Progesterone supplements

[SGChome20]

I had a MC in November and then a chemical in December. Just found out I'm pregnant again and I've had light spotting which is how previous 2 MC started so I'm understandably anxious. I'm 37.

I've called GP to try and get progesterone pessaries but they don't seem keen. I've also called EPU and waiting for a call back but Im guessing of gp won't give me them neither will EPU. Does anyone know how I could get a private prescription and does it need to be a face to face consultation? Do I need a scan first? I am in Glasgow.

I've also wondered about taking aspirin but I've read prior to 8 weeks that could be harmful so I'm unsure.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Firstly, sorry to hear about your losses.

Health watchdog NICE has recently issued new guidance that women who experience bleeding and have suffered at least one loss should be given progesterone in early pregnancy.

I think unfortunately this is taking time to filter down into GP surgeries but your EPU should be on the ball and be able to prescribe.

I had a (3rd) loss at the end of October and following a positive test and spotting in December at 6 weeks EPU straight away offered progesterone before I could even ask. I'm now 11 weeks and all looking good at the moment.

When you speak to EPU, push for it.

I can't offer advice on the aspirin though sorry. I did a lot of reading around it but didn't want to take the risk myself.

Good luck!

@Beth262 thank you. I didn't actually know it was after 1MC, I did think you had to have had recurrent so thanks. I've found that guidance now. It does say that I should have had pregnancy confirmed with a scan though which I didn't. However that's only because EPU just told me to self manage and take a test in a week which was negative so they just considered it a complete MC so no need for further treatment. My chemical happened so quickly and was just more like a period that I didn't even bother calling EPU.

I'm going to try and be really pushy when they call which isn't like me but I need to try everything.

Glad you've found it. Use the recommendations in there as the basis for your request and definitely be pushy!

If they challenge you on the fact you didn't have a scan, throw it back to them that that was only as a result of thier advice.

Hope you get it x

I have progesterone pessaries with this pregnancy after 3 losses. They were prescribed by a consultant though, alongside Clexane injections, I also take 150mg of aspirin a day from my own research, you can buy this easily. I’m still taking the full cocktail and I’m 32 weeks now. My previous losses were at 7, 5, and 5 weeks, so something seems to be different this time. I’m praying this is the one I get to keep. Anyway, I don’t know if it was the pessaries, or the clexane, but if I were you I’d really push for them. Very best of luck

@JarvisCockersRightEyebrow sorry for your losses. I really hope the supplements work for you and you get to hold your wee baby soon.

Thanks @Beth262 good point re the scan!

You need to get an apt with a private doctor or fertility doctor I did and paid for the prescription and apt best money I’ve ever spent, I’m now 30 weeks after 2 MCs. Good luck x

I've contacted the only private clinic in my area and they say they don't do private prescriptions, they only do prescriptions for their own patients. At a bit of a loss now and I've had a tiny bit more spotting today.

@SGChome20 I paid about £150 for a consultation and then they obviously prescribed with you being pregnant obviously this might be different because I wasn’t this was pre pregnancy. What region are you in? Have you tried to sign up or get a consultation with a private GP locally?

What did the EPU say @SGChome20?

Do you have a Nuffield hospital near you?
It's private.

Or a bupa

Or have you heard of Livi?

I've had texts about this from my gp surgery

I've called EPU back again and begged, literally said 'I'm begging you', so the midwife is going to speak to the consultant and get back to me. The midwife did say the guidelines say that it should be a confirmed intra uterine pregnancy but if they scanned me now there's nothing to see.

Nuffield said they need a referral from my nhs dr to say that I wish to seek private medical treatment. I'm just signing up to Lloyds pharmacy online dr so might get somewhere with them.

Hi - you need to send the EPU this infographic from
Tommys, which is for clinicians and patients to help spread the word on the benefits of progesterone.

www.tommys.org/sites/default/files/legacy/PRISM%20Infographic_v4_1.pdf
This is what the website says:
If you have early pregnancy bleeding and have had one or more previous miscarriages, you should request progesterone treatment. As many clinicians will not have heard of this very recent research, we have developed a simple and clear infographic that you can bring with you to the doctor that clearly explains the benefits of the treatment.

I feel so strongly about this as I had to go through three harrowing miscarriages before I got help and it really doesn’t need to be that way. Good luck!

Any joy?

NICE guidelines changed in December 2021 to support use in early pregnancy for those with a prior loss and bleeding.

EPU should be more up to date than GP so fingers crossed. Remind them to check the new guidance.

I had to beg my GP for it as they were hesitant due to the guidance being new which is beyond annoying.

I've seen a place called Nova Fertility mentioned on here before and they offer private consultations and prescriptions as far as I know so you could look into that if you're struggling.

Thanks everyone. I knew about the updated guidance and so does EPU, she actually said was I referring to the NICE guidance so she knew but said that all NHS trusts need to come up with their own rules. That was on Monday. The woman I spoke to today was more sympathetic and is going to speak to one of the drs but did warn me I might not hear back till tomorrow. I'm going to ring my gp again in the morning and send them that link @BaggaTDoubleTroubleDoubleG at least I have an email address for the gp.

Hope you get it sorted OP. I asked my GP after a mc last year and a history of low progesterone, and I mentioned the new NICE guidelines. They refused and said I would need an epu scan to confirm pregnancy first.

@Rrrob did EPU agree to scan you? What was the outcome?

The NICE guidelines do say

1.5.2
Offer vaginal micronised progesterone 400 mg twice daily to women with an intrauterine pregnancy confirmed by a scan, if they have vaginal bleeding and have previously had a miscarriage. [2021]

So I don't know how far I will get since they are saying that they can't scan me as it's too early. It's seems odd that they say it's beneficial but then you can't get a scan until you're a bit further along. How early can you get a scan to confirm pregnancy?

@SGChome20 I didn’t try. I felt so deflated by it all. On the plus side I’m ten weeks and saw a heartbeat at a private scan last weekend..

@Rrrob oh that's amazing, congratulations. Seeing a heartbeat is definitely a big step!

I've had three early miscarriages and a round of IVF. I had my first scan at 6 weeks and started 400mg cyclogest pessaries pretty much as soon as I'd had a positive pregnancy test and I'm sure that's the only thing that kept me pregnant. Do keep pushing and fighting for it. Good luck xx

Sorry I should say.. this was through the IVF round at a fertility clinic. GP was useless with any kind of pregnancy loss/ prevention