Progesterone some answers

[beachbaby]

Hi all, a few weeks ago on Nov 06 thread we had adiscssion about progesterone, shots versus suppositories. I asked my clinic about this and here are the answers.

1. In a fresh cycle as we are producing eggs ,within the follicles is fluid which secretes progesterone after collection/ ovulation hence why the dosage is lower and geerally started on day of transfer. they give a small dose to help as too much is not a problem, although my clinic beleive you have enough in your system in a fresh cycle they supply it as aprecaution.

2., In a frozen cycle as you are not ovulating they need to prescribe progesterone as we are not producing any, 800mg (2 suppositories) is the maximum dose and has proved to be very effective, My clinic did offer it in injection form but this is purely for peace of mind to the patient and is no higher dose. just more painful to administer.

3, My clinic only test progesterone levels if they think it may be an eptopic pregnancy, everyone in the US don't freak out as i think your clinics test bloods a lot more than ours do.IE As we only get one pregnancy test if its positive we wait for scans, no more blood work.

Hope this helps everyone.

[shantala]

beachbaby - thanks for that. i've always been confused on these issues so thats cleared that up!!

xx

[48Crash]

Beachbaby. Thanks for the info - much appreciated. I'm still at a loss as to why my wife is told to use the suppositories after she gets the eggs back. Surely it makes more sense to start the progesterone at the time of collection - particularly if overdosing is not a problem?!

Something to ponder and ask at the clinic, me thinks! If I get any (sensible) answers, I'll let you know.

Regards,

- Crash

[PMApsy]

Hello Crash!

Thought I'd add my two cents. The purpose of progesterone in pregnancy, whether or not it's produced naturally or administered, is to replace the placenta until it's properly formed. In a natural cycle, the enveloppe of the egg, the follicle, will be what produces progesterone to help implantation and keep the embryo(s) alive until the placenta takes charge, which takes a few weeks. Given that the follicles are sucked inside the needle with the egg retrieval procedure, the docs can't assume that some will stay there and do the job (extra eggs not retrieved), so they ask us to take progesterone. Given that no implantation is taking place before transfer, it makes little sense to take progesterone at that time. However, it does make sense to take some from the moment the embryos are back (my clinic has us start the suppositories 30 minutes after transfer) until we are sure that the embryos are implanted and the placenta is doing its job autonomously.

Hope that helped! Have a great day!

Sophie

[sassynlv]

Beachbaby: thanks for the info!

Crash: i know you have noticed, being on the board for a while, clinics do very different things... both w/treatment and monitoring. I am one of those that starts progesterone on day after ER (or on a FET, the day that would represent my ER). I don't know why the differences in protocol when it comes to progesterone replacement. I do know that during natural pregnancy, the fertilized egg does secrete a small amt of progesterone as it moves down the tubes... maybe that is why my clinic has me start it early??? Or maybe they suspect it prepares the lining better. Who knows, these are just guesses. If it made a huge difference either way, i would expect that everyone would do it the same. So the fact that there is so much discrepancy re: timing and method of progesterone replacement makes me think it may not matter. On the other hand, you guys have 2 bfns under your belt... so it can't hurt to ask, now can it??? Let us know what they say. And good luck!

[WISCONSINGAL]

SASSYNLV......LOTS OF PRAYERS GOING YOUR WAY TOMORROW!!!! I'LL BE THINKING OF YOU!