Progesterone advice?

[HalWin2221]

Hello!

I’m looking for some advice (or some extra courage!)

I’ve had 2 MC, one cycle after another. I’ve had blood work in both because I had pain in the first one and spotting in the second. My bloods have been pretty slow. First miscarriage they didn’t get past 98 and second 172 - both I started to bleed at 5weeks.

I had an internal scan with the second as they wondered at first if it was left over issue from the first but ruled that out. They said my uterus was 8mm - which apparently isn’t very thick for implantation?

I’m starting to wonder if it is a Progesterone issue, but I know they won’t test until you’ve had 3 MC. I’m going back to the EPAU on Wednesday as I need to have another HCG blood test to make sure it has cleared.

could anyone give me any advice on been prescribed Progesterone and what I can say so they consider prescribing me it?

thanks in advance!

I was always denied progesterone from the nhs so I went to a private hospital for a prescription. Even after my third mc the nhs wouldn't prescribe until I had seen the recurrent miscarriage clinic. So frustrating but I wouldn't waste my time with the nhs anymore

Thanks for your reply!

do you mind me asking how much is cost you to go through the private clinic? If they do say no I am considering going down that route!

have you had any luck since being on the progesterone?

Well I decided to pay for all the blood tests privately which cost about £1200. But I think you can see private doctors just for progesterone. I'd guess an appointment would be about £100 and the prescription is about £40 for one months.

I have just been for a scan this morning and measuring 12w6d all seems fine. We had never got past 6 weeks before so we're hoping this one will be fine. My private consultant said early losses at 5-6 weeks can indicate low progesterone so I'd definitely look into it if I was you.

Hi @HalWin2221 Firstly, sorry for your losses. NICE have recently changed guidance around issuing progesterone following loss:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-59385621

Not sure if it will apply to your circumstances but if you ask EPU I don't think they'd refuse. They offered to me before I had a chance to actually ask. EPU prescribed from weeks 6-24 for me.

It worked for me. I had 3 MC, a premature birth at 30 weeks where I spotted all the way through (baby was a fighter) and after progesterone in my last pregnancy went to term with my now 7 week old.

It's worth asking them in my opinion.

Thanks so much @chasingtherainbow1 - my appointment is Wednesday so i’ll see what they say, if they won’t then I’ll definitely go private! sorry to hear about your losses but congratulations on your current pregnancy!

@Beth262 thank you for the info! I feel a bit more confident about going in and quoting the NICE guidelines 🙈

I’m really sorry for your losses . I had a miscarriage with my first pregnancy and then some spotting early in my current pregnancy. I called the EPU and they put me straight on progesterone (even though I don’t know whether my previous miscarriage was caused by a progesterone issue ). I’m nearly 16 weeks now.

The results of the study didn’t show a benefit to women who had a previous miscarriage and weren’t bleeding, so I suspect the EPU won’t give it to you while you’re TTC or if there is no bleeding. You could always try and persuade your GP to do a progesterone test after 2 miscarriages (the midwife said to me some GPs will refer for testing after 2 even if that’s not the hospital policy). I also think Tommy’s in Birmingham and Coventry will see you with a docs referral after 2 miscarriages if you live in the local area.

If you’re worried about progesterone and you can afford to go private that might be the best option as they can test you or just prescribe the progesterone from 2WW / early on in pregnancy. I’m sure I’ll be judged for saying this, but if money is a problem maybe just call the EPU as soon as you find out you’re pregnant and tell them you’ve had bleeding even if you haven’t. It might not be a progesterone issue you have but it doesn’t harm and if nothing else it helps with the anxiety to feel like you’re doing something rather than just waiting for another miscarriage. Sorry for the long post and all the best.

Sorry to hear of your losses.

I’ve had 3 miscarriages, all around 5 - 5 1/2 weeks.

This time round, I had a small amount of spotting around 5 weeks and 4 days so was referred to EPU.

As the NICE guidance has recently changed, they were very keen to offer progesterone, provided I fitted the following criteria……

• A history of losses (I think 2 MC would have counted)
• Some spotting or bleeding once pregnant (I think I agree with @Anon1231 I’d be tempted to tell them you’ve just had a very small amount of spotting)
• There has to be a yolk sac present when you’re scanned, not just a gestational sac. This means it’s difficult to be given the progesterone before at least 5 weeks.

The data I was given with the progesterone, shows there was no improvement in outcome for ladies who had only had one MC, there was a small improvement for those who had had 2 MC and there was a notable improvement in outcome for ladies who had had 3 MC.
In my mind though, it’s worth giving it a go!

I can’t say for definite whether it will work for me but I’m 9 weeks today and have only got to 5 1/2 weeks previously.

I know when we were looking into private IVF (we were just about to start, before conceiving naturally again), they would have put me on progesterone from ovulation onwards, so around CD14 but with the NHS, they want to know you’ve definitely got a viable pregnancy before prescribing the progesterone.

I was told it was expensive so that’s probably why the NHS don’t give it out to everyone TTC.

Hope that helps in some way.
Good luck with everything and let us know how you get on.