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

Thank you @Hana89 @HousePlantNeglect @Flederjo ❤️ I'm familiar with temping and opks and have done that for all my pregnancies so can do that to confirm ovulation and start the progesterone after ovulation and hope for the best 🤞

@Hana89 did you take two times 400mg pessaries from 3dpo? Can I ask what levels your progesterone was? No worries if you can't remember. After the second loss I had blood work and my progesterone during luteal phase was 32. They said this is fine but I've since read it's a little on the low side. Apparently they like it to be 60 but I don't really know.

It's really reassuring that your pregnancy is going well after 3 losses. I never thought I'd be in the position now, having had 3 losses, it just feels so daunting. I so so wish I had answers as to why it has happened. The two chemicals felt easier to understand as I was very run down and bf a lot too both times, but this one at 6.5 weeks is much harder for me to understand, I have been well & not breastfeeding as much, etc. It's just heartbreaking 💔

@Skylark1990 I can only imagine how difficult it must be for you but the fact that you've had a successful, healthy pregnancy really increases your chances of being able to have another and if BF-ing is causing some hormonal imbalances for you, you might even find that your body completely settles a couple of months after you stop completely.

I was on 200mg progesterone x 2 per day from 3dpo (approx. I think I ovulated on CD17 so started the progesterone on CD20 but I could have been a day out either way) and I took that every day until I got my first strong BFP at 15 dpo. Then I called the clinic to let them know I was pregnant and they recommended I switch to 400mg X 2 per day which I did.
I didn't actually have my progesterone levels checked this time at all - it was just acknowledged from my previous losses that progesterone was a known issue for me.
I have to admit I can't remember exactly what my levels were back in 2021 but I feel like maybe it was 31 dropping to 24 - something like that. I remember the numbers weren't considered catastrophic but any drop is something to be wary of in early pregnancy and clearly for me it did indicate a loss was occurring.

Sorry for your loss(es) @Skylark1990 . I think I probably had more than 7 losses altogether- all around 6 weeks; possibly more earlier (before I paid full attention). And yes, I was prescribed progesterone for DT pregnancy. We weren’t taking chances. No aspirin. Growing babies (both BF and pregnancy) is a BIG ask for a body. Rest, look after yourself as best you can, and try not to stress about this (easier said than done I know). Having had a baby, you are much more likely to be able to carry another to term, when your body is ready. One thing infertility/ losses / pregnancy/ childbirth/ parenting and (at the same time) death of a parent taught me is that there are just some things we cannot control, and if we stop straining against that it becomes easier. Wishing you all the best: take really good care of yourself x

Thank you so much @Hana89 for all that info and reassuring words. I really hope you are right. I am thinking I might take one 400mg pessary per day from 3dpo then do two once I get a BFP, but I'll see, maybe better to do the full dose. I now have a decision to make about when to TTC again and also whether to stop breastfeeding soon. We have definitely wound it down a lot and DD doesnt ask for it as much. This most recent pregnancy really made my milk drop so I know it's mostly for comfort now and it helps to get her to sleep so I'm reluctant to give it up especially for bedtime 😅 and it's hard to know if it is affecting the pregnancies or not. All the consultants at hospital this time said it wouldn't be causing them. But there isn't much research on it tbh. Thank you again and best best of luck for your scan tomorrow 💕

@ElbowsandArses such wise words, thank you so much. You're right,it's so so hard when we can't control something that means so much to us. I think you're right about pregnancy and bf taking a big toll, maybe I just need to really focus on nourishing myself for a while. But at the same time in itching to start TTC again. Although I spoke to DH today and he said he needs some time so I guess we may wait one cycle at least. Thank you again and I'm so sorry you experienced so many losses. You must be incredibly strong xx

Also just a question what is a DT pregnancy? I thought you maybe meant DD / DS but maybe it's something else entirely? @ElbowsandArses x

Just a thought @Skylark1990 regarding the Progesterone. I would assume that most people take it twice or thrice (weird word!!!) per day in order to keep a constant level of prog in their system. Like when you take paracetamol every 4 hours because after 4 hours it's almost gone.

