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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

Progesterone cream, yes or no?

43 replies

moosey89 · 29/08/2023 10:32

Has anyone got experience of using progesterone cream, and did it help with getting/staying pregnant?

If so, any recommendations on brands? My progesterone is a little low, and I'd like to see if it could help me.

OP posts:
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Hotmalibu94 · 23/09/2023 09:41

@addib congratulations! How long did it take for the vit b to help your short luteal phase? Mine was 11 days last month and 9 days this month so I started taking vit b this month! Your experience is giving me hope 🥲

addib · 23/09/2023 09:19

Well I used the cream for a few days until I couldn't bare the smell of it anymore. I stopped using it. I'm now 7 weeks 1 day and had my scan yesterday. Baby was fine with a heartbeat. The cause for my bleeding was a subcnrionic haematoma which is 19mm by 5mm by 2 so quite large. May have more bleeding.

Just thought I'd come back to update

addib · 17/09/2023 20:05

My cream arrived Friday and it's completely stopped my spotting. Have a scan tomorrow. Will update on how it goes. X

addib · 14/09/2023 11:57

moosey89 · 14/09/2023 11:44

@addib my luteal phase and my cycle as a whole has generally always been pretty textbook to be honest.

I had issues getting pregnant, and have had issues staying pregnant, so suspected something might be out of balance. Now I've had 2 missed miscarriages and a chemical my GP did blood tests which confirmed my level was low, and I also have a Mira fertility tracker at home which tests progestogene in urine and that was low consistently in my luteal phase too.

Oh that's really interesting. My luteal phase isn't considered short anymore but I do wonder if the cause for my miscarriages is low progesterone too. What was your level at your 21 day bloods? Was it very low or just a bit low? X

Original poster
moosey89 · 14/09/2023 11:44

@addib my luteal phase and my cycle as a whole has generally always been pretty textbook to be honest.

I had issues getting pregnant, and have had issues staying pregnant, so suspected something might be out of balance. Now I've had 2 missed miscarriages and a chemical my GP did blood tests which confirmed my level was low, and I also have a Mira fertility tracker at home which tests progestogene in urine and that was low consistently in my luteal phase too.

OP posts:
addib · 14/09/2023 08:20

moosey89 · 13/09/2023 21:18

@addib ah I'm sorry to hear that - I really hope it ends up not being a miscarriage.

Yeah, you just stop and wait for the same time next month! No clue if it helps but hey, worth a try.

What made you think you had low progesterone can I ask? Was it a short luteal phase?

I had a short luteal phase last year after a hormone imbalance I developed. I started on B100 complex and various other supplements and it increased my Luteal phase to between 12 and 14 days. So some months I would come on at 13dpo others as late as 15dpo. The B vitamins definitely help and they help quickly too. They help to detox the body of extra oestrogen which in turn prevents oestrogen dominance which can cause progesterone to be low.

I'm still unsure on what this bleeding is. I suspect it's a very slow start to an miscarriage. I will keep you updated and I'll let you know how I get on with the progesterone cream.

Original poster
moosey89 · 13/09/2023 21:18

@addib ah I'm sorry to hear that - I really hope it ends up not being a miscarriage.

Yeah, you just stop and wait for the same time next month! No clue if it helps but hey, worth a try.

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addib · 13/09/2023 18:16

moosey89 · 13/09/2023 18:03

@addib yeah I've ordered it- you only use it after ovulation otherwise it can mess with your ovulation as you're meant to have a naturally low level of progestogene in the first half of your cycle and it starts to increase a couple of days post ovulation so not used it yet but hopefully it arrives in the next week or so! I'm CD4 currently x

I've ordered it too. I'm currently pregnant but I think I'm miscarrying. Having some bleeding. Will keep it to use next pregnancy.

Do you just stop using it at 14dpo fi you don't conceive?

Original poster
moosey89 · 13/09/2023 18:03

@addib yeah I've ordered it- you only use it after ovulation otherwise it can mess with your ovulation as you're meant to have a naturally low level of progestogene in the first half of your cycle and it starts to increase a couple of days post ovulation so not used it yet but hopefully it arrives in the next week or so! I'm CD4 currently x

OP posts:
addib · 12/09/2023 18:19

Hey, I'm going to start on the cream too. Have you started it yet? Do you know your luteal phase length?

My luteal phase was a bit short so I started on the B100 complex which is all the b vitamins in high dose plus a high dose vitamin C and D. I take other stuff as well but those specifically to tackle my short luteal. It defo worked. Luteal phase increased to 12 to 14 days. Varied cycle to cycle but my most common day for AF arriving was 13dpo but sometimes as late as 15 so it defo worked. I track BBT so know exactly when I ovulate.

Anyway we conceived this cycle and I'm currently 5 weeks 4 days but unfortunately ive been having some light bleeding. So I'm expecting the worst. If this pregnancy doesn't work out I'm going to try the cream. In fact I'll be trying it as soon as it arrives to try and help this pregnancy if I'm not miscarrying already.

