What kind of progesterone do you prefer???????

[blueyezz4]

So my title kinda says it all!!??  I know there are the PIO shots, Crinone , or prometrium?  Anyone used the prometrium?  I don't know much about that one... can anyone fill me in??

[GaleTX]

I'm using Prometrium now.  My doctor gave me instructions to start it four days after the IUI and use it twice a day.  It's a little round capsule and the doc said to ignore the bottle that says to take by mouth and use it vaginally instead.  I'm supposed to take it until I go back for my blood test on January 17.  So far I haven't had any issues at all with it.  I'm also taking estrogen pills vaginally to increase the lining and that one makes for some strange "leakage" (teal colored, like the pill), but the prometrium doesn't do that.

[blueyezz4]

GaleTX - first off I love your profile picture!! Very cute!  Is that actually you?  Thanks for sharing about the prometrium.  I would think that it would be the cheapest of all three, but i don't know, do you know?  I was on the PIO shots for my last IVF and it was okay, but just kinda a pain after awhile.  Do you have to use the prometrium at a certain time every day or is it just morning and night? The shots were kinda a pain b/c they want you to try and take them at the same time every day and sometimes it was hard if we weren't home like on the weekends or wanted to hang out with friends later on in the evenings.  I'm just weighing all my options right now.  Thanks again for sharing!!

[GaleTX]

Yep, that's us in the picture - the photographer says it works better earlier in the day, but I thought it turned out cute!

I'm not sure about the PIO or Crinone costs, but the Prometrium was $30 for a 30 day supply with insurance (the printout says the true cost was $129.05).  My RE said to just take it twice a day, trying to do it pretty close to the same time.  I take the 100 mg capsules.  I'm not a huge fan of the whole vaginal thing, but I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get the result I want!

[goldfinches]

I've used both the PIO and crinone/prometrium.  I prefer the shot, simply because it doesn't leak out.  When I used crinone, I took one in the morning and one at bedtime.  With the PIO, basically 12 hours apart.

It's not so important to take the shot at exactly the same time each day. You just have to maintain a level in your body.  I've actually skipped doses before, with my doctor's blessing, once or twice.

Do you do your own shots?  I had to learn because I traveled for a few days without dh.  I actually prefered them that way, and chose to do it sometimes even when he was around.

[blueyezz4]

goldfinches - Thanks for your info.  It is always good to hear other people's opinions especially when you have tried them all.  I didn't give myself my own shot, my DH always did it.  When you give them to yourself where would you do it at?  I can't imagine being able to twist around and shot myself in the butt.

[songtothemoon]

goldfinches - I'd also like to know how you did the shots yourself!

afm - I've used Crinone (vaginally) and Prometrium (orally). My RE just switched to mainly using Crinone rather than PIO. My understanding is that PIO shows up in the bloodstream and allows your RE to see clearer levels in the blood. Vaginal prometrium and Crinone don't register in the blood stream as much and some REs aren't as secure w/that and would rather see the levels from the PIO. However, I'd love to learn more, too!

[goldfinches]

Originally Posted by songtothemoon 

goldfinches - I'd also like to know how you did the shots yourself!

I'll try to explain without too much rambling...

To learn how to give myself the shot, I laid down on my bed, on my left elbow and left side, leaned around to my right side, (I'm right handed), made sure I was really relaxed, lined the needle up and pushed it in.  No "tossing" like you're supposed to do.

After I got comfortable with that, I moved on to standing and giving myself the shot.  

I never pulled back, to check for blood.  I'm not sure they say to do that, anymore, anyway.

To do it standing up, I stood in front of a large mirror so I could see my hip.  I leaned against the counter, twisted around, used my right hand on my right hip, lined up and shot.

Honestly, I'm the biggest scaredy cat of needles, (wouldn't know it from the hundreds I've gone through), and it ended up not being too bad.

I think there's even a youtube video of someone giving herself the shot.  (it's not me, lol!)

[blueyezz4]

goldfinches - Wow, that is impressive!!! Thanks for the description, I actually liked having to my DH do my shots.  I at least felt like he was adding to the process in a way (other than his "donation" - which he would always complain about LOL), but if he was gone on business it would really have been a pain.  I know it sounds funny, but with this process I felt like he had the easy part and at least this gave him a responsibility and I think it made him feel more a part of it all.  I may just be weird, who knows.  At least now I know if I have to do it myself I could go back to this post and read through it step by step. 