So I'm not sure if just taking the one pessary once a day would be ideal. Full disclaimer - not a doc or anything so may be talking sh*te!😂

Very good point @Flederjo ! It just feels a lot to take in the tww if it's two 400mg but yes maybe it would be better xx

Hi @Skylark1990, just jumping in as I saw your post come up in active threads - please do check with your doctor exactly how much progesterone to take and make sure you take it from ovulation to keep your levels up. As pp said you need a sustained amount to build up and maintain your uterine lining, and raising your dosage after a bfp might not be enough.

I had several failed rounds of ivf before doctors at a different clinic discovered I had an issue producing and absorbing progesterone - I had multiple chemical pregnancies before anyond actually bothered to test my levels. They were perfect at embryo transfer, but once they tested for my bfp after 2 weeks my levels had nosedived - and that was on progesterone pessaries, tablets and injections multiple times a day 😫. They hurriedly put me on a fourth type which got me through, but it was touch and go.

I can’t believe it’s taken them this long to change the guidelines, it makes me so sad to think of all the women who’ve suffered needlessly.

Wishing you all the best for ttc xxxxx

@Skylark1990 DT = dear/darling twins 😛 Unbelievably my second pregnancy that made it to term was twins. (Though possibly part of why they made it). Was also part of my learning about realising we can’t control everything. Take good care of you and wishing you all the best x

@Skylark1990 Thank you ❤️ Everything went really well today - little one was mostly asleep but did have a few stretches and a little wave or two 💞☺️

I really hope you can get some answers and also enjoy these last weeks/months of breastfeeding your DD and this special time xxxx

Hey all , I hope everyone is doing well. I have a quick question re progesterone again if anyone can help 🤞🤷‍♀️

Since I had them 3 weeks ago, we decided not to TTC for a couple months but then ended up DTD a few times last week and on the weekend simply because we wanted to and I think the closeness helped after everything. I didn't know where I was at with my cycle, as it was over 2 weeks since the MC and didn't seem to be ovulating yet. After we DTD on Fri I started doing LH tests just to see.... They were very negative until Mon when it started to show faintly then on Tues I had an almost positive, but I think due to drinking loads of water in the heat it just never got to blazing positive. I also had a LOT of EWCM on Mon and Tues. We had DTD on Sunday night.
Temping and cervical mucus seems to have confirmed now that I ovulated yesterday. So that's 2.5 days at most after we DTD. I'm thinking this means we are in with a chance of conceiving even tho we hadn't planned to try...

So now I'm wondering, should I take the progesterone during my luteal phase ? Is 2.5 days close enough to assume it could have happened? Or do we think if I do an early test say 9dpo and start the progesterone from there that could be enough? Also if I do take it and I'm not pregnant will it delay my period - if so how many days? 🤦‍♀️❤️

Thoughts and opinions very much welcomed... Thank you! @Flederjo @ElbowsandArses @Hana89 @Beth262 @Dancingwithhyenas @MindatWork @Regenbogen22 @bitchymcbitch xxx

@ElbowsandArses that's amazing you had twins!! ❤️❤️🌈🌈

@Hana89 so glad to hear everything went well and thank you x

Meant to have written * since I had the MC 3 weeks ago we had decided not to TTC.

@MindatWork thank you so much for your message, I have just seen it! Thank you. Yes sounds I should probably take the progesterone during tww but I am hesitant to if we weren't even actually trying 🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️😅 I'm not sure what to do! X

Hi! I was told by my gynaecologist to start taking it at 2/3dpo, take a test on 12dpo and if negative then stop the Progesterone. Good luck!
(I was also taking baby aspirin anyway!)

