Hellobee Boards

I think there's a lot of good info here: http://natural-fertility-info.com/ for your research!

Bee took Prometrium... she posted a bit about her research here:

http://www.hellobee.com/2011/09/23/the-journey-to-charlie-part-3/

I took progesterone suppositories twice daily.

@LindsayinNy: I was sad to read about your miscarriage. I'm glad you have such a supportive husband, but I'm sorry your doctor has been unresponsive, especially during a tough time like this.

Vitex can really effect your cycle--maybe in a good way, maybe in a bad way. If you read reviews, you'll see that people credit it for making their cycles go out of whack. I say to proceed with caution.

@Mrs.Someone--I thought you were to take Vitex before ovulation, but not after? When I think about it, I've read varying advice on when to take it, but perhaps your ND made this recommendation?

OTC progesterone cream is a waste of money. I bought some myself based on the advice of a natural fertility site, but my RE said you would have to bathe in it to get the amount you need. I would stick with what your doctor prescribed.

I took oral progesterone supplements after I ovulated and until I either started my period or kept getting negative tests weeks later

@LindsayInNY: If you have a clear LP issue (spotting, short, etc), then I would stick with the progesterone if you already have a prescription. If you're already charting, figuring out when to start them is easy. The tricky part is figuring out when to stop, because it can prevent AF from starting. I haven't taken it before confirmed pregnancy because my LP is normal.

@Happygal: I've mostly heard of taking Vitex post-O, but my acupuncturist and a natural remedy store's naturopath told me to take it all month. The one month I did, I ended up O'ing late, so that was the end of it! My ND put it in my tincture for post-O only.

Also, I've heard the same about the P cream, not worth it.

I also took prometrium (suppositories) for the first 12 weeks of my pregnancy.

@LindsayInNY: I was told that they work either way, but its best to use them as a suppository because you get less side effects. If you're taking them and get pregnant, DON'T STOP! You'll need them thought at least week 10.

@LindsayInNY: OK....She prescribed you enough to allow implantation and to allow you to get pregnant. Because, the thing is, progesterone grows your unterine lining, which the eggs implants into and feeds off of for the first 12w until the placenta is made and takes over.
Once you get a BPF, you go back to your doctor for blood work. She will then give you prog supplemetns for the rest of your first trimester.
She sin't going to give you 4m's worth right away when you aren't pregnant.
She gave you enough to not spot and to allow pregnancy to even occur.
But, you need to be insistent that she give you more right away so that you don't MC again.
My doctor told me, test early and come running when you get a positive, so I can give you more progesterone.

If she gave you 11w worth, the progesterone would block away your period. So, you'd have a freakishly long cycle. She needs to make sure your pregnant first.

@LindsayInNY: DON'T STOP IT I'm yelling; but not in a mean way. haha. Test. And if it is a negative and you are on CD16 for example, then yeah, stop it. What's worse than having progesterone? A sudden drop in progesterone.
I'd fill one now and then see if they'll fill the other even if you have to pay out of pocket for it. As soon as she comes back, make her fill you enough to get you to week 10, if you do get pregnant this cycle. FX.

I am pushing this supplement so hard because I truly believe it to be a miracle drug. If there is no substantial reason why you MC'd then, low progesterone is probably it. It is such an easy fix. I wish more doctors were educated on it.

@LindsayInNY: I agree with @Happygal: that the natural progesterone cream is a waste of $$. I tried it and it did lengthen my super short LP by maaaybe a day, but with the progesterone suppositories (Rx - Endometrin), my LP went from 8-10 days to 15 days.

@LindsayInNY: I really do hope it is the cure for you. It was most likely just a fluke for you though. The m/cs I hear of that are for sure from low progesterone (meaning P is the only thing needed next time) are usually a little further along. I think it either doesn't stick at all, or P never rises enough to sustain the baby and the loss is more at 5-6 weeks. I am no expert though. Unfortunately I've just read too much about RPL

@LindsayInNY: Unfortunately, there is no way to be sure. But starting P is a great solution. I was so pissed that my OB wasn't even willing to test P with my first BFP, especially since I lost it 2 days later (I no longer see her).

I may have missed this, but did you have your progesterone tested? I had 2 MCs and after the earlier one (5ish weeks), I started taking prometrium after O. My prog tested at the low end of normal, but I was already starting to miscarry, so it could've been lower due to that. Anyway, in my case I didn't really find prometrium helpful... It messed with the length of my cycles and O dates. I took it for 3 cycles, then stopped at the advice of my dr. I got pg on the 3rd cycle after stopping it. You are probably feeling overwhelmed with advice right now, but just wanted to offer another perspective. After my MCs I was willing to try anything to get pg again... But it might be better not to use prog unless you really need it. Once I did get pg, I took prometrium until 2nd tri. You could ask your dr about that, too.

I would also recommend the suppositories over the oral if you have an option, or even if you don't, ask your doctor about the suppositories if you have trouble with the oral. I had really bad side effects from the oral and wish I had known at the time to ask for the other.

Just wanted to pop in and say how helpful this thread has been! I'll be starting progesterone suppositories next week and the info here makes me feel so much more informed! Thank you!

ps - keeping my fingers crossed for you LindsayInNY!

@LovelyPlum: Thanks so much for all of your advice and encouragement!

I believe B-Complex (particularly B6, but B vitamins work best together) is also supposed to help your body produce progesterone.