Progesterone suppositories......natural or synthetic? Also what dosage?

[kittymommy]

For those of you who have taken progesterone suppositories, did you use natural or synthetic progesterone?  I am taking progesterone suppositories as my doctor prescribed, but the pharmacies around here all use synthetic vs natural progesterone.  The manufacturer of the synthetic drug that I am taking said that it is made from soybeans and is "biomedically" identical to natural progesterone and that the human body absorbs this medication the same as it would natural progesterone.  

After 3 losses I scrutinize everything, including this information.  I have found countless articles (even in the archives of this forum board) that state how synthetic progesterone is harmful to pregnant woman and can actually cause miscarriages.    I have also found one article that says that the synthetic kind made from soybeans is considered "natural" for that purpose.  I am so confused.  I am wondering if those of you who have taken the suppositories know if yours was natural or synthetic, and if you have any thoughts on the subject.  Also, what dosage did you take?  Mine are 50mg, which seems a little low to me. I have not been diagnosed with a progesterone deficiency but my doctor is having me take it as a precaution since they cannot find any cause for my repeated losses.  Any info is appreciated.  Thank you.

[mgi]

My first two IVF transfers I took prometrium.  Then I went to a new specialist who did extensive studies on progesterone.  He is a firm believer in ONLY progesterone powder in a capsule  (not gels)  I could tell a difference in my discharge too)
for all three I have 100mg vaginally 3 times per day.  With this pregnancy I bled a little so they also added 10cc of Intramuscular progesterone once a day for weeks 11-13.5
good luck

[hopeintexas]

I also took a natural form of progesterone. I live in Texas and had to have it shipped from Massachussetts. It took about 2 days to get it. I have read different opinions about progesterone helping pregnancies. I had a miscarriage 4 years ago. My doctor put me on it this time at about 6 wks and now I am 31 weeks and everything is perfect. I can feel my miracle baby kicking and kicking. My doctor said that the progesterone won't save a doomed pregnancy but one that is viable but needs some help. My levels were pretty low and all I know is that my baby is coming in August. I won't hurt the baby at all and if it works it is well worth it.

[blondie2]

My Dr. has given me a prescription of progesterone that I am to take once I get a positive pregnancy test.  He told me that because of my previous miscarriages that the progesterone will "help" the fetus to grow.  It is a pill, I have never heard of it as a suppository.  What's the difference?

[hoping123]

I wish I could answer your question for you.  I have only been given Prometrium (pill).  I have had 3 miscarriages and the next time my speacialist wants to give me 200mg twice a day.  This is twice as much as my doctor gave me last time.  I have also been very interested in differences betweent suppositories, cream, and pill.

You mentioned that they couldn't find any reason for your miscarriages.  I am in the same boat.  They have done numerous blood tests on me and I had an hsg done where they shoot dye in your uterus.  The next test I am suppose to consider is a karyotype.  Have you had that done?  I guess they will take blood from my husband and I to see if there is a balanced transolcation problem (something to do with genetics).  My husbands insurance won't pay for his test and I am waiting to see if my insurance will pay for mine.  If they find a problem, there is nothing they can do to fix it, so my specialist is leaving it up to me as to if we want to do it.  The only advantage of the test besides hopefully peace of mind would be that if I carried the baby to 14 weeks and one of us does have a balanced translocation, then we could have an amnio done to make sure everything is ok.  If you had this test done, let me know if you thought it was worth it.  Also, did they check you for a progesterone deficiency?  My specialist did not.  He says he gives all of his patients the progesterone supplement so if there is a problem, it will be fixed.  I would like to know if that is my problem before I do the expensive karyotype test, but I don't know if they can even test you for a progesterone deficiency.  I have read you can chart your basal body temperatures and look for a luteal phase defect.  I have done that and noticed that I don't ovulate until the 16th to 19th day of my cycle, which sounds a little late to me.

Thanks

[kittymommy]

I did have extensive testing done, including the karyotyping of both me and my husband.  Both came back normal so it didn't really help us.  But I would recommend doing it, simply because then you'll at least know if is a chromosome problem with one of you that is causing the losses. I had the tissue analyzed from our 2nd m/c in Dec 04 and we learned that the baby did have a chromosome defect, Trisomy 2.  It is not hereditary at all, but it is related to advanced maternal age.  I'm 35.  I did not have any tissue analyzed for the other losses so I will never know what caused them.  I know for me the absolute hardest part of this whole ordeal has been the fact that there is no explanation or no reason.  They can do the karyotyping by a simple blood test, and you're right it is expensive.  My doctor coded it as "repeated spontaneous abortions" for me, and "partner with multiple spontaneous abortions" for my husband and my insurance did cover most of both of them.  It takes about two weeks to get the results back.  I've also had all the lupus, blood clotting disorders, thyroid disease, and many other tests done.....all my results are completely normal.  They can find no reason whatsoever for the repeated losses, which is so depressing.  The specialist told me that it's just my bad luck, and to keep trying.  His words were something like "the limits of standard modern medicine have been reached....there's nothing wrong with you."  I am taking progsterone suppositories as well, just as a precaution. Like you, I was not diagnosed with a deficiency.  I chart my temps, and my luteal phase is defintely long enough.  It's always at least 14 days, so I don't think I have a deficiency but I'm taking them anyway so I at least feel like I'm doing something to help myself.  I'm curious as to what you found at the hsg exam...that is the one test that my doctor advised that I declined.  Just the thought of it scared me half to death, and it didn't seem real likely that it would show anything.  Did you learn anything from the results?  If you don't mind me asking, how old are you and do you have any children?

