progesterone questions

[sarah2881]

How did you all go about getting diagnosed for low progesterone? I met with my Creighton Fertility Care Practitioner today and after reviewing my charts and taking into consideration my recent miscarriage, she wants me to get tested for low progesterone. Of course the doc she referred me to is not on my insurance and the consultation alone would be $250 out of pocket. My practitioner wants me to get tested every other day from O until CD1 (a full cycle would be even better but I am not pushing my luck). The Nurse practitioner that I normally see through my insurance did offer last month to do one progesterone test at P+3, but my fertility care specialist does not believe that would really give us any information.

I was wondering how you all went about testing and if you had to push for testing or if your health care provider just offered it to you. Also, where can I get information about progesterone supplementation? When i spoke with my health care provider last she basically said 'no one knows the proper level of progesterone' so even if my numbers appeared low she still would not know what to supplement me... very frustrating. I just need all the info I can get and then need to figure out a tactful way of getting my OB office to do what I want.

I am not all that concerned about my ability to get PG, just more so staying PG. If I have another loss and then find out I could have prevented it i would be even more heartbroken.

[escher]

My RE diagnosed low progesterone based on testing 7dpo for two cycles in a row. I'm sure you could get more information by doing more tests, and I don't completely trust the test results I got. But I also have a shortish luteal phase, so I'm inclined to believe that I have somewhat low progesterone.

Good luck figuring out the best option for you!

[sarah2881]

I will probably go with the P+7, not sure if they will do 2 cycles or not. I am glad you were able to see the issue with that treatment plan. Did you TTA the cycles you had the testing? I really do not want to TTA right now...

[escher]

I'm in a slightly different situation (I have a female partner, so no need to TTA ), but I don't think you would need to TTA in order to get useful progesterone information.

[Sourire]

On a slightly similar topic, if you are taking progesterone, what exactly are you taking? I have heard it comes in cream, pills and suppositories and there is a "natural" form of it vs a synthetic form.

Do any of you get it over the counter or does it require a prescription? I seem to remember seeing some people mention getting it over the counter.

My DH is a pharmacist and he has never heard of a progesterone cream, or of a natural form, or of it being available over the counter, so maybe that stuff doesn't exist in Canada? On the other hand he told me if I gave him the names of the medications he would look them up for me so anyone who is taking this, can you give me the name of the product you're taking?

[Vegan Princess]

I had my test done at 8 dpo. I think 8 dpo is pretty standard. My OB ordered the test and my midwife did as well. My midwife also had me do 2 or 3 dpo (can't remember which) - but my dr said it was a waste of time and the level wouldn't mean much since there is no standard to compare it to for that day. My progesterone level came back so low they didn't think I had ovulated, though I do think I did. Since I decided to wean, I decided not to push the issue and just see if my luteal phase legnthens on its own now. If I am still not prego in a couple months, my doc wants me to restest. However, before I got my results, my dr said she would be willing to prescribe progesterone. Of course, if I am not ovulating, progesterone won't help...but sounds like you are ovulating and conceiving just fine.

Prescription progesterone is typically oral or suppository. The cream is over the counter and has very minute levels compared to prescription. I used the cream for 2 months to extend my luteal phase and it didn't really do much.

Cindy

[escher]

Heidi: I take prometrium (200mg twice a day, as a vaginal suppository). It lengthens my luteal phase and doesn't give me any serious side effects.

[Sourire]

Thanks escher... if I understand correctly prometrium is prescription only right?

[enigo]

Originally Posted by Sourire

On a slightly similar topic, if you are taking progesterone, what exactly are you taking? I have heard it comes in cream, pills and suppositories and there is a "natural" form of it vs a synthetic form.

Do any of you get it over the counter or does it require a prescription? I seem to remember seeing some people mention getting it over the counter.

My DH is a pharmacist and he has never heard of a progesterone cream, or of a natural form, or of it being available over the counter, so maybe that stuff doesn't exist in Canada? On the other hand he told me if I gave him the names of the medications he would look them up for me so anyone who is taking this, can you give me the name of the product you're taking?

Progest in the brand name of the natural progesterone I have used. It is over the counter in the US, should at least be easy enough to order online

[escher]

Originally Posted by Sourire

Thanks escher... if I understand correctly prometrium is prescription only right?

Yes, it is. Sorry.