Have you ever used bioidentical progesterone cream? & if so care to share your experience?

[OSTC]

My Progesterone levels came back on the low side so my naturopath/md is starting me on 20mg of bioidentical progesterone cream

hoping it will help with some of the health problems I"ve been having that can be caused by low levels... He didn't know we were ttc when he suggested it so I'm not taking it for ttc per say but I'm hoping that it might have the side effect of helping me get pg ;)

Anyways I'm just wondering what other ladies experiences have been with taking it... Did you feel good/bad on it? Were you ttc? Did you get pg?

Thanks for any thoughts you might have on it.

[LadyJennifer]

What kind are you using? I just started using Natural progesterone cream (I'm guessing that's the same thing you're talking about?) after O. Using 20mg 2x/day. It's only been a couple of days though, so nothing to offer.

[LessTraveledBy]

This is my 2nd cycle on Pro-Gest and I love it. I have secondary infertility and used to cramp for at least a week before af. With the cream I don't cramp (much), so I don't have to be in slight pain physically (and greater pain, mentally, being reminded of not being able to conceive every moment for a week or more every month). So, yeah, for me it works. I don't know what the cause behind my infertility is so I don't know if the cream can help with that. Yet, based on my short experience I would definitely recommend it for anyone who might benefit. 

[Sourire]

I am watching this thread with interest! I will be starting natural progesterone cream for the first time in the next day or two in hope that it will help my short luteal phase and spotting during the luteal phase.

[LadyJennifer]

I'm 6dpo now and really liking the NPC. my temps are waaay higher than they've ever been. I'm really hopeful for a normal lp this time! (or, of course, a bfp!)

[HRJ]

I have used it twice to get pregnant.  And after TTC for 1 yr w/ my son and 2+ years with this one (EDD March 2) the progesterone worked immediately.  With my son we got PG immediately (1st cycle) but lost that one (likely bc my family dr was new at it and didn't know I had to stay on the progesterone until the end of the 1st tri).  I stopped the progesterone b/c I ran out of the script when I got my positive pregnancy test and lost it 3 days later.  Then I was pregnant w/ my son 2 cycles after that.  With this pregnancy, we got pregnant the first cycle on it that we had intercourse which was the 2nd cycle on it.  My son is 6 yrs old and we've never used any birth control, but he did nurse a long time.  I would say we were definitely trying for 2 yrs though.  It also helped w/ my low libido, heavy bleeding, cramping, etc.  Taking progesterone in the luteal phase can bump up the estrogen for the beginning of the next cycle which can promote better ovulation as well.  So it is good to give it a cycle. 

[OSTC]

Originally Posted by LadyJennifer 

What kind are you using? I just started using Natural progesterone cream (I'm guessing that's the same thing you're talking about?) after O. Using 20mg 2x/day. It's only been a couple of days though, so nothing to offer.

Not sure what the brand name is... It's a prescription from a compounding pharmacy but from what I've read it's similar to Natural progesterone? It is in 20mg dose and I think it's only once at night? but I'll have to double check that... Does yours say to use after O only?

[OSTC]

Originally Posted by LessTraveledBy 

This is my 2nd cycle on Pro-Gest and I love it. I have secondary infertility and used to cramp for at least a week before af. With the cream I don't cramp (much), so I don't have to be in slight pain physically (and greater pain, mentally, being reminded of not being able to conceive every moment for a week or more every month). So, yeah, for me it works. I don't know what the cause behind my infertility is so I don't know if the cream can help with that. Yet, based on my short experience I would definitely recommend it for anyone who might benefit. 

Thank you for your reply! :) I'm sorry about the pain you have had to deal with emotionally and physically... It's so hard to want something so bad and then having so much trouble achieving it... Do you take it all cycle long or only some days/weeks? Have you noticed any changes to your cycles other then the cramping? I think I managed to boost my progesterone a bit with Estrosmart plus which has Vitex in it as I went from bad cramps (hellish before I had kids) to no cramps for the first 2 months on it and then one really painful period that I think might have been because of yeast and then back to no cramps this month again... But I still have all the low progesterone symptoms that are making me feel awful and I haven't get pregnant in over a year of not bf (2 in March of no b/c or being pregnant) despite having perfect timing most months... & I know that is not a long time compared to a lot of ladies but the woman on my moms side didn't get pregnant easy and only had 2 kids max so I'm a little worried that will be me if I don't figure out what is going on now...

[OSTC]

Originally Posted by Sourire 

I am watching this thread with interest! I will be starting natural progesterone cream for the first time in the next day or two in hope that it will help my short luteal phase and spotting during the luteal phase.

Are you starting before or after O? Best of luck and let me know how it works for you!

[OSTC]

Originally Posted by LadyJennifer 

I'm 6dpo now and really liking the NPC. my temps are waaay higher than they've ever been. I'm really hopeful for a normal lp this time! (or, of course, a bfp!)

Awesome! :) That's great to hear! Best of luck on getting a bfp! Keep me posted on how it works for you.