@Skylark1990 This is a tricky one and I really don't know what to advise so soon after a MC. Could you give your local EPU or maybe your GP a call and ask what they think?
The reason I'm hesitant to say 'Go for it!' with the progesterone is that so soon after an MC your body is still healing and trying to right any hormonal imbalances so if you're not pregnant it might cause some issues with your cycle to add extra progesterone into your system now.
I think for this one you really should speak to your health care team. Good luck my dear! xx

Thank you @Hana89 and @Flederjo 💓❤️

Am still not sure what to do - take it now or wait! 🤦‍♀️ I know the EPU / doctor would say to wait, they advised from bfp not ovulation, but I also know lots of people think that it's better to take from ovulation or just after. I think I'll wait till 4/5 dpo (am 2dpo approx now) and see how I'm feeling at that point. Hard not to obsess over this!! X

Hi Skylark1990,

First of all, I am so sorry for your losses.
I experienced five recurrent miscarriages (my first 5 attempts, all within the space of a year between Aug 2020-Aug 2021, and all were 'resolved' by 6 weeks gestation). I was prescribed a low dose of progesterone (200mg / day, vaginal pessaries) following the fourth attempt - to take them in the hope they'd help me 'get and stay pregnant' for attempt #5. Obviously, that didn't work out. I was also advised to take low dose aspirins after the 3rd attempt, as this 'would help thin the blood' - in case thicker blood was being a cause of the miscarriages (although they had no scientific evidence of this, my blood tests had all been fine).

Anyway, I had asked for a specialist miscarriage unit referral every time after the 2nd miscarriage (you're entitled to this), but, I was only finally referred to the Birmingham Miscarriage Clinic by the EPAU consultant after my fifth loss. After a long wait to hear from them following the referral (and a LOT of chasing on my part), I was finally in contact with them two days after I found out I was 4 weeks pregnant, for the sixth time!

They (BMC) advised that I be put on 800mg of progesterone asap - and that should continue until 16 weeks gestation. They also advised that I stopped the use of aspirins - as there was no evidence of sticky/thick blood in my case, so no need to take them. The specialists were the only people who could prescribe more than 400mg of progesterone as a day's dose, so it meant a bit of a battle each time it came to repeating that prescription - and only one pharmacy in my city actually stocked these! I still had a stock of the 200mg progesterone left from my earlier attempt, so I got to 16 weeks, stopped the 800mg but continued with the remaining 200mg pessaries I had. It felt reassuring to me that I was not going straight 'cold turkey' from 800mg to nothing, and when the 200mg's ran out I was around 18 weeks pregnant. Which felt amazing! I feel convinced it was progesterone that helped me stay pregnant - in all cases where they bothered to take blood from me during my early losses, it was found that my progesterone levels had dropped off by 6 weeks (I began to know how this felt, loss of breast tenderness, and so on...). With the high dose of progesterone, I still had fluctuating breast tenderness, but - it kept coming back! I am now 34 weeks today, and so pleased to say that everything is going well. 😊

Hope this is useful info! FYI I'm in the UK, and this experience was all via the NHS.
Wishing you all the very best.
E x

Hi Skylark1990,

First of all, I am so sorry for your losses.
I experienced five recurrent miscarriages (my first 5 attempts, all within the space of a year between Aug 2020-Aug 2021, and all were 'resolved' by 6 weeks gestation). I was prescribed a low dose of progesterone (200mg / day, vaginal pessaries) following the fourth attempt - to take them in the hope they'd help me 'get and stay pregnant' for attempt #5. Obviously, that didn't work out. I was also advised to take low dose aspirins after the 3rd attempt, as this 'would help thin the blood' - in case thicker blood was being a cause of the miscarriages (although they had no scientific evidence of this, my blood tests had all been fine).

Anyway, I had asked for a specialist miscarriage unit referral every time after the 2nd miscarriage (you're entitled to this), but, I was only finally referred to the Birmingham Miscarriage Clinic by the EPAU consultant after my fifth loss. After a long wait to hear from them following the referral (and a LOT of chasing on my part), I was finally in contact with them two days after I found out I was 4 weeks pregnant, for the sixth time!