[mgi]

I am not sure if I already said this - sorry I shouldve looked
but according to my RE creams are just a little boost
I have heard very little about oral
But my RE did tests like 20 years ago and he says teh best way for your body to get the progesterone is through the lining of teh vagina.  (he even has one on his desk to show his patients)  He is very different in that he uses the vaginal suppositories before injections.
If my doctor prescribed oral I am sure I would argue with him - but thats just me

[hoping123]

Thanks for the response.  I only had the hsg done because my insurance covered it 100%.  I was also told that it probably wouldn't be of any use because it is used more to see if your fallopian tubes are open.  Obviously we both know ours are.  The test wasn't that bad though.  It took all of 10 minutes.  They used numbing spray so I didn't feel a thing until the dye went in and then I had cramps.  I took an Ibprofin, which I should have done before the procedure, and they went away.  I was able to watch the dye fill the uterus and go into the fallopian tubes showing no problems.

I am 28 with no children yet.  We started trying a year ago so my pregnancies have been pretty close together.  All of my drs have told me we could start trying after one cycle.  This last pregnancy ended in March.  My hcg levels were so high that there was a concern it was molar, but no molar tissue was found. We were told to wait until my hcg levels went down to 0 before we try again.  I think we will try this month and see if the progesterone helps.  Besides the progesterone helping, I am not teaching this summer and I had a really stressful school year, so I am hoping less stress will help me get through the first trimester.  With the results of the karyotype test coming back in 2-4 weeks, I should easily know if we will need an amnio by week 14 if I get pregnant and if I make it that long.  Thanks for the suggestion on how to code the procedure.  My husband and I have separate insurance plans, but my dr did mention that my insurance might cover both of us.

When did you start the progesterone?  I'm not sure if I should wait for a positive pregnancy test or go ahead and start taking it a couple of days after I ovulate.  I have left over prometrium from the last pregnancy.  I chart and use an ovulation predictor kit, so I am usually pretty sure about when I ovulate.  I suppose I should call my drs office and find out.

Keep me informed and let us know how your quest for natural progesterone goes.  I wish no one else had to go through what we are going through, but it's nice to have someone to share with.

[kittymommy]

We do have some things in common....I have no kids, and my husband and I also just started trying to have a baby one year ago.   So all 3 of my miscarriages have been pretty close together as well.  First one in July 04, then Dec 04 and the last one was in Mar 05.  All of them ended at about the 6 week mark, even tho with the 2nd one which was the Trisomy I never had any bleeding or spotting or anything.  I also chart my temps faithfully and also use an OPK, just like you.  My cycles are pretty regular, and it sounds like neither one of us has any difficulty conceiving.  Now if we could just hold on to those babies....

I am trying again for the 4th time as we speak.  I'm 8 days past O, and I actually had a significant temp drop yesterday.   It went way back down to below the cover line, I am so hoping it was an implantation dip.  Today it's back up high where it should normally be for this time, but I'm hopeful because I never had the implantation dip with any of the other 3 pregnancies.  Have you noticed anything like this on your temp charts that you could share?  I was trying to research if implantation dip signified anything as far as the viability of the fetus, but I can't find anything.  I started taking the progesterone suppositories the day after ovulation, and I plan to take them until day 14 post O.  If the test is negative, I'll stop them to bring on my period.  I never did find the natural progesterone ones, so I'm using the synthetic ones made from soybeans as the pharmacist explained.  I'll cross my fingers for both of us!

It is so devastating going through all of these losses, it is nice to be able to talk with someone who is going thru the same thing.  I was trying to tell my husband that while miscarriages are devastating to every woman, I feel like those of us who have had multiple losses and have no kids are in a sometimes-hopeless-feeling class all by ourselves.  It's nice to know that there are others in this class with me.  Good luck to you.

[hoping123]

I have never heard of the implantation dip.  I went back and looked at my charts.  One chart didn't show it and the other chart I stopped taking my temp for a few days because I got the flu, so I can't tell anything.  My temp dipped today and the opk showed I will ovulate soon.  We'll see :)  I hate the 2ww. Good luck to you and keep me informed.

