

I just finished taking them.

1- They work! don't delay on taking them, trust your doctor. this is the first pregnancy in 4 years to stick. I have had 3 previous losses.

2 - What good could come of it? You could have a happy Healthy baby! Taking them Vaginally allows the medication to absorb directly into your uterus and all the medication helps to sustain that baby's life

3 - Symptoms. Very sore nipples, Light cramping, VERY MESSY! (wear a panty liner), mild headaches, tired a lot, nausea, irritability. However all of these "symptoms" could be from pregnancy as well

I feel that the reason I have made it to 12 weeks is because of this medicine. I fell very lucky and happy that I tried it.

 

[TMonster]

I haven't have a FSH test as far as I'm aware of, the information of my results have not been discussed with me. I'm not sure that my progesterone levels are low, as I will not find out tomorrow but the specialist said he will start me on them 6 weeks plus, but agreed to supply them when I called to tell him about the pregnancy, which got me wondering to whether my levels are low?? I was going through the progesterone testing this month eg bloods draw CD 4, 21,28, 35 of this cycle...

My partners sperm has not been tested at all, they haven't seen the reason too this far as I conceived in 2011, 4 times all naturally, and again in feb 2012, miscarried all of them, like someone was cutting off a switch. Is it something I should mention to my specialist? Could a headless or two tailed sperm cause early miscarriages in the way we have experienced them?

I'm very unfamiliar with the progesterone a it's the first lot of help I have received that is not 'natural' in that respect. Does the vaginal suppositories still supply the embryo with progesterone enough to help it thrive? Or is it mainly to help the uterine lining? What would you recommend I should do?

I have also wondered why I'm on 400mg when I see a lot of other ladies only on 100mg twice daily etc. Am I on a high dose?

I really appreciate your support Thank you so much xxxxx

I don't know how things are over there but here we are entitled to our own medical records if we request them. I would request your medical records and look over the numbers yourself.

The typical pattern of progesterone for a non pregnant woman is during the follicular phase your progesterone should be around zero. After you ovulate it spikes up and the number should be over 10, ideally between 12-15 if there is no fertilized egg and often higher if there is one. The progesterone helps with the implantation of the egg and then works on keeping the lining thick etc. If there is no fertilized egg your progesterone will drop, send a signal to shed the lining and you get a period.

It doesnt matter if you conceived naturally 50% of the time its a problem with the sperm. I don't know how the medical system there works but the problem is all doctors are different and have different ideas/views on things. In the US I can pick and choose who I want my doctor to be based on their views about certain things. I chose to have an expert in maternal fetal medicine because I have a lot of things going on with me and I also picked a doctor at the hospital I wanted to give birth at.

Some doctors, for example, never even test for progesterone, others will give you progesterone only if your levels are low, some will automatically put you on progesterone if you have PCOS or if you've ever suffered a loss whether it was progesterone related or not. To complicate it even more, some doctors will start you on progesterone right after you ovulate, others after your BFP, some will keep you on it until the baby has a heartbeat at 6-7 weeks, others until 10 weeks, some until 12-14 weeks and I have even heard of some that keep you on it for your entire cycle.

The doses and types of progesterone also vary. Some use compounded suppositories, some use vaginal tablets, some use injections, some use oral pills and some insert the pills into their vag.

I switched doctors at 7 weeks. My first doctor tested my progesterone right away and discussed the possibility of needing some if my levels were low but early on they were great. He continued to test my levels each week for a few weeks and then when I was having bleeding and my levels crashed he put me on it right away. He put me on 100mg once a day and I asked to increase the dose to twice a day and he said fine. I used endometrin and the studies with endometrin were based off of women who used 100mg 2-3 times daily so I felt safer using it twice a day. 400mg seems like a high dose to me, I have never heard of anyone taking more than 300mg vaginally and usually its spread out during the day, not all at once but I have no idea what your doctors rationale is.

When I switched doctors at 7 weeks the new doctor didnt even bother testing my levels and just told me that once there is a heartbeat I don't need it anymore. I insisted that my levels get tested (the next day since they called me for the results and I asked what my progesterone was and they said they didnt test for it and I flipped out) and my levels dropped again by 10 points again to 13! The nurse initially told me I was fine because it was within the normal range and when she gave me the number I got very upset. I told the doctor I wanted to continue on the progesterone and he told me to take it once a day until 10 weeks when the placenta takes over.

I've been off of it now for a while but I snuck in a dose the other day when I had a tinge of brown spotting because I flipped out. My new doctor it seems never bothers testing for progesterone and only uses it on IVF patients until there is a heartbeat.

In the end I learned that I needed to figure out what I think is best for my pregnancy and be my own advocate for it which kinda sucks sometimes. I have the freedom to doctor shop and change doctors if I find one isnt willing to work with me on the treatment I want but its my pregnancy and my body.

Both of my doctors are huge believers in getting sperm tested if there is a history of loss. Its one of the first things they both do. This isnt just a sperm count, its a full blown analysis.

Good luck.