[OSTC]

Originally Posted by HRJ 

I have used it twice to get pregnant.  And after TTC for 1 yr w/ my son and 2+ years with this one (EDD March 2) the progesterone worked immediately.  With my son we got PG immediately (1st cycle) but lost that one (likely bc my family dr was new at it and didn't know I had to stay on the progesterone until the end of the 1st tri).  I stopped the progesterone b/c I ran out of the script when I got my positive pregnancy test and lost it 3 days later.  Then I was pregnant w/ my son 2 cycles after that.  With this pregnancy, we got pregnant the first cycle on it that we had intercourse which was the 2nd cycle on it.  My son is 6 yrs old and we've never used any birth control, but he did nurse a long time.  I would say we were definitely trying for 2 yrs though.  It also helped w/ my low libido, heavy bleeding, cramping, etc.  Taking progesterone in the luteal phase can bump up the estrogen for the beginning of the next cycle which can promote better ovulation as well.  So it is good to give it a cycle. 

Thank you so much for your reply! Sorry about your lose... I had to ask my Dr. about what I should do if I get pg while on the progesterone other wise I don't think he would have said anything :P your reply makes me hopeful that it can help me get pg and maybe fix some of the other stuff that is going on! :)

[OSTC]

So I'm a little worried as my dr wants me to start on the cream on day 14 b/c he says that's when most woman O...  till day 25... But I've been o'ing around day 20 which means that I'll be taking about the time my fertile period starts and ending it a few days after O... Some of the stuff I'm reading says it will prevent you from O'ing if you take it before you O? Anyone know anything about taking it before you o?

[HRJ]

No, you don't want to do that.  My current dr that has had me on it is my OB/Gyn.  He has all his patients chart (using Creighton), and he told me to take the cream starting at Peak (ovulation) +3.  So 3 days past ovulation.  If you take it before ovulation, it can prevent you from ovulating.  So if you start on CD 14 but don't ovulate until CD 20, you won't ovulate.  Be sure to keep charting b/c the progesterone could bump up your ovulation day on the following cycle.  So your ovulation date could change drastically. 

[LessTraveledBy]

Originally Posted by OSTC 

So I'm a little worried as my dr wants me to start on the cream on day 14 b/c he says that's when most woman O...  till day 25... But I've been o'ing around day 20 which means that I'll be taking about the time my fertile period starts and ending it a few days after O... Some of the stuff I'm reading says it will prevent you from O'ing if you take it before you O? Anyone know anything about taking it before you o?

Your doctor sounds like a piece of work.... Sorry!

[Sourire]

Originally Posted by LessTraveledBy 

Originally Posted by OSTC 

So I'm a little worried as my dr wants me to start on the cream on day 14 b/c he says that's when most woman O...  till day 25... But I've been o'ing around day 20 which means that I'll be taking about the time my fertile period starts and ending it a few days after O... Some of the stuff I'm reading says it will prevent you from O'ing if you take it before you O? Anyone know anything about taking it before you o?

Your doctor sounds like a piece of work.... Sorry!

My gynecologist said the same thing when he prescribed me Provera to lengthen my luteal phase, he said to start it on CD 16 even though I always O later than that. I later found out from another gynecologist that Provera is not at all helpful in lengthening the LP (it is normally used to bring on AF) and it may not be safe in pregnancy.

I have therefore concluded that my gynecologist has no idea what he is doing and I feel really sorry for all the other women who are harmed by his ignorance. The important thing is to not blindly trust any doctor and do your own research... I definitely don't think you should start the progesterone cream until after you O. I am starting to use the cream today (O + 3).

[LadyJennifer]

Here's my update:
I'm pregnant!!
I got four faint bfps yesterday (11dpo), and 3 darker ones today (including a digi).
This was my first month on NPC, started taking it 2dpo.
Hth!

[Sourire]

Congrats LadyJennifer, thats amazing!

I am on my 4th day of NPC right now (started taking it at 3 DPO) and I am having trouble controlling my emotions... I am getting SUPER angry at everyone! It's like PMS x10! I wonder if the NPC is causing it....

[LadyJennifer]

Oooh, yeah I had anger too. I figured it was pregnantness, lol. It only started at 9dpo for me I think.

[OSTC]

Originally Posted by LadyJennifer 

Here's my update:
I'm pregnant!!
I got four faint bfps yesterday (11dpo), and 3 darker ones today (including a digi).
This was my first month on NPC, started taking it 2dpo.
Hth!

Wow! Congrats! That's awesome! :)

Originally Posted by Sourire 

Congrats LadyJennifer, thats amazing!

I am on my 4th day of NPC right now (started taking it at 3 DPO) and I am having trouble controlling my emotions... I am getting SUPER angry at everyone! It's like PMS x10! I wonder if the NPC is causing it....

[OSTC]

Originally Posted by Sourire 

Congrats LadyJennifer, thats amazing!

I am on my 4th day of NPC right now (started taking it at 3 DPO) and I am having trouble controlling my emotions... I am getting SUPER angry at everyone! It's like PMS x10! I wonder if the NPC is causing it....

Oh no... That is one of the reasons I took a break from the Vitex... That doesn't sound to hopeful for me then... I better get pg fast on it then or my husband won't like me anymore let alone want to bd lol I really hope it isn't any worse then the vitex was though as it was hard to deal with the lil ones at times when I was getting angry so fast... :( Only time will tell I guess...