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MedHelp Member's Question

When should I start taking progesterone suppositories?

by rulle, Jun 27, 2005 12:00AM
Hi all!

I've had 3 miscarriages very early on. My doctor recommends progesterone suppositories. My question is, should I start taking them after I ovulate or wait until I know I'm pregnant?

Thanks for the feedback!

Rulle
Member Comments (29)

by mls1604, Jun 27, 2005 12:00AM
I just had IUI done on 5/16 and my dr had me take them that night.........

by shari13, Jun 27, 2005 12:00AM
i had to take the pill not suppositories, but it wasnt until it was verified that i was pregnant. i would ask your doctor

good luck

shari

by Maggie8, Jun 27, 2005 12:00AM
To: rulle
My dr asked me to take the supplement 2 days after ovulation. So you have to use an ovulation kit to help you pinpoint the time frame of your ovulation and start the treatment 2 days from there. Hope it works for you.



May I ask whether your dr found any particular reason why you m/c 3 times? I also have had multiple m/c, 5. I tried progesterone supplement for the last one, it did not help me.

by rulle, Jun 27, 2005 12:00AM
So far no explanation as to why I've miscarried x 3. My HSG was normal, blood work normal, and chromosomal analysis of my husband and I were normal. I am 36 however.... How about you?



In terms of the progesterone I know there are different thoughts on the topic...my doctor said to take it when I determined I was pregnant...but to me that seems like two essential weeks missing out on the benefits of progesterone...but on the flip side, if I'm not pregnant will it affect my next cycle???



Very confusing stuff.

by 2kitties, Jun 27, 2005 12:00AM
I am in the same boat with a few of you.  I've also had three m/c and started progesterone on the third one after I found out I was pregnant.  Unfortunatley it did not help and my prog. just kept going down until I miscarried.  My fert. doctor also told me to start taking it when I ovulate.  I'm trying it this month and am hoping it will help if I am pregnant.  It's very frustrating and I wish you luck!

by kittymommy, Jun 27, 2005 12:00AM
To: rulle,
I have also had 3 early miscarriages and no reason can be found.  All my tests came back normal, including genetic testing of both my husband and I.  The advice the specialist gave me after all the testing was "there's nothing wrong with you, just keep trying."    I just got a faint positive test result yesterday so here we go for try #4.  I am using progesterone suppositories as well, and my doctor advised to start them as soon as you know you've ovulated.  Good luck to you, there are a few of us here who know how absolutely devastating it is to suffer multiple unexplained miscarriages.  Do you have any children?

by Stacie30, Jun 27, 2005 12:00AM
after you ovulate is optimum... only problem with that is that it can delay the start of your period even if you aren't pg so it can sometimes get your hopes up...

by kittymommy, Jun 27, 2005 12:00AM
Stacie30 is right, I have also read that progesterone can delay the start of your period if you're not pregnant, which could potentially give false hopes.  Another side effect I'm noticing .....it makes your boobs bigger.  Which in my case at least, is a good side effect!    ;o)

by Maggie8, Jun 27, 2005 12:00AM
To: rulle
To answer your questions:

I’m 39, started trying by 36 and so far no luck yet. You are absolutely in a better position than I am. My dr did all kinds of tests for us. All came back normal. It is very frustrated, not knowing where the problem is, only kept on miscarrying. I did use progesterone 200mg, 2x/day, the month before my last m/c, when I was not pregnant but trying. It gave me a lot of ovarian pains, in both sides. My period came 3 days after I stopped progesterone. The bleeding only lasted for 2 days instead of 5. The amount was tremendously low, absolutely the opposite as dr said or you may read from the internet. My ovarian pains disappeared after my period was done. Doctors may say if you are not pregnant, the supplement is just like some extra vitamin, no harm to your body. I personally don’t think so. Maybe I am a very sensitive person and therefore an extreme case. So don't get discouraged from my posting, but to keep in mind that these things can happen. Good luck to you and all of us going through miscarriages.

by kim1001, Jul 13, 2005 12:00AM
Noticed your email thread.  I've been wondering the same thing myself and wondered what conclusion you came to.  I've had two miscarriages a chemical pregnancy and they can find no good reason for these (all tests normal). I am again wondering if I am pregnant, but I know a test wont tell me yet (am exhuasted, have nausea, and just feel like I am).  Seems there is no harm in taking the progesterone now, but tried it late last misscarriage and did have side effects like odd dreams.  I guess the real question is is there a medical reason to take it before you can test for pregnancy?



