Progesterone Levels - Crinone Gel - Ghost?

[baylorbear33]

Can any of you please share with me your experience with the Crinone gel for progesterone support? I just got my first progesterone number back, which was only 6.4. The nurse tried to calm me down since in my last cycle they told me it needed to be at least 15. She said that with the Crinone, the blood measurement is different. Have any of you heard of this or had a similar experience?

[Ghost]

Can any of you please share with me your experience with the Crinone gel for progesterone support? I just got my first progesterone number back, which was only 6.4. The nurse tried to calm me down since in my last cycle they told me it needed to be at least 15. She said that with the Crinone, the blood measurement is different. Have any of you heard of this or had a similar experience?

Crinone is applied (almost) directly where it's needed, instead of in the bloodstream, so the serum concentration is less relevant.

My clinic also uses 15 ng/ml as a lower limit for progesterone levels when using IM progesterone. With Crinone, we don't sweat it so much.

For IVF, we use Crinone twice daily.

[IndieBlue]

I was in a progesterone study last year and it was testing Crinone versus a new ring form of progesterone. A few of the ladies in the study that had BFN's said that their RE's mentioned not seeing as many BFP's in the group that had the Crinone....although not really sure how they knew as it was supposed to be a blind study for the doctors. Anyhow....the Crinone I was on was only once a day and I started AF before my Beta day....which I found odd as I'm never a 28 day cycler.

I'm going to ask for a different form of progesterone for my next cycle....any suggestions?

[baylorbear33]

Hi Indieblue - I think we did the same study last year. I was on the vaginal ring during our fresh cycle, and my progesterone numbers hung around 30 during that time. Since the ring has still not been approved for distribution, I believe the only other option is the progesterone oil shots. They are the intramuscular shots though, which I hear are painful and an everyday thing for many weeks.

[IndieBlue]

Yes, we were in the same study...most of those ladies have went on to have babies by now I think? I took a long long time deciding if I could go through this again after being so shocked the first time around. I can't imagine what you must have went through, so I know that your numbers now must make you really nervous.

Are you on 1 or 2 a day? I was on one...maybe if they want me to do the gel again I can tell them I want to do 2? I really don't mind the PIO shots either...I know they say that they are painful but I'll do whatever it takes. I've watched a few of the shots on Youtube, and those women are crying or anything...so maybe you'd get used to it or atleast it would get a bit easier to handle if you got the nack of where to stick it...etc.

Again, I don't care what I get as long as it's going to work.....last time I started AF while I was on the Crinone so I felt like maybe it wasn't enough...maybe twice a day would be better.

[baylorbear33]

Hi Indie, yes, I am on Crinone twice per day along with Estradiol 3 times per day to keep my lining thick. I am an absolute basket case most days overanalyzing everything, but I am hopefull that we will be successful this time around. Best of luck to you and please stay in touch.

[beachbaby]

Hi,

Don't worry about your level, as with the gel it will not be detected as high in the blood stream. My clinic (uk) never tests progesterone levels. After 2 early miscarraiges i asked about using shots instead to be told there was no benefit, the other side to it was the shots are more expensive and extremely painful.
I have twin boys from an FET using only 2 pesseries a day, they were only day 2 embryo's, 4 cells each. If it's meant to be it will be ok.

Good luck and relax.