question about progesterone (Promertium) medication

[nunu1977]

I was given a prescription for Prometrium from my Dr. Im not pregnant yet but start clomid in 4 days. My Dr said not to start taking the prometrium until I get a BFP. I MC twins back in September, but am not sure if it was due to low progesterone.

my question is, on the Prometrium pill container it says do not take if pregnant. I have been somewhat confused about this as the dr said to take it as soon as I get a +.

I have found on some websites that Drs prescribe this medication for the first 12 cycle days to help prepare for implantation. then ive read that it is to be taken for the first 13 weeks until the placenta takes over.

Has anyone else taken Prometrium before? If so, when did the Dr say to start taking it, and for how long?

Any info would help!!!!!

[nunu1977]

usually anything that says may cause dizziness usually makes me feel sick. But ill handle it if it helps me to have a baby!
Let me know how the IUI goes this time around. Good luck!  

[allie_44107]

You know, the prometrum makes me feel really lethargic.  The nurse warned me and said it would make me dizzy and possibly sick to my stomach-I haven't had that but I take it at 2 and am really tired til around 5.  Oh well-hopefully it will all be worth it!  Good luck to you and let me know how it goes!  

[nunu1977]

Hi allie-

yea, the Dr should have warned me that that is what the bottle will say. A warning would have been nice!... lol.
How do you feel when taking the Prometrium? does it make you feel sick or anything? I hope this time around is a success for you!

[allie_44107]

Hi there-

I am taking prometrium right now and I also took it last cycle.  I had my third IUI on Tuesday and I was instructed to start it yesterday.  I thought the same thing when I first saw the bottle-don't take if you are or could become pregnant.  I guess our RE's know best...best of luck to you!  

[nunu1977]

Thank you for your reply! I spent some time doing research last night on this. I guess the only reason that it is a class C drug is because there have not been enough studies on it for the FDA it make it a class A, but it has not shown and adverse affects in any of the studies that have been done.    
I am half wondering that because I was carrying twins that i was not making enough progesterone to keep up with two babies, but as you said, ill never know that for sure. I get frustrated that Drs are not pro-active about routinely testing progesterone in the first trimester.

[Heather5]

Yeah, it is kind of ironic that prometrium has that warning when it is such a common supplement in early pregnancy. But don't worry, it's really not an issue. Lots and lots of women are using it through the first trimester. As for when to start taking them, it depends on what it is used for. Some women take it every cycle after ovulation if their levels are too low to sustain a possible pregnancy...or to extend a luteal phase defect. Others start it once they get a positive pregnancy test...usually as a precaution. Like you said, it's hard to say whether a miscarriage is caused by low progesterone or if it is the miscarriage that is causing the low progesterone. But it certainly doesn't hurt taking a supplement and it could potentially help, so that's why many doctors prescribe it in early pregnancy.

I wish you all the best! Hopefully you'll get a BFP again very soon and carry to term next time!