They (BMC) advised that I be put on 800mg of progesterone asap - and that should continue until 16 weeks gestation. They also advised that I stopped the use of aspirins - as there was no evidence of sticky/thick blood in my case, so no need to take them. The specialists were the only people who could prescribe more than 400mg of progesterone as a day's dose, so it meant a bit of a battle each time it came to repeating that prescription - and only one pharmacy in my city actually stocked these! I still had a stock of the 200mg progesterone left from my earlier attempt, so I got to 16 weeks, stopped the 800mg but continued with the remaining 200mg pessaries I had. It felt reassuring to me that I was not going straight 'cold turkey' from 800mg to nothing, and when the 200mg's ran out I was around 18 weeks pregnant. Which felt amazing! I feel convinced it was progesterone that helped me stay pregnant - in all cases where they bothered to take blood from me during my early losses, it was found that my progesterone levels had dropped off by 6 weeks (I began to know how this felt, loss of breast tenderness, and so on...). With the high dose of progesterone, I still had fluctuating breast tenderness, but - it kept coming back! I am now 34 weeks today, and so pleased to say that everything is going well. 😊

Hope this is useful info! FYI I'm in the UK, and this experience was all via the NHS.
Wishing you all the very best.
E x

Hi Skylark1990,

First of all, I am so sorry for your losses.

I experienced five recurrent miscarriages (my first 5 attempts, all within the space of a year between Aug 2020-Aug 2021, and all were 'resolved' by 6 weeks gestation). I was prescribed a low dose of progesterone (200mg / day, vaginal pessaries) following the fourth attempt - to take them in the hope they'd help me 'get and stay pregnant' for attempt #5. Obviously, that didn't work out. I was also advised to take low dose aspirins after the 3rd attempt, as this 'would help thin the blood' - in case thicker blood was being a cause of the miscarriages (although they had no scientific evidence of this, my blood tests had all been fine).
Anyway, I had asked for a specialist miscarriage unit referral every time after the 2nd miscarriage (you're entitled to this), but, I was only finally referred to the Birmingham Miscarriage Clinic by the EPAU consultant after my fifth loss. After a long wait to hear from them following the referral (and a LOT of chasing on my part), I was finally in contact with them two days after I found out I was 4 weeks pregnant, for the sixth time!
They (BMC) advised that I be put on 800mg of progesterone asap - and that should continue until 16 weeks gestation. They also advised that I stopped the use of aspirins - as there was no evidence of sticky/thick blood in my case, so no need to take them. The specialists were the only people who could prescribe more than 400mg of progesterone as a day's dose, so it meant a bit of a battle each time it came to repeating that prescription - and only one pharmacy in my city actually stocked these! I still had a stock of the 200mg progesterone left from my earlier attempt, so I got to 16 weeks, stopped the 800mg but continued with the remaining 200mg pessaries I had. It felt reassuring to me that I was not going straight 'cold turkey' from 800mg to nothing, and when the 200mg's ran out I was around 18 weeks pregnant. Which felt amazing! I feel convinced it was progesterone that helped me stay pregnant - in all cases where they bothered to take blood from me during my early losses, it was found that my progesterone levels had dropped off by 6 weeks (I began to know how this felt, loss of breast tenderness, and so on...). With the high dose of progesterone, I still had fluctuating breast tenderness, but - it kept coming back! I am now 34 weeks today, and so pleased to say that everything is going well. 😊
Hope this is useful info! FYI I'm in the UK, and this experience was all via the NHS.
Wishing you all the very best.
E x

@bertyfish thanks so much for sharing your experience! And I'm so sorry for your losses 💔 that must have been so so hard. That's very helpful, I am now under the care of the Coventry clinic and they seem really good.

I've actually just had a BFP again - straight after previous MC - so I'm taking 400mg progesterone twice a day. I am meant to have bloods done at the RMC this week so not sure what to do - whether to tell them I'm pregnant! Scared they won't do the bloods. I was going to be tested for clotting disorders etc. They're also giving me more progesterone so that I'm covered till 16 weeks in my next pregnancy (which seems to be now!)

I'm really hoping this one sticks.

Can I ask for anyone that sees this, did you do the progesterone rectally or vaginally? X

@Skylark1990
I took it back end no mess and as it can cause spotting I wanted to avoid that, I'm now 21 weeks after 4 miscarriages. X