Help! Progesterone pessary alternative?

[poppydrums]

Looking for a bit of advice here. I have had 3 miscarriages over the course of a year which has been incredibly hard (I'm also 42).

I had investigations and the only potential cause that has been identified is beta 2 glycoprotein (antiphospholipid syndrome). I had an appointment with a consultant and she said that if I get pregnant again I will immediately need to take asprin and start injecting Dalteparin start progesterone. The progesterone seemed to be as an added because it might help, it won't do any harm.

I am fine to do daily injections - it is the twice daily pessary what is causing me huge amounts of anxiety. I put it down to being sexually abused as a child in a really horrible way. As a result, I'm really conservative when it comes to things concerning this area of my body. I've never used tampons etc. Is there an alternative way to take progesterone? I don't care how much it costs - I just can't deal with the pessary. Just writing this is causing me anxiety. TIA

I'm really sorry that you're dealing with this - can you speak to the consultant and explain your difficulties and see what she says?

I was given IM progesterone injections which I actually found much easier than a pessary as they always resulted in miscarriage but with the injections I knew exactly how much I’d had

Thank you, can I ask if you are in the UK? I haven't heard this is an option here so hoping it is.

I am based in the UK but I was given the treatment in NY and brought it back with me. It was really so much better

There is also Lubion, which is injections into the tummy fat. That's what I had in IVF because the pessaries weren't considered enough in my case. It's quite expensive like £100 for a week of it but very easy to inject.

If you are prescribed utrogestan you can also take it orally! I'm taking it in the morning and the evening before bed, and for the morning one they said I can take it orally. I'm in the middle of ivf so I'm getting my blood checked every couple of days and my progesterone levels are good. Im quite sure you could ask to take it orally and it shouldn't be an issue. If absorption isn't as high orally maybe you could increase the dose so it reaches the right blood concentration.

Thank you so much, everyone, for your advice! It is really helpful. I will speak to my consultant or midwife whem/if I get pregnant but I feel so my more incontrol if I can go in and actually mention alternative options rather than rely on what they are willing to discuss. Thank you!

Another IVF veteran here. Lubion is injectable but pricey as a previous poster said, uteogestan can be swallowed like a tablet (they're quite big though if that bothers you!) and cyclogest pessaries can be used anally instead of vaginally, if that might be more comfortable for you. There are definitely options so don't feel you have to do anything that would be upsetting.

I think in the US progesterone in oil injections are used quite a lot, I haven't tried those but heard they can be more painful than the lubion.

I've also had 3 miscarriages in the past year so understand how hard that must have been - I'm so sorry you've been through that and really hope you get a breakthrough that works for you.

Mine was an oil I.M injection from the US, will check what it was called. It was a little painful to inject but small price to pay and I coped ok doing it myself.