Reports like the following seem to suggest i would help right after ovulation:

About a day and a half before ovulation occurs, your estrogen levels will climax, causing the pituitary to release a surge of LH. Once the follicle releases the egg, the follicle itself shrinks and gathers fatty substances known as lipids. This then becomes the corpus luteum, which is responsible for the production of progesterone. As progesterone levels in your body increase, the endometrium begins to prepare itself for implantation by a fertilized egg.



My doctor says to take it when I know I am pregnant by testing but seems to me it could help sooner....  I may forever remain confused!

by jlc1971, Jul 21, 2005 12:00AM
I too have had mutiple m/c (4 in 2 years)  My blood work came back normal as well as chromosome studies.  After my OB attended a seminar on homocystiene/MTHFR gene she had me tested.  I have the double mutation of the MTHFR gene which is causing my repeated m/c.  The treatment is high dose (5 mg) folic acid with B12 and B6 supplementation.  



Have your docs do a MTHFR test to see if this may be an issue for you all! I too have been prescribed progesterone suppositories to take as well.  I was told to take it from ovulation on.  Then stop if no pos HPT.



Hope this helps ladies!  I have found a light at the end of my dark tunnel.  We tried this month after a year after my last M/C and I have been taking the supplements for 4 months....so we will pray!!!

by jened, Jul 22, 2005 12:00AM
I have had 4 m/c and have went through 3 years of fertility testing and only last month did we find the problem!  I have severe luteal phase defect where the lining of my uterus showed I was on day 19 of my 30 day cycle when I was actually on day 28 of my cycle.  My doctor gave me clomid and 1000 mg of progesterone that I take twice daily.  I did not start taking the progesterone until 3 day after ovulation.  I would think if you need the progesterone to support the pregnancy you should take it before you get pregnant.  3 of my miscarriages were because I was hormone deficient and the lining of my uterus could not support a pregnancy.  I will find out tuesday if I am pregnant and I will have another biopsy wednesday to see if the progesterone is working.  The dr told us to try even though we don't know if the progesterone is working so I am kinda nervous about that.  



Well GOOD LUCK to you all.  We will all hopefully get our babies one way or another.

by nikki26, Jul 29, 2005 12:00AM
I had one live birth in 2001.  Then two years later had 2

mscarriages I uable to conceive because I stopped getting my period. My doctor put me on clomid and progesterone pills.  That was in May.  I am now 10 weeks pregnant and taking daily 50mg of proges. but only for six weeks and the doctor said my own hormones will kick in by then.  My worry is my hormones have been so messed up for the past 8 months will they really kick in or will I be setting my self up for a miscarriage if I stop after six weeks.  I will talk to my doctor at my next visit and see what happens.  I has been a long road to trying to get pregnant and stay pregnant so I am going to try everything in my power to have the baby to term.

by Butterfly_Baybee2005, Aug 09, 2005 12:00AM
Hello,

My name is Holly. I am 20 years old. I am planning on going off the pill (i have been on it for 3 years now) in November. I hope to get pregnant right away so I can give the news to my in-laws and my parents as an xmas gift. Do people usually have problems conceiving the first few months they go off the pill? How does it work? I also want to lose weight before I have a baby. As it is I am not comfortable in my skin. If anyone has suggestions or would like to chat, please email me at butterfly_baybee2005***@**** I will respond to everyone!

Also, will you only conceive on certain days of the month? I can use as much information as I can

by STEFFIEGIRL, Jan 19, 2008 03:47PM
To: rulle
I AM NOW 32 YEARS OLD.  I HAVE TWO BEAUTIFUL BOYS 11 & 5, BUT IT HAS BEEN A VERY HARD, FRUSTRATING, AND EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER THROUGHOUT.  I CONCEIVED MY FIRST SON 3 MONTHS AFTER I GOT MARRIED, NOT ONE SINGLE PROBLEM WHATSOEVER, OTHER THAN THE NORMAL MORNING SICKNESS.  HE WAS BORN 9-7-96 AT 9 HEALTHY POUNDS.  WHEN HE WAS 4, WE TTC AGAIN, AND I HAD M/C AT 10 WEEKS.  THREE MONTHS LATER, I GOT PREGNANT AGAIN, ONCE AGAIN M/C AT 10 WEEKS.  DOCS DIDN'T WANT TO DO ANY TESTING, STATING IT WAS JUST A NORMAL PHASE IN LIFE.  WHATEVER,  I SAID.  I WORK AS A NURSE, SO I HAD SOME SENSE ABOUT THE SITUATION.  TOOK IT UPON MYSELF TO GET HELP ELSEWHERE.  GENETIC TESTING BETWEEN US BOTH CAME BACK PERFECTLY NORMAL (SO WE THOUGHT).  ANYWAY, SAW A FERTILITY DOC, HE DID THE UTERINE BIOPSY