Progesterone supp without blood work...another question.

[APToddlerMama]

Sorry for all the progesterone questions :(.  I am just anxious and looking for a little more help.

The update for anyone who read my last thread is that I strongly suspect low progesterone from short LPs, harsh periods, spotting before each one, spotting whole first trimester with DS, etc.  Anyhow, my family doctor (who I have since quit seeing), tested my progesterone last week along with an hcg test.  Progesterone was 16.2 at 10 dpo, which is guess is fine.  I saw my OB today and asked that she test my progesterone for the next few weeks.  She said progesterone testing is unreliable so she wasn't going to test--she was just going to prescribe 100 mg suppositories at bedtime.  I am a little freaked out that she isn't testing it and is just putting me on them.  When I used the OTC creams years ago, I got really dizzy and upset stomach.

Any thoughts?  How safe is it really?  I obviously don't want to lose this baby, but I also don't want to be on something that I don't need to be if I am wrong about my progesterone being low. 

Also--should I stop taking vitex now or are they okay to take together? 

[MarineWife]

I have used progesterone suppositories with all 3 of my last successful (so far) pregnancies. I don't think I had my progesterone level tested with any of them before I started using it, although I had had my progesterone levels tested in general and with pgs that I subsequently miscarried. The 2 children I had from progesterone supplemented pregnancies are both perfectly healthy. I didn't have any problems with anything. I'm still pg with the 3rd, 22w now. I used progesterone from ovulation confirmation until 13 or 14w, I believe. So far, no problems with this baby or pregnancy either.

From what I've read, been told and understand, natural progesterone is safe. Synthetic progesterones like those in hormonal birth control and Provera are not safe. I don't know about taking Vitex with the progesterone, though. Vitex is supposed to help with progesterone deficiency so more progesterone may not be needed. I would probably wean off the Vitex and use only the prescribed progesterone supplements but that's because I've had much better results with prescribed meds than OTC herbal supplements for pg support issues. I think you have to be careful about stopping Vitex, though. You're supposed to wean off of it slowly, I believe.

I'm curious about your OB's comment that progesterone testing is unreliable. It's a number so I don't see how that can be unreliable, unless the lab doing the testing is unreliable. I wonder if what she was referring to was the fact that there is no definitive consensus on minimum or optimum progesterone levels during pg. I believe all the numbers come from infertility procedures and protocols during which the natural hormone production is normally suppressed. In those circumstances, docs like to see a progesterone level above 10 for a non-medicated cycle and above 15 for a medicated cycle (if I remember correctly) at 7dpo.There isn't even agreement about whether there is or is not such as thing as lpd or progesterone deficiency. So knowing your progesterone level after 7dpo might not help her in deciding whether or not you need supplementation, unless it is extremely high, maybe.

[APToddlerMama]

Thanks so much MarineWife.  I really appreciate all of your feedback.  About the refills--It says no refills on the box but maybe she willl just give me refills after my next apt?  My hcg levels are going up quickly.  Hopefully that is a good sign... 

[MarineWife]

YW. I'd definitely ask for at least enough to get you through the 10th week. I hope you have a happy and healthy baby in 8 months now, is it?

[APToddlerMama]

Originally Posted by MarineWife 

YW. I'd definitely ask for at least enough to get you through the 10th week. I hope you have a happy and healthy baby in 8 months now, is it?

Yes!  Somehow 8 more seems less daunting than 9...glad you pointed it out :).