Progesterone for recurrent miscarriage sufferers

[Njay3]

Hi all,
I have a little girl who's 4.5 and since her have had three missed miscarriages.

I'm finally on the waiting list with recurrent miscarriage clinic on the NHS but they're very slow and as I'm now over 40, I don't have time to wait.

I've heard lots of stories of people who've suffered repeated loss having a successful pregnancy when they're prescribed progesterone but in my area, you're only given progesterone if you're bleeding after a healthy scan. As all of my miscarriages have been missed, it seems unlikely that this will ever be the case for me.

Does anyone know if there's any other way of getting progesterone prescribed? Thanks so much and sending love to anyone else in a similar situation x

Hi, I'm so sorry for your loss. It's bonkers that they only prescription progesterone if you are bleeding. Sometimes it just makes me really mad to see NHS so behind. They seem to prefer to let women suffer than prescribe a relatively cheap medication.

If you have a good GP, then can you convince him/her to prescribe? Otherwise your only option is to go private. If you see a private fertility specialist, she can write to your GP to prescribe progesterone. I took this route when I needed thyroid medication to keep TSH low but GP initially refused. Then the private gynaecologist wrote to GP and then GP gave me the medication.

Hi

I’m sorry for your losses.

I must have been lucky with my GP as he did prescribe it for me. He contacted the hospital first to check, and made it clear that it was on a “it can’t hurt” basis rather than this is what they would usually do. But it possibly has helped me (or else coincidental).

I am also over 40 and have had 2 MMC, and both stopped growing around 6w so before a heartbeat would be seen, so wouldn’t have been able to get progesterone from EPU. I have had 1 healthy pregnancy, and currently 17w with my second, and for both of these I took progesterone from 4.5 weeks.

I would guess privately would be the only way if you can’t get it from your GP.

Best of luck x

Thanks so much for your replies @Serendipity24 and @Summersun91 I'll definitely try my GP again and see if they prescribe any easier than the early miscarriage unit. Last time i tried this with my GP practice the doctor I saw was awful and told me there was nothing he could do and they wouldn't do early scans "just because I'd had miscarriages before", when I went on to have another miscarriage, the EPU said they absolutely would have done an early scan. Think it's scared me off. There are also private GPs aren't there? I wonder if they're more likely to do it! Good luck with everything @Summersun91 x

First of all im so sorry for your losses.
I went to the recurrent miscarriage clinic. It took almost a year to see someone - 10 months to be exact.
My consultant said that if i was to 'accidentally' fall pregnant then i would need progesterone from the first positive test.
3 weeks after my first consultation i found out i was pregnant which was crazy to me😅 i went to see them the day after my period had finished.

I got my positive test and instantly rang my GP who said they didnt have a clue about it, about me going to the RMC and about what had been suggested because the letter hadnt been sent through to my GP from my consultants secretary. Lets just say she got an ear full🤣

After 3 long days of arguing back and forth with medical professionals i managed to get progesterone but i only got them under EPAU because everyone was adament that they didnt have a clue about it and EPAU said that they will only provide them the once. They werent wrong. I was 3 days away from running out, knowing that i needed them up to 16 weeks and i was on week 9.. i could scream. It was another 2 days of back and forth with my GP until they got the letter from the consultant and agreed to give me them up until 16 weeks.

Go through the RMC and ask them about whether you get pregnant again is there any further support and they should mention about progesterone.

Just keep fighting for it! Good luck x

Thanks so much for your response @LER2023 ❤️❤️ Annoyingly, it was the recurrent miscarriage clinic who said I could only get it if I was bleeding and had had a heathy scan, grrr. I don't know if it's because I'm in Birmingham Council and the council is bankrupt (so depressing) that it's even harder to get proper treatment. I'm thinking of paying for a private GP and begging him or her. By all accounts, it won't do any harm and could do loads of good. I feel like everyone I've spoken to who has suffered from recurrent miscarriage has only had success after they've managed to beg for progesterone. Just let us have it!!!!! xxx

So I am in a similar boat to you - been referred but am waiting, I’m 39, have a 3.5 year old and have had 3 MC (including 1 MMC) since September last year. I suspect I am hyper fertile so some of my issue will be egg quality (which I’m doing everything I can to help) but have also heard similar to you that progesterone my help. My friend is a midwife at our local hospital and shared that she’d spoken to a lady recently with similar situation to me and that she was also a GP and knew that GPs in our area literally won’t prescribe it so she self referred to Tommy’s and got access to the prescription that way and is now 5 months pregnant! So my next action is to speak to Tommy’s to see how I can be referred to them to speak about my situation and get the prescription I need

Update from me - you can’t self refer to Tommy’s, has to be through GP but should be straight forward if you meet their criteria (which I/we do). I’ve got an appointment with my GP next Monday to discuss referrals and next steps. Will also mention progesterone and see what they say… you never know! Will keep you posted in case it helps!