Progesterone after two early losses

[Skylark1990]

Hello, I've been wondering about how people went about getting progesterone supplements.

I'm currently having my second early miscarriage - I'm still breastfeeding my first baby, she's 19 months, and I know this can lower progesterone so wondering if this is why I have had the miscarriages 😞 I'm not sure but with my first I obviously wasn't breastfeeding and I got pregnant straight away and no issues. Having had two MC since January is really hard to deal with, and I'm wondering if maybe it's a low progesterone thing.

Did people manage to get it prescribed by their gp after one or two losses? Or did you need to be referred, and do you need to have had 3 losses for that? Or did you go privately?
Just wondering how to navigate looking into this...

Tia xxx

I'm sorry, I'm not in the UK and here in Germany it seems to just be a case of asking our regular gynaecologist for progesterone, but many ladies on this board seem to have unhelpful or clueless GPs and went for a private prescription instead. Hopefully someone with more info will be along shortly!

I wish it was that simple here!! Thank you anyway.

I'm sorry you're suffering another miscarriage. It is the worst club to be in. After my latest loss was confirmed in October (was my third with one successful pregnancy in between), I asked my EPU for it and they prescribed there and then. The NICE guidance has recently changed so point your GP to that if you can.

Good luck.

Currently 24 weeks and believe it has made a lot of difference this time around.

I am so sorry for your losses.

Similar to a PP, I am not in the UK and it was a simple case of asking the Gynecologist.

FWIW, I had 4 losses and 4 pregnancies that were carried to term. Progesterone was what made the difference for me, and I believe it was what made the difference.

Please talk to your health professionals.

Also try low dose aspirin! I took it from the start of my cycle, progesterone from 2 days after ovulation (determined using BBT and OPKs) and I think the combination did the trick.

If you ant get hold of progesterone you could at least try baby aspirin. No idea how it affects breastfeeding, but if you think breastfeeding might be hindering your TTC efforts then might also be an idea to stop that.

Thank you all. I'll chat to the doctor tomorrow hopefully about what my options are. So hard to know what is causing these losses 😞

@Skylark1990 I am so sorry for your losses.

I had a chemical pregnancy followed by two missed miscarriages. After my first miscarriage I had some blood work done and the results showed inconclusive but potential for low progesterone. When I found out I was pregnant again, I asked my GP to measure my progesterone and I had to go for two blood tests, three days apart, to see what my HCG and Progesterone were doing.

The HCG was perfect, but my progesterone had dipped significantly, and so I was prescribed Cyclogest pesseries which I started at 5 weeks. Sadly, by the time I started them, the baby had already stopped developing. I will say that although the hospital suspected the low progesterone may have been the cause, they could not say for sure. Maybe the baby stopped developing and that caused the low progesterone. I just want to be completely transparent because I know how much stress we are all under and looking for answers!

This cycle I have been taking progesterone since 3DPO (currently 6DPO) and I will continue to take it until the two week wait is over. If I am pregnant I keep taking progesterone for 12 - 16 weeks. If I am not pregnant, I stop, have my period, and then try again next month.

Thanks so much for sharing hour experience@Hana89 ❤️

As you say it's very hard to know isn't it but sounds like hopefully taking progesterone will give you a good shot for your next pregnancy 🤞🤞

I'm having some tests done so that will be good. Going to take a break for a month or so from TTC too, just to rebalance and try to get a bit grounded. Good luck! X

I'm also so sorry for your losses. That must have been incredibly hard to deal with ❤️

@Skylark1990 Thank you!
I think your plan sounds like the most sensible thing to do and also a real kindness for your body to take time to heal and balance. I had my last MMC on 30th December and this is our first month of trying again. Sometimes you really do need a break to just recentre yourself! Also, you're a wonderful mum breastfeeding your perfect baby girl - you deserve time to relax and enjoy her too! <3
Sending you so much love and luck! xxx

Thank you so much @Hana89 , that's really sweet ❤️ glad you took the time you need and best of luck for this coming cycle!
If you join the hoping for a BFP in May thread I may see you there - planning to lurk around then join in again next cycle x

Hi I was put in progesterone on my 5th pregnancy after 4 early loses now have a beautiful boy ! NICE GUIDELINES have been updateded I if you have early bleeding you can refer your self to the early pregnancy unit for a scan as they need to establish the pregnancy is in the right place etc www.guidelines.co.uk/news/updated-nice-guidance-recommends-offering-progesterone-to-women-with-a-higher-risk-of-miscarriage/456597.article

Hi,
I’m so sorry for your loss. I’ve had 5 pregnancies, 2 babies and 2 MC. I’m on my 5th pregnancy after a horrible missed miscarriage at 13 weeks last year.

I’ve been bleeding on and off since six weeks and have had two scans confirming that the pregnancy is progressing. First scan not a mention of progesterone, second scan the doctor recommended it as it’s now NICE guidelines to offer it to women who’ve had more than one loss.

so if you find your self in the same boat again please please ask and quote the guidelines. I was totally unaware and was only given it by chance I saw that particular doctor. It’s a very unfair lottery.

good luck x x x

Hey @Hana89 how did you get on with your cycle in April?
I got pregnant again in June and sadly have just lost the baby again at 6+4 weeks. I had bleeding so they checked for s heartbeat and found one, prescribed progesterone, but then I continued to bleed and passed the baby the next day. Devastated. That's 3 losses now.
I have been referred for tests and been told to take progesterone from a BFP next time I'd I fall before I see the specialists (long wait apparently). Wondering whether to take from ovulation or wait for a BFP. X

@HousePlantNeglect how are you getting on? Did the progesterone work for you? I hope pregnancy still going well x

@Skylark1990 so sorry to hear what happened.

