Progesterone in early pregnancy

[EJbelle]

I am currently 7 weeks pregnant and have been prescribed progesterone (cyclogest) due to previous unexplained miscarriages. All miscarriages were early (before 6 weeks). I'm over the moon to be pregnant again but I am struggling with a decision as to whether to take the progesterone. The EPU, my GP and even the pharmacist when I went to collect my prescription all made reference to looking at the risks and weighing up the pros and cons. I think the main risk is that there isn't really any long-term data on the affects of progesterone on children as they get older /into adulthood. There have been suggestions of links to autism and also unknown risks relating to the development of genitals for both males and females.

I wondered if anyone has had the same thought process around this? Is there anyone who decided against taking progesterone due to the risks? Or should it be a no brainer to take it due to my history?

Progesterone pessaries are widely used in IVF, if that helps?

I’m on progesterone at the moment and I never knew there was an autism link? My IVF clinic just gave them to me automatically

I took for my current pregnancy, literally never heard of any of this information

My consultant gave me progesterone as I was so anxious following one miscarriage. He said I don't think you really need this but it's so safe and for your peace of mind I will prescribe it... Pretty sure it's very safe!

If you look at anything hard enough there's a "link to autism" which in fairness is a pretty ridiculous idea....

I am on progesterone now at 10 weeks. I have a 20 month old who is perfectly healthy after 12 weeks of progesterone. Prior to that I had 4 miscarriages all before 9 weeks.

Progesterone pessaries are widely used for IVF pregnancies too and also in 2nd - 3rd trimester if risks of cervix opening prematurely.

Obviously it's up to you but consultants don't prescribe things for no reason.

I'm on progesterone and will be until 34 weeks due to me being very high risk after a late term loss. I'm currently 25 weeks and no issues with it so far, scans all fine. I am so grateful to be able to have it as I believe it's the main factor as to why I'm still pregnant so you need to weigh up those pros and cons for yourself, for me it's absolutely worth the risk of any slight issues if it means I'll be able to get to hold my healthy alive baby in my arms x

??? But every pregnancy produces progesterone? It’s an intrinsic part of the beginning of every single healthy pregnancy. I’ve had very high levels of progesterone in a non medicated pregnancy. You’re not taking large doses of it by taking progesterone, you’re simply maintaining a baseline level. Also, taking the pills doesn’t mean it accumulates, it is a maintenance thing.

Sounds like misinformation to me, which imho is dangerous.

@aLogLady I’ve looked into it since reading this yesterday and it doesn’t seem to be misinformation as such. I thought that by researching it I’d have peace of mind that it was all rubbish but I didn’t find anything conclusive.

The progesterone in cyclogest is bioidentical to the progesterone produced by the corpus luteum in pregnancy. If it has a link to what the op has claimed, then every pregnancy has a link to this. The levels prescribed are low, they are not to replace the much higher levels being made by the body, they do not accumulate in the body.

edited as I missed out a word in my fast typing!

Just one more note on this: any studies you may have read @SummerSolstice25 , were they all done as randomised studies on women with no history of infertility/ivf or multiple miscarriages? (The weren’t as it wouldn’t be ethical). My point being is that it is impossible to separate out what might cause minor instances of certain developmental issues in a cohort of women (which includes me) who have either had multiple miscarriages/infertility/ivf treatment/are older. Many of the women tested would fit into this group, and so any correlation between progesterone supplementation and higher instances of autism would be extremely weak. It’s not impossible that there’s a correlation of course, but there is a lot of very good evidence that progesterone supplements help maintain pregnancies that might otherwise be at risk.

I’m saying all this not in an angry way but in a protective way. Just, I felt alarm bells at reading the original post.

@aLogLady No I don’t interpret your posts with any angry undertone don’t worry! I’m usually very quick to debunk things as rubbish but when you’re in the thick of it yourself it makes you overthink and stress! I’ll see if I can find the study I found and link it here. I’d absolutely love for someone to read it for me and tell me I’m being an idiot 😅

Im in it myself right now @SummerSolstice25 , plus have had previous mcs and am late 30s so def fit all the higher risk categories! But I just wanted to reassure (but def not call anyone an idiot!) and to present facts and logic. ❤️ pregnancy is scary enough, and the idea that someone might not keep taking progesterone after reading this makes me feel sick.

I'm so sorry to have caused any alarm among those already taking progesterone, it certainly wasn't my intention to do this or spread any misinformation. I was initially informed about risks by the recurrent miscarriage clinic, which I attended almost a year ago now, but it is only now that I am having to consider actually taking progesterone. I didn't think pregnancy would happen again for me due to previous losses and age. While the information has come from reliable places, it seems to be more about risks not being fully known / there not being long term data available.

These responses have really helped me so thank you to everyone who responded and apologies for causing worry.

Also just to add, overall from what I have read, it does appear to be very safe. I am just the type of person who needs to consider everything before making a decision and I had wondered if there was anyone who had actually decided against taking it for any reason. It seems as though most women do take it and I think I will be doing so too.

I don't think it caused alarm amongst those of us taking it, but it's very inaccurate information stating that it IS linked to autism. Not enough research is not a correlation. I think it's important to clear that up for anyone in your position in the future reading this.

I wish you the best of luck with your pregnancy

@EJbelle don’t worry. I also would have asked the question if a miscarriage clinic was the one to raise the concern! In your case with a history of miscarriages it’s a no brainer in my opinion.

Hello everyone.

If you need more information on this topic, please ask your GP or midwife. There is also more detail on progesterone in pregnancy here.

OP my advise is to take the progesterone. They are prescribing it to you as they feel your body may need additionally this hormone (you already produce it in pregnancy so why wouldn’t it be safe).

I took it and have the most amazing healthy children.

I get it’s a worrying time. I have had multiple miscarriages so I understand the feeling but more often than not medical professionals know more than we do and taking it is the right thing with no real risks. It feels like you are looking to be worried.