[Charlize]

I prefer oral Prometrium and the shots. I'm currently undergoing progesterone therapy for chronically low progesterone levels. I'm taking 200 mg of Prometrium daily and a weekly progesterone injection at my OB's office. The injections aren't pleasant. The serum is very thick and usually causes a large knot in my hips, but I have found if I massage the injection site a couple times a day it does get a lot better sooner. I don't prefer the suppositories as they are quite messy. My biggest complaint overall is the severity of nausea I'm experiencing.

[treehugginhippie]

ProgonB sublingual

[blueyezz4]

Originally Posted by treehugginhippie 

ProgonB sublingual

I've never heard of this??????  Is this just like another brand name of Prometrium???  Enlighten me!!

[soso-lynn]

There is a new kind of intra-vaginal progesterone available since last year. Instead of the leaky and gooey stuff, it is a fizzy tab (yes, you ca take a second to laugh at the idea) that disappears in a few seconds. Many doctors are switching to it. http://www.ferringfertility.com/medications/endometrin/

[blueyezz4]

Originally Posted by soso-lynn 

There is a new kind of intra-vaginal progesterone available since last year. Instead of the leaky and gooey stuff, it is a fizzy tab (yes, you ca take a second to laugh at the idea) that disappears in a few seconds. Many doctors are switching to it. http://www.ferringfertility.com/medications/endometrin/

Interesting!!!  How many times a day did you have to use it?  I'm liking the looks of this one.... no painful shots and no buildup.  Any idea on how much it runs out of pocket??

[KristinaMarie]

Blue-- I am on both the Progesterone in Ethyl Oleate and Progesterone Vag Capsules. I don't know if it is prometrium or not, the bottle just says progesterone vag caps. My cost is without insurance coverage and I get them from Freedom.. The PIEO is $45.80 a bottle, which for me last 5 days as I am on 2ml a day. The Progesteron vag caps are $105 for 42 caps, which is a 21 day supply. I am also on Delestrogen which is $193 for 2 bottles, a bottle last me a month. My insurance has changed and doesn't cover any meds anymore, even with me being pregnant, because they are compounded. I am going to fight this with the help of my clinic. Hope this helps some.

[lesliesara63]

Blue I recently found a receipt for my Crinone. I can't remember the exact amount but it was very expensive around $600-900 for a six week supply. It was definitely preferable to shots, but it was messy and gave me some irritation. It built up and came out in chunks like feta cheese - so gross! I've used prometrium vaginally without and problems. Now I'm taking one prometrium orally 3x/day and its fine. The prometrium was only about $200.

[treehugginhippie]

It's an over the counter sublingual progesterone. I bought it online and used it after ovulation and during pregnancy until 13 weeks (w/d DD2). I will use it again if my cycle needs it and/or during first trimester. I do not have a ob/gyn so this is a great way for self treatment. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueyezz4 

Originally Posted by soso-lynn 

There is a new kind of intra-vaginal progesterone available since last year. Instead of the leaky and gooey stuff, it is a fizzy tab (yes, you ca take a second to laugh at the idea) that disappears in a few seconds. Many doctors are switching to it. http://www.ferringfertility.com/medications/endometrin/

Interesting!!!  How many times a day did you have to use it?  I'm liking the looks of this one.... no painful shots and no buildup.  Any idea on how much it runs out of pocket??

Originally Posted by blueyezz4 

Originally Posted by treehugginhippie 

ProgonB sublingual

I've never heard of this??????  Is this just like another brand name of Prometrium???  Enlighten me!!

[treehugginhippie]

Link to the ProgonB:

http://www.progonb.com/

[blueyezz4]

Originally Posted by lesliesara63 

Blue I recently found a receipt for my Crinone. I can't remember the exact amount but it was very expensive around $600-900 for a six week supply. It was definitely preferable to shots, but it was messy and gave me some irritation. It built up and came out in chunks like feta cheese - so gross! I've used prometrium vaginally without and problems. Now I'm taking one prometrium orally 3x/day and its fine. The prometrium was only about $200.

Oh man!!!!!!!!!!  600-900 dollars!!  That totally bums me out!!!!!!!  Why does this stuff have to be so expensive???????  Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr    Thanks for the info!

[blueyezz4]

Originally Posted by treehugginhippie 

It's an over the counter sublingual progesterone. I bought it online and used it after ovulation and during pregnancy until 13 weeks (w/d DD2). I will use it again if my cycle needs it and/or during first trimester. I do not have a ob/gyn so this is a great way for self treatment. 

I wonder how this would go over with an RE though?  Especially the fact that it isn't approved by the FDA. Hmmmmm.... that might be an interesting one to bring up with the RE or the nurse.  I like the fact that it is a natural plant-derived progesterone supplement though.  Thanks for sharing this info!  I love that I'm getting all this info and knowledge from this forum.