Progesterone

[mascaraisamust]

Asked this on the infertility thread too but would appreciate if anyone has any advice on here.

In short: Pg level of 1 on day 21 bloods, told annovulatory cycle and abnormal result so referred to a 'fertility specialist'. That cycle I got a bfp , gp doesn't give me progesterone despite result and I miscarry at 8 weeks (although suspected before this). 'Fertility appointment' gets cancelled and rebooked for November!

Questions:

1. The 'fertility' appintment is a gynae appintment and nurse led? What does this mean?
2. Will they help me if I got a bfp and miscarried? Or will they fob me off with 'your obviously capable' and wait until i miscarry 3 times?
3. I'm convinced with progesterone things would have been different. I have a short LP and obviously the result was extremely low. How can I get progesterone? The gp said they couldn't prescribe.
4. If I have to go private whats the process? Anyone done this in the Midlands?

Anyone in a similar boat, been prescribed progesterone, got an tips?!

Thanks all x

Hi, I could have written that first bit myself! My level came back as 3 and was told I hadn't ovulated but I got pregnant that cycle but miscarried at 8.4 weeks.

I also have driven myself nuts with the thought that had I been given progesterone supplements the outcome could have been different. I've since had a second miscarriage but prior to it going wrong I was desperately trying to find a doctor who would prescribe me progesterone to try and stop it happening again. However, I've spoken to two Doctors (including a private one) and they both said low progesterone is a sign of a failing pregnancy rather than the cause. Ironically with second miscarriage I paid for a private blood test and my progesterone was high. (Of course, this is just my experience and someone else may have seen a doctor who thinks it can help)

How long have you been trying to conceive? I had just been referred after a year when I got pregnant the first time and i kept my referral. If you have one booked for now, hopefully they will take your full history and progress accordingly. I'm not sure what a nurse led appointment would be like but maybe that's the way your local area does it?

I'm really sorry you are going through this. Miscarriage is heartbreaking and I hope they help you at your appointment.

Thanks tea, it is so frustrating and I worry that Gps think I'm clutching at straws when asking for progesterone. They didn't offer to check my pg levels when I was pregnant. For now I've got a gps appointment to voice my concerns with DH and my gynae one has been now been moved to october.

I've been ttc for 10 months. Im worried I'll get another BFP again and not sustain it.

Tea I hope everything works out for you soon. Thanks x

Oh and the desperately trying to find someone to prescibe it before my next bfp is exactly what I'm doing now tea

There is the private clinic MUMS in the Midlands. they offer private blood tests and scans - no idea about prescribing medications though.

Thanks Rooibos, it's worth a try.

Mum doesn't seem to do it unfortunately.

Hi mascara

Don't ever really post on here but our stories have some similarities so thought i'd shout up!

We had been TTC for a year when I went to the GP in January and she arranged to refer me. Unbelievably (people say it happens all the time but I didn't believe it) I found out I was pregnant the very next day. The reason I went to the GP was because I thought AF was coming as I had started spotting, as I do every month.

The spotting carried on and despite me asking for progesterone support my GP (a different one as I had moved areas in that time) refused. I carried on spotting and went on to lose the baby at around 8 weeks despite seeing a heartbeat at an EPU scan the week before.

I have self diagnosed I suppose but I am sure I have low progesterone which causes me to spot for up to a week before AF arrives. I am highly suspicious that it was the cause of my mc. I have had my progesterone tested and it was fine but I am sure it must be able to suddenly drop one day and that must be when my spotting starts.

Have been trying for 5 months since my mc and had no joy, still spotting excessively every month before AF. Have been to my GP and also paid for a private GP appointment. Both said they are unable to prescribe progesterone and that they can only do so under the advice of a fertility specialist. Honestly I am at my wits end as I am convinced that progesterone may be the key to not only preventing a mc, but actually me conceiving in the first place!

I have been referred again and actually have my initial appointment at the hospital this Thursday. Like you, I am concerned that they are going to send me away because I did manage to get pregnant. I guess I will soon find out.

There is nothing more frustrating. I feel like we are just being left to fend for ourselves and i'm really anxious about the appointment.

Also, my SIL suffered 3 mc in a year. On her 4th pregnancy she was prescribed progesterone by her GP (who sought advice from a fertility clinic) and she is now 20 weeks. May be a coincidence but may be the key for people like us.

ibelieveinmagic you have just retold my story! I was also spotting and I was just told to 'wait it out and see what happens' as it was my first. I also got my BFP when my fertility appointment letter came.

What has happened to you SIL sounds like what I'm expecting to happen from reading around.

Looked at private appintments and they are around the £200 mark, I can't risk going to one and being sent away for that amount.

My gynae appointment has been rearranged for October... I've booked into my gp in two weeks time as I want to know my options.

Hope everything goes well for you in Thurs. Fingers crossed they listen!

I went to see a private GP in Nottingham (not a fertility one, just a normal Dr) and he was outraged at my treatment by the NHS but said that he couldn't help me, he could only refer me privately to a fertility specialist. He was really nice though and actually didn't charge me for the appointment which I couldn't believe.

I hope you get somewhere with your GP, to be honest though I wouldn't hold your breath. It's like banging your head against a bloody brick wall.

