progesterone - when given after multiple miscarraiges

[TheNeverEndingOver]

Hello,

I've had three miscarriages and am now pregnant again. Last miscarriage, the early pregnancy unit advised me to call as soon as possible, then they would prescribe progesterone. I've just called and been told I can only have it from seven weeks, when they will do a scan. I'm confused, as this counteracts what I was told before... is this the same time frame other people have taken it? I'm obviously terrified of having another miscarriage and know I should trust who I spoke to, but the discrepancy has me worried.

Thanks

I was told by my gynaecologist to take from a few days post ovulation, to support the very early growing pregnancy. He said if my body wasn't producing enough progesterone in my (very short) luteal phase then that's when I needed it.

I have heard that some places only want to prescribe after checking that it's not , for example, an ectopic, but honestly how common is that?

I was given it take from I think ovulation, but that was through a private fertility treatment/recurrent miscarriage treatment clinic. I’d try and ring again or go to your GP - not sure if they can help. I thought it was in the NICE guidelines to prescribe it, but I’m not sure when that says from, but worth trying to look it up. Sorry you’re not getting the help you want. Good luck

I went to my GP and they prescribed it from 5 weeks after speaking to gynae.
they weren’t going to but I may/may not have said if I miscarried again I’d hold their gp practice personally responsible. I had a prescription the next day.

I know that’s not overly PC, but I had to advocate for myself and my little growing babe. As someone else has said, they usually like to check the baby is growing in the right place but that can be done at 6 weeks.

im nearly 10 weeks and will be on it until 12.

don’t take EPU’s guidance as their final decision is what im saying. As they say up north, shy baerns get nowt.

good luck with everything, i hope your pregnancy progresses well x

I believe the NICE guidelines say to prescribe after a uterine pregnancy has been confirmed. I am waiting for a recurrent miscarriage appointment (3 losses in the last 1.5yrs) but I’m also pregnant again and they would only prescribe after my scan at 6 weeks 2 days (earliest they would see me was 6 weeks).

So far so good, last scan was 9 weeks and I’ve got my 12 week scan in 2 weeks 🤞🏼

Fingers crossed for you OP, I hope it all works out x

I got told to take it from my positive test, and had to fight for it for 3 days before they finally listened and looked at my letter from gyneocology!

Thank you everyone, that is so helpful. I am going to phone my GP today. And yes, the reason is they want to check its a viable pregnancy first/not ectopic.
Confusedmermaid1 - so pleased for you xx

I got given it by my gynae consultant at 5 weeks and then had a scan at 6 weeks, they wanted to give it to me after the scan but insisted I had it before hand to give me the best chance and they agreed (after 4 losses) my son is now 5 months old!

Thank you, I have contacted the GP now and someone will call me, so lets see... Huge congratulations on your pregnancy x

@TheNeverEndingOver oh good! I hope you get it prescribed it really is a nice reassurance.

ahh thank you. The anxiety is still very much there but I think it always will be!

let us know how you get on! X

I had progesterone from 6 weeks - prescribed through my local recurrent miscarriage clinic which happened to be a Tommy Clinic. They didn't scan or anything. As soon as they knew I was pregnant they put me on them (my first appointment with them I was 6 weeks pregnant again.

Charlotte is now 3.5 years old. 100% credit the progesterone to having a successful pregnancy after 1 still birth and 2 MMCs. My MMC's didn't get passed 8 weeks development.

Thank you so much for sharing this - I'm going to keep trying. My MMCs have been 8, then 9 weeks, so 7 weeks seems a long wait to me. Both of these I had to have surgeries for, so I want to just do anything I can to avoid this outcome.

I am so pleased for you that little Charlotte is now here x

3 early MCs and was also prescribed progesterone from positive test. 6-7 weeks would have been too late for me. Took it for 12 weeks and child is 3 now!

Sorry to hear of your losses. It’s a bit of a postcode lottery with progesterone I find very annoyingly! Tommys Birmingham were very against me having it until I was 6/7 weeks (this was back in 2021) but Tommys Coventry work differently. I went to Tommys Coventry with Quenby instead and was given it to start on the day of positive test and had a healthy son. I have since had two more losses and Quenby diagnosed me with luteal phase deficiency so to take it from day 23, doubling if I got a positive test. I’m about 7 weeks now and had a good scan so keeping everything crossed.

Wishing you lots of luck!

The GP said she can not prescribe it against what the EPU are saying. I think I'll have to phone them again and ask for more clarification/rational. I actually have a friend who has progesterone pessaries she can give me - I feel funny about taking it unknow to any medical person, but also think it cant do any harm!

Thanks showmethegin - did Tommys Birmingham say why they were against it? Great news on your 7 week scan, I have everything crossed for you x

It does seem a bit like a postcode lottery. I was under Tommy's at Coventry and they were great but my local EPU can be awful. They wont accept anyone without a referral. But sometimes you can't get a referral quick enough to help.
My still birth meant I had alot of contacts and teams who could refer me in quickly but it must be awful for women who don't have access to that quickly. Being under Tommy's Coventry can just at the right time as well.

It was a while ago but I think k they basically said there was no evidence of there being a benefit in my circumstances. I felt utterly fobbed off by them in general to be honest. I hate saying that because I am a huge supporter of Tommy’s as an organisation. The treatment we had/are having At Tommys Coventry has been amazing. Night and day. I would give Tommys Coventry a call and just ask for their advice? They may be able to give you some information to provide to the GP? When is your appointment?

thank you, that’s what the basically said to me ‘you don’t need it until after the scan’ but I’m going to call back tomorrow and ask to discuss it further. The scan isn’t until July 21st which will be 7.5 weeks by then

Hi I am with Tommys Birmingham and I have been taking it as there advice was from a positive test. I have been taking it from 10dpo. I went to my GP 10dpo and prescribed it. My scan is next week at 7 weeks x

Thank you so much to everyone who gave advice. It didn't stick. I'm so sad. 10 days post period due date, bleeding and now the pregnancy test has turned negative. Wishing everyone luck in their pregnancies x

Im so sorry for your loss! Take this time for yourself and to recover💐

So sorry for your loss. It’s such a horrible thing to go through. Be kind to yourself and lean on your friends and family. Xx

Thanks so much. I almost feel silly for being so upset and for expecting anything different. Glad the weekend is coming xx

@TheNeverEndingOver don’t ever ever feel silly. As soon as we see those two lines we expect a baby at the end. Even after loss, we still think “this is it, this is the time”. You’re not silly at all for hoping for the best.

and your feelings of upset are more than valid as your future has just been taken from you, again.

I really do hope that you keep going and try to get to the bottom of your recurrent losses. When you’re ready of course. Just take each day as it comes. Xx

Thank you so much, I really appreciate everything you've said xx