Definitely take the Progesterone from 2/3dpo next time. Its role is not just to support the embryo but also to prepare and enrich the uterine lining, making it more favourable to accept the fertilized egg in the first place, and to inhibit small uterine contractions which would prevent the egg from attaching.

Obviously you need to accurately determine day of ovulation since you shouldn't take the progesterone before ovulation has occured, so OPKs and temping would be best.

I went to a private Gynae and it was really not expensive from a private doctor in UK. Worth a try? Don’t know if it’s coincidence but I did use it after I’d had recurrent losses and then had a healthy baby.

@Skylark1990 its actually progressed well thanks. Am now 19wks and then bleeding stopped about 10 weeks. I’ve no idea if it was due to the progesterone but it’s no harm to try it.

Did you get your tests?

Hi @Skylark1990
I'm so sorry for what you have been through and really hope that the referral can get you some answers 💞
As for me, I got pregnant in April on our first month trying after our loss and am currently 12weeks 4 days. We had a viability scan at 7 weeks and saw a strong little heartbeat and our next scan is on Monday so I'm desperately hoping he/she is okay in there!

I was on progesterone 200mg X 2 per day from 3DPO and then once my pregnancy was confirmed at 15dpo I was moved to 400mg X 2 per day and have been on that for the whole time and will likely continue to 16 weeks all being well.

xxxx

I’m so sorry @Skylark1990 . I’ve been there as well and it’s awful.

If your GP says that they won’t prescribe it then, as others have suggested, definitely get a private consultation and they will sort you out. It’s worth it for the feeling that you’ve definitely done all you can. I’ve miscarried on progesterone as well, but at least I was certain then that it was the embryo that wasn’t quite right and not my levels.

Probably talk to someone before you TTC again so that you are ready to start the progesterone as soon as you get a BFN.

The progesterone pessaries don’t cost the earth and would be worth trying.

So I had RPL. Blood tests from GP revealed low progesterone and was referred to fertility clinic. When I got spontaneously pg w DS I was prescribed progesterone for first 12 weeks. I had 2 more miscarriages when BFing DS. He rejected the boob at 15 months and I immediately got PG w DT. In other words: ask GP for blood work re hormone levels and I am convinced that breastfeeding was part of not maintaining pregnancies (and is a natural way for bodies to space births). Best of luck.

Thank you all. So I have been prescribed it and have 10weeks worth in my bathroom now as this last pregnancy I had bleeding, went in and they found a heartbeat on scan so gave me progesterone but unfortunately the pregnancy still passed and I lost the baby the next day 💔 I think it was probably too late, even if caused by low progesterone. @Flederjo thank you for the advice, I will definitely consider taking from 2/3dpo next time. I was told to take 400mg twice a day (pessaries). Would I take this during luteal phase too or just one 400mg pessary then once pregnant take two?

@Hana89 I'm so happy for you! Thank you for sharing and best best of luck for your scan on Monday. Did you also take baby aspirin? Or just the progesterone?

@HousePlantNeglect I'm also so happy for you! Thank you for the update. Wondering if you also took aspirin?

Basically I have stomach issues so aspirin may be really bad for my stomach. Doctors have said not to take it until tests come back for any clotting disorders as it could cause more problems for my stomach and basically not worth that if I don't need it. But I feel a lot of women take both aspirin and progesterone, although hoping just progesterone is enough for many...

@ElbowsandArses thank you for sharing, I also think bf could definitely affect pregnancy in some women and there just isn't much research on it so it's hard to know. Some women are fine and go on to tandem feed, but maybe some of us it's just not ok. How early were your losses whole bf? My first two were before 5 weeks but this recent one was at 6.5 and I've cut right back on the feeds too so I thought it was going to be ok. So I just don't know. DD is nearly 2 in September and I wanted to feed till then but like you say could be worth stopping, although all the doctors at the hospital said it's not going to be the cause. 🤷‍♀️ Did you also take aspirin or just progesterone? Did you take with your most recent pregnancy too? X

@Skylark1990 No I didn’t take aspirin. Tbh I honestly think that because I’m lucky enough to have two children with MC between and after, they didn’t think it was necessary to give me any support during early pregnancy. Was pure luck that I got the progesterone.

I hope it works for you next time.

@Skylark1990 I'd take it as directed all through the luteal phase, so twice a day. I took 200mg twice a day, but some IVF patients take 3x400mg per day.

I was told to do a test on 12/13Dpo and if negative, stop the Progesterone. If positive, carry on.

Thank you 💞💞💞 I was prescribed baby aspirin at my 7 week scan, and I have been taking it diligently every day (2 x 75mg) but the consultant did say there was no evidence that I actually need it, he said it couldn't do any harm and potentially could do some good and that was good enough for me.
If you have stomach issues though, I think I'd definitely wait for the results and find out whether you need it, rather than just pot-lucking it like I did which was not really the most scientific approach! Haha!