I will let you know how I get on x

What a lovely gp! So how do you see a private fertility specialist?!! That's my next find. Please do let me know how you get on. Wishing you all the best and thanks for your input, it's appeciated. I've been pretty chilled since the emc but now I'm getting annoyed at the lack of support.x

A private fertility specialist is basically a Dr who treats infertility - so Midlands Fertility, Care, Nurture are names I know of in Midlands(ish) area. Dr Quenby runs in Coventry a clinic for people who have repeat miscarriages - costs there are reasonable and progesterone is prescribed from reading threads on MN. My only concern is they are businesses ( not Quenby as such) so sell perhaps IUI, IVF rather than pregnancy support? just a thought.

I get progesterone from my gp to support pregnancy but this was due to a hospital consultant ( private IVF for first pregnancy) saying I needed it and due to an NHS obstetrician saying I needed it for this one ( have lost pregnancies without).

So I hope a gynae/specialist will prescribe it for you.

Rooibos, thanks for that. Contacted Midland fertility tonight. Another month to wait for the gynae appointment.

They are very fertility package orientated so I know what you mean! Thanks for your help.

My progesterone came back on day 21 (27) I am referred at fertility I spot up to a week before af starts, I'm sure my progesterone lowers and this is why I can't get pregnant , the fertility specialist has sent me to have another day 21 done , but she thinks there is nothing wrong with my progesterone I'm sure it is so frustrating

Ah Rainy it's so annoying!

I've booked a private appointment now in the hope I'll get somewhere.

Booked a nhs doctors appointment to discuss
Then booked a private consultant appointment to discuss
Then got the nhs nurse led gynae appoinment to do I'm not sure what!!

Surely I've got to get some where!!

I almost feel like i am telling them how to do there job, I'm scared in case i keep going on and they think sod this and don't bother as they might think I'm a miss know it all, but when you have had this problem for over a year and read up on it , it shouts out low progesterone!!

I also spotted before my miscarriage and saw the heartbeat twice. It is very frustrating that it's so difficult to get hold of and being left with the 'what if' is heartbreaking.

Is there a private clinic near you where you can have another progesterone test? Before i had the second miscarriage i paid for a private blood test as my NHS fertility Dr wouldn't test for it. It only cost £45 and put my mind at rest that low progesterone at least didnt cause the second one.

I've got a follow up appointment with a private fertility specialist shortly so will let you know if I'm told anything useful regarding progesterone.

Just thought I would update after my appointment today.

Saw a lovely, lovely Consultant at the hospital who said that the best course of action for us would be IVF. However, my FSH level is too high and so the NHS won't fund it. To say i'm shocked is an understatement. I thought I would be going in there to fight for him to refer me but it seems he would have been more than happy to do so but I won't get funded for treatment.

I did ask about the spotting and low progesterone but he said it wasn't an issue. I think a lot of the medical profession feel this way but we know our bodies, I'm sure you can't spot for days before af and everything be ok! Surely it's your lining coming away too early? It makes perfect sense to me!

Teakind I have just had another progesterone test and my next follow up appointment is in November, have not had the results back yet!! hope your appointment goes well

ibelieve I can't believe they won't fund you, i am so sorry, did they say they could review this if you don't get pregnant in a certain time frame?
I too don't think it can possibly right to spot every month before AF, the specialist told me that in some cases that it was normal, i believe its my lining coming away to early, I have read that there is progesterone cream you can buy online,only thing is you have to keep using it right to 12 weeks as if you stop before hand it can cause miscarriage , maybe that is another route to try!!

Ibelieveinmagic, I'm glad they were lovely but I can't believe they won't fund. Is it your first? There is a trial going on at the minute if any of you get bfps and want progesterone. That's the best I can find at the moment. With ivf they normally give progesterone until 12 weeks! X

Yes trying for my first. He is redoing the FSH blood test on my next cycle and says that the levels can sometimes fluctuate and as mine wasn't massively over the threshold it might come down enough to get treatment. If it doesn't he is giving me 6 months of Clomid. He felt sorry for me and said he thought the guidelines were pants! I am only 28 so it shouldn't be at this level really. Fingers crossed the level comes down enough!

I did actually try progesterone cream for 3 months up until last month but it made absolutely no difference to my spotting. Looking around on the internet lots of people have success with it though!

Oh Ibelieve everything crossed for you. Hope it goes down! Looks like you're starting to get the help that you need now though

I am in the same situation. I have given up with my GP having told them several times in the past year that I feel my progesterone is low due to having all the signs including temps going down after ovulation. They do nothing. I bought some natural progesterone cream but was too scared to take it as I dont know when to start/stop or how much to put on.

I just started yesterday taking 100mg of vit B6 as well as the 10mg in my Pregnacare multivitamin and I will do it every month from ovulation onwards. I am on 14dpo today so too late for this cycle where my temperature has been going down since day 8 and period is due! Argh!

Try vitamin C too, the month I got my BFP that's whats I was taking. Fingers crossed for next cycle arty

Thank you Mascara. I started taking that every day after ovulation this cycle.

I saw my consultant on Monday (private failed IVF cycle) and asked about progesterone. I was on pessaries and tablets and still bled at what would have been day 28. I was under the impression the the progesterone would hold it back. He said that there's no conclusive proof progesterone helps and the jury's out, but they prescribe it anyway because it won't do any harm, and that it won't hold back a bleed. My clinic (Hewitt) don't prescribe for 12 weeks either, just for long enough to get a BFP, and about a week after.