[alatexan68]

I am taking the progesterone suppositories. I just asked the same question of my pharmicist here in Texas ( they can make the suppositories in Beeville and Corpus that I know of, Moores's Pharmacy and ship it anywhere). As for the difference between the pills and suppositories. I take 50 mg suppositories, my pharmicist told me that 50% or more is absorbed by the vaginal walls. Where with pills only 10% is absorbed into the blood system. So...... if your progesterone is very low like mine was......... 6.5.... and went to 17.5 in just 4 days. He suggests, like my doctor does that I stay on the suppositories.

Jana

[hoping123]

alatexan68,
I don't know if you will read this since it is so far down on the discussion board.  You had mentioned that your progesterone is low.  I am wondering if you have ever charted your temps and know how many days are between when you ovulate and when your next period starts.  Mine is 10 days and I have read that could mean I have a progesterone deficiency.  Are you pregnant and your dr checked your progesterone levels?  Is that how you knew your levels were low?

Thanks

[CSA]

Should you be charting your temps while on prometrium, or does the mediction (medication) alter them in a way that it's not useful to chart?

[CSA]

Should you be charting your temps while on prometrium, or does the mediction (medication) alter them in a way that it's not useful to chart?

[alatexan68]

I had a TR in Oct 2001...... I have done temps, OPK's. I have had about every test known to man run LOL. I have been on progesterone before. But as for now, yes I was PG and tested levels and they were to low to sustain pregnancy. If your Luteal phase ( after ovulation ) is less than 10 - 12 days, then you may very well have a progesterone deficiency. I tried to get pregnant for over 3 1/2 years.... no luck. This was the one and only time that I lasted 14 days after O. And from my ultrasound, and implantational bleeding... my doctor and I think I needed all of those 14 days to concieve. I guess I am just odd. You may email me at anytime at my nickname here at aol. I know the waiting it soooooo hard.

[alatexan68]

Ok some more now... I read through everything that you have written here. My doctor believes that any O after day 14, could be a problem. He had me on Clomid for a while, but it drove me crazy, to try to mature the eggs faster, and they helped to shorted O time, and lengthen luteal phase. After three rounds...... I have o'ed on the 13 - 14CD every cycle. And Luteal phase went from 8 - 10 days..... to 12- 14 days. Also he only believes in the vaginal suppositories. I asked my Pharmacist about this. And if you take the pill, you only end up with about 10 % of the medication absorbed into your system. With the suppositories you get 50 % or more. So if I take 50 Mg suppositories.... that would be equal to 250 mg by pill. I know my suppositories aren't covered by my insurance. They cost me about $120 a month. They come from a Compounding Pharmacy here in Texas. Hope this answers some questions.

Jana

[CSA]

So you have done 3 rounds of clomid but no luck with getting pregnant? I am probably going to start clomid next cycle.I do have a luteal phase defect--On my 28 day cycle I am ovulating too late, so I tried prometrium to raise my progesterone levels and to delay my period so my egg will mature. My levels did go up quite a bit, but no pregnancy yet. Maybe clomid will provide better results...

[jessicakddr]

I am surprised that nobody has mentioned a blood test you can have done to check your progesterone level.  My Doctor had me get a LH test kit (ovulation test kit) and start testing 10 days from the first day of my period. Counting the day your piriod starts.  Then when you have a LH surge you count 8 days starting on the next day. If surge happens on 13th of the month 8 days would be the 21st of that month. On the 8th day you have to get blood drawn and test your progesterone level.  I had my surge 14 days after my 1st day of my period  and my progesterone level was too low to support any pregnancy.  I tries for 5 years to have a baby and when I finally gave up I ended up with a very healthy baby girl. Now she is 16 months old so We thought we could have another and had 3 miscarriages so far but I got another positive test, so my doctor put me on progesterone suppositories 50mg 2x a day So hopefully this one will be successful

[MereRay]

I've been through three miscarriages.  Two in the past 8 months.  All of my tests have come back normal so my doctor prescribed 25mg progesterone suppositories taken once at night.  I'm worried that it's not a high enough doeage or that it's not taken often enough.  We just started trying again and I'm pretty freaked out.  Has anyone taken that low of a dose and been successful?  I'm finding it hard to be positive and hopeful when I have the possibility of being let down again.

[Hopeful1234]

I saw how recent your note was so I wanted to reply.  I've been through two miscarriages, like you two in  8 months.  All of my tests have come back normal as well, but my doctir did not prescribe me the progesterone suppositories even though I repetaedly requested that.  She insist the oral pills will be fine.  I think mine is 100 or 200 MG, but as I understand the vaginal method allows the body to absorb much more (50%) and the oral (10%) so maybe that is why you only needed a small dosage.   I am curious if you are pregnant and is it going okay so far?  I had a friend we had 4 misccariages in a row and was put on the suppositories and had a successful 5th pregnancy.  Now she is pregnant for her 6th and everything is fine.  Good luck!