Do you take progesterone when waiting to find out if you're pregnant naturally?

[PaulaDag]

Hi All,

I’ve not been on here much lately as I’m trying to take a short break before starting our final embryo banking cycle. I had to have a break as I was emotionally exhausted and the clinic said we could try naturally this month during the break.

We did timed intercourse 4/5 times so I’m hopeful we might be pregnant but what I’ve been wondering is when having a fresh or frozen transfer we take progesterone beforehand.

I am waiting to test to see if I am but I’ve been getting some odd tummy sensations and a little nausea in the morning. Would you take progesterone now while waiting to find out? It makes sense to as people lose due to low progesterone but not sure if it’s the done thing naturally, but only when IVF?

I also noticed this morning I’m getting some jelly like cervical mucus - is that normal at this stage or only period coming?

Thanks everyone

Hope you’re all well

Xx

[MrsOrangejuice]

Because I am now obsessed with progesterone: I would do it, subject to anything your doctors say. I'm convinced that's been our problem all along as I've always spotted for up to a week before my periods and years of investigations culminated in a very helpful comment that my problem is just the way my womb responds to hormones, which I guess is right. Anyway, my consultant said you can't have too much progesterone - i'm on masses - and if this FET hadn't worked I was planning to use it each month of trying between transfers or on breaks.

Hopefully there will be some mucus experts on here who can help you with that query

[PaulaDag in reply to MrsOrangejuice]

Hi, thanks for your message. I just spoke to my clinic and they said its fine to take if it makes me feel better so I've had a Lubion and a cyclogest. Fingers crossed. Congrats on your FET success. Thats brilliant news xx

[soccerkt6]

Hi lovely

There are some doctors that will prescribe progesterone when ttc naturally (I'm working with one now) but it's fairly unusual. If you're very keen to take it, I would get a blood test for progesterone done 6-9 days after ovulation. At that point, your progesterone levels should ideally be between 60 and 100. If they're less than 60 I would supplement but if they're over 60 then I would leave it be. If you're already more than 9 days post-ovulation, I would just wait to take a pregnancy test and if it's positive then you can test your progesterone at that point.

It's always good to remember that progesterone is a hormone, not just your average supplement, and you can accidentally throw your body out of whack if you take more than is needed.

I hope this month is the lucky one! xxx

[PaulaDag in reply to soccerkt6]

Hiya,

I rang my clinic and they said I can take some leftovers I have here from the last cycle which is a few cyclogest and lubion. I've just taken one of each.

I just logged on to my Patient Access as I had bloods taken at my GP yesterday and it was day 20 of my cycle. My progesterone says < 1 nmol/l. Is that low for day 20? I had my first static face on clear blue on Fri 24th so the blood test was taken on 5 day after ovulation. So I'm 6 DPO today.

Thanks for all your helpful advice xxx

[soccerkt6 in reply to PaulaDag]

Heya, great that your clinic gave you the go-ahead! It sounds like you may have tested a bit too early to get an accurate reading of your progesterone levels. Levels below 30nmol 6-9dpo generally indicate a lack of ovulation but that doesn't sound like the case for you, so I think the timing of the test was a bit too early. If you're so inclined, I might ask your clinic if you can re-test your levels tomorrow or Monday. xx

[Hidden]

I personally wouldn't do it without medical advice. Progesterone levels are quite different with a natural pregnancy versus an IVF cycle x

[PaulaDag in reply to Hidden]

It's so difficult to know what to do for the best isn't it. All these variables to consider. The clinic said I can take so I just did a lubion and a cyclogest x

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi PaulaDag. I can't see why not - my thoughts. I often wonder whether a slightly low progesterone level could account for natural pregnancies failing. See what the powers that be at your clinic say. Good luck! Diane

[PaulaDag in reply to DianeArnold]

Thanks Diane. My progesterone level was < 1 nmol/l yesterday when my bloods were taken at my GP. That was day 20 and 5 DPO. Today day 21. Does that seem low for day 20? My clinic said I can take progesterone so I've just taken a lubion and cyclogest for now xx

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK in reply to PaulaDag]

Hi. It's low, so go for it! Your clinic agrees too. Good luck! Diane

[PaulaDag in reply to DianeArnold]

Thanks. Yes I thought it was low to. I heard that it should be low at certain times of the month but not sure when, are you? x

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK in reply to PaulaDag]

Hi. Yes, it's low as you start to deelop your follicles. Diane

[CatLace]

Hi Paula. If it helps - I’m taking part in a clinical trial (being run by one of the docs at my fertility clinic) to see if using progesterone in natural cycles can help achieve pregnancy in patients with unexplained infertility. The protocol is x2 cyclogest pessaries every day for 14 days, 24 hours after ovulation. So based on this, it must be safe to take progesterone - however I don’t know if there would be any contraindications with anything else you might be taking. Good luck xx

[PaulaDag in reply to CatLace]

Thanks CatLace, this is really helpful xx

[Sweethear]

My ivf doctor told me that if am trying naturally the moment I get a positive test I should start taking it I think is because I had 3 miscarriages all naturally conceived

[PaulaDag in reply to Sweethear]

Thanks. From now on I think I'm going to start taking it just after ovulation to be sure x

[BBHH1]

I supplement estrogen and progesterone after ovulation similar to IVF. I don’t know if it’s needed but I think it makes sense to give nature some help!

[PaulaDag in reply to BBHH1]

Yes I agree re giving nature some help. Is estrogen injections or pessaries? x

[BBHH1 in reply to PaulaDag]

All pessaries