Let me know if you've ordered it or not? X

bstrong0805 · 07/09/2023 10:56

@moosey89 I got a private prescription for it as I was seeing a fertility specialist.

Original poster
moosey89 · 07/09/2023 07:36

@MixedCouple thanks but my query is about progesterone which I have a deficiency in, that's not part of conception tablets anyway.

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MixedCouple · 07/09/2023 06:50

The conception tablets are a fad. My BIL is an OBGYN and said majority of women don't need it. If younhave a healthy balanced diet all you need it Bit D, Folic Acid and Omega 3 (you can get this from diet) otherwise all the other stuff not necessary.

Butterfly2000 · 07/09/2023 01:07

Wow that's a long wait! I hope you get to speak to someone sooner. Keeping everything crossed that you get yoir bfp soon x

Original poster
moosey89 · 06/09/2023 22:07

@Butterfly2000 yeah I do - it took 2.5 years to get pregnant the first time so started tracking maybe 6 months in. This time took 6 months trying, and tracked from the start because we have to use home artificial insemination so have to narrow down the days! Sadly the GP seems to have a 4 week wait even for a phone appointment 😞 will definitely order the progesterone cream though for next cycle, the worst that happens is I'm £30 out of pocket if I get a prescription in time and don't use it!

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Butterfly2000 · 06/09/2023 21:35

@moosey89 Do you use opk's or anything to track? Might be quicker to have a telephone consultation with the GP rather than waiting for a face to face appointment? Probably no harm starting the cream or vitamins before you see/speak to them

Original poster
moosey89 · 06/09/2023 17:38

@bstrong0805 that's interesting - what was your process to get to having the progesterone? I'm really keen to get it ahead of next cycle x

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bstrong0805 · 06/09/2023 17:31

No advice on cream but after getting told we have unexplained secondary infertility, the doctor has given me progesterone suppositories to take from after ovulation (and IUI are we are trying a few cycles of that) till date of period. It is only my second cycle so I don’t have much feedback but apparently it helps implantation.

Original poster
moosey89 · 06/09/2023 12:37

@Butterfly2000 thank you - it's just so disheartening when every single website I can find implies that low progesterone = no ovulation.
I will give the GP a call today and at least get a follow up which will probably mean it misses next cycle as appointments are over 4 weeks wait currently! Now I know my levels are low I'm going to get the cream I think xx

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Butterfly2000 · 06/09/2023 12:10

Don't lose hope @moosey89 I've heard of women ovulating with low progesterone. Did you get the progesterone cream? Definitely get onto your GP asap, and I would suggest starting B6 next cycle. I take 50mg daily

Original poster
moosey89 · 06/09/2023 11:37

@Butterfly2000 thanks for checking in, not too great, my day 21 bloods came back super low, not really sure if that means I actually need a prescription to take from ovulation or not now, need to see how I can follow up with the GP! How are you doing?

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HaylsTtcAfterLoss · 06/09/2023 06:48

Saw you discussing b6 further up the thread, with my first pregnancy (sadly ended in MC at 9 weeks) I took b6 the full cycle we conceived. Along with folic acid, vitamin D and vitamin C and zinc. A really random concoction of vitamins that at the time I didn’t do much research about but it seemed to work!

This is my second cycle trying again after MC and I took a prenatal which I’m actually not a fan of as it made me ovulate late! So next cycle, if this cycle isn’t a positive, I’m going to go back to my original vitamins x

Butterfly2000 · 06/09/2023 00:14

@moosey89 How are you getting on? x

Original poster
moosey89 · 29/08/2023 14:29

Thanks @Butterfly2000 that's good to hear! I just went hunting for ones that had L-methylfolate in rather than the synthetic folic acid. Let's hope it works for both of us!

That's really interesting @WoolyMammoth55 - I'd definitely be keen to give it a go, especially as I know my levels are currently a bit on the lower end. x

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WoolyMammoth55 · 29/08/2023 14:25

Hi OP, my sister conceived and gave birth to both her kids in a UAE country where the general population is high risk for baby loss due to very high rates of cousin marriage. As a result the OBs are highly trained in maximising the chances of a healthy pregnancy.

The advice the medics gave her - their "general advice for a successful pregnancy" - was to supplement with progesterone cream daily from BFP to 12 weeks, then tail off at that point providing all is well. I'm not a medic but what I understand from her is that it supports the foetus while the placenta is 'coming online'.

On her advice, I did this with my first pregnancy, using this product: https://www.biovea.com/uk/product/detail/1673/progesterone-cream-2oz-59ml All went well and my DS is now a very healthy hearty 6 year old...

However, during Covid I couldn't source the cream so for my second pregnancy I didn't use it and my 2nd DS is now 2 and also thriving!

So I can't weigh in much on whether it makes a huge difference or not, but as an anxious FTM I found it reassuring to use it and felt I was optimising my chances of a successful pregnancy. Incidentally, one tube goes a very long way and I gave my second tube away since it was nearing the expiry date.

Wish you the very best of luck. x