Progesterone with clomid - advice please!

[LaurenN23]

Hi,

I am due to start my first round of Clomid next week. I'm TTC #1, PCOS, DH's SA was all good. No previous pregnancies/miscarriages.

I asked my consultant if I could take progesterone during treatment/early pregnancy to reduce the risk of miscarriage and she said it's not something they offer. Do I just carry on without and hope that if I do get pregnant it will all be okay? I know that progesterone isn't the magic fix but I've heard it helps.

Or can I somehow get the prescription elsewhere?

I was prescribed progesterone with Clomid, but I did need to remind the consultant so I don't think it's a very common treatment plan.

The reason I wanted it was because of low and lowish progesterone levels on day 21 tests, and early spotting in my luteal phase. Do you have low levels, so is that why you're worried?

However, I have heard that there are studies that show that progesterone support in the first trimester for non IVF pregnancies doesn't have any impact at all. I have read that lots of clinic's aren't prescribing progesterone because of this, because the research just isn't there to support that it helps.

It's also pretty horrible, physically and emotionally. I really struggle with the side effects.

I have seen others on here order progesterone cream online, but I don't know anything about that.

@HeyHeyWhatever that's really helpful thank you!

I have only ever ovulated once and my level on day 21 was 38. Which I think is okay? I started spotting 11DPO so I dont know if that's normal or not? I fully came on at 12DPO.

Thanks for getting back

Yeah, it looks like your progesterone levels are fine. The Clomid will make you ovulate, they may need to play about with the dosage but hopefully that will be sorted quickly. Are you having any monitoring? You should at least get a day 21 test, even better if you get scans. That should confirm the dose is correct.

Spotting at 11dpo when you get your period on 12dpo probably wouldn't worry me too much either. It's a slightly shorter LP, but would be enough time to implant. My issue was I could start spotting up to a week before AF arrived (15 day LP), so possibly not enough time to implant before my lining destabilised.

Once/if you get pregnant, your body should start producing the right amount of progesterone anyway, and as I say there doesn't seem to be too much to suggest an additional pessary helps. The majority of miscarriages are due to genetics and so were never meant to be, despite any sort of intervention like additional progesterone. Of course, we have no control over that.

Good luck with the Clomid! I find taking it at night is better for the side effects.

@HeyHeyWhatever ah thank you so much!! That has really eased my mind.

I really hope the clomid works, I'm done with waiting now haha! This journey is so upsetting and I want to make sure I'm doing everything right.

Do you have a little one or are you still on this path?

@HeyHeyWhatever also yes I'm having CD10 scab and CD21 bloods which is great!

No, I'm still plodding along! I'm in the tww of cycle 4 of Clomid. Two more cycles, before going off for IVF.

I've found treatment really hard, I have to admit. I had such high hopes, and the disappointment each month is hard to bear. But I hope you have a more positive experience!!

That's a great amount of monitoring. Is that each month? I had a scan during the first cycle to confirm the dosage was working, then I've been left to it. That's been pretty tough too.

@HeyHeyWhatever I have everything crossed for you that this cycle works 🤞🏻

I'm dreading starting because of the disappointment each month. I really feel for you!

I'm not sure if it's every month, but I know it definitely is for the first month. I will push for the second

Hi everyone, I can see this thread hasn’t been active but is there any updates if the clomid and progesterone helped concieve naturally before IVF?

im struggling with low progesterone which started 12 months ago - started spotting from 7 dpo - 14 dpo then flow would come. I’ve just had my second medicated cycle of clomid and progesterone which hasn’t worked :(

Hi @Loz2467

I went on to have two more cycles of Clomid and progesterone but neither were successful. We went on to IVF and I'm incredibly lucky to be bathing my baby right now!

My experience with Clomid and progesterone wasn't great. I don't think I had enough monitoring, and the drugs really made me feel rubbish. My mental health was at its worst with it. But, that was just my experience. I know lots of women have great success with it. A friend conceived both her children on it and had a much better experience generally.

Wishing you all the luck 🍀

@HeyHeyWhatever congrats on your little one! You got there in the end after what must of been a difficult journey. 💗 thanks also for replying.

I have a 3 year old that I concieved pretty easily at the age of 32. When he was 15 months old we started trying again and got pregnant first time A felt very lucky until we hit 18 weeks and we lost her through a missed miscarriage which felt very cruel. That was Feb 2021. We started trying again as my periods returned in the April but no luck. Then from the july that’s when the spotting issue started and I was just getting passed around the NHS until I finally went private and started getting some help. I’ve only got 3 more months of medicated cycles then we need to decide if we financially want to pay the IVF costs. I just feel really down I should have a 1 year old not struggling with infertility. I just don’t know how / why the imbalance started. :( xx

How many milligrams of progesterone were you ladies prescribed. I’m totally considering buying the progesterone only pill to try and boost my levels

hey @emilyhall91
have you had your levels checked or have symptoms of low progesterone?
I’m on 400mg cyclogest pessary each evenings starting from 2 days past ovulation

Yes my levels are low I had a blood test on day 21. Seriously considering grinding up a progesterone only contraceptive pill
you just can’t get progesterone if it’s not prescribed to you.

@emilyhall91 I’m so sorry it’s terrible isn’t it. I’ve been TTC since March 2021 with no luck. We lost our girl at 17 weeks in Feb 2021. Thought I’d get pregnant again but nope! Then it was July 2021 when the spotting started for a full week before my period! Then only 12 months later have I managed to get some help. I went to care fertility and paid private. I’m going into month 3 just now. No luck with my first two months. I’m 36 and conceived easily before xxx