Low prog - What next?

[CockerMum]

Hi all,

I have been told i have low progesterone (2 lots of 21 bloods - done at correct time as tempting). GP explains that the depo (BC) that i was on has caused this! Also my calcium def. Low Vit D - i am supplementing now.

I use prog cream after O and have recently started taking vitex (AG) tincture.

Is there anything else, GP wants to refer me private but my bmi is too high ATM so doubt they would do anything.

OH's sample came back fine, no worries his end.

Just wondering if anybody else is in the same boat as me?

 

[lillith112]

Hi all,

I have been told i have low progesterone (2 lots of 21 bloods - done at correct time as tempting). GP explains that the depo (BC) that i was on has caused this! Also my calcium def. Low Vit D - i am supplementing now.

I use prog cream after O and have recently started taking vitex (AG) tincture.

Is there anything else, GP wants to refer me private but my bmi is too high ATM so doubt they would do anything.

OH's sample came back fine, no worries his end.

Just wondering if anybody else is in the same boat as me?

Me I'm in the same boat, I've had 3 lots of 21 bloods, first was 15 which indicates that I didn't ovulate, then I had a 28 and a 27 which is still under 30, apparently it has to be 30 or above to sustain a pregnancy.

I'm also on progesterone cream, my 1st month on it, I started day after positive opk. I have a book on progesterone cream by Dr Lee, premenopause and it says it takes 3 months to show on bloot tests but your levels do rise, the only accurate way is saliva progesterone tests but I don't think they do those in the UK.

Can I ask what progesterone cream you are using hun ?. I'm on Emerita progest cream, it's one that Drs recommend, there is a supplier in Ireland that I found.

Your Dr will probably refer you to a specialist, I couldn't wait for OH to do his sperm test so I'm paying to go private, will see what the consultant says. xx

 

[CockerMum]

HI Lillith,

Thank you for replying altho it sucks that you are in the same boat as me.

Can i ask if thats nmol or ng? My 2nd one which was higher was only 12.1nmol which i think equates to about 3.7ng - pretty low. GP is adamant that i am not ovulating with it so low but all my BBT charts shows that i am - i cant find anything to help me understand that bit.

I read up about double dosing with prog levels so low - not sure if it made much of a difference last month altho my LP was much better at 13 instead of 9. I use one from iherb - cant remember what its called but i do want a better known one - will have a look into the one you have.

I did find something about saliva tests for UK, will see if i can google again - are they better? i was seriously considering having it done.

Yes they want to refer me to a local clinic but tbh i am not sure i want to go - i doubt they will do anything for my as i have a BMI of 39 and everywhere i have read it needs to be 30 even for clomid. I have got to the stage of why bother when they will just shove me out the door and tell me to lose weight.

We are more than willing to pay for private and are currently saving money incase IUI is our chance but i need to find a clinic not so up tight about weight and their printed results and more about the patients.

So sorry i feel i have waffled on an awful lot lol! thats what working nights and not having any adult conversations for a while does to me haha xx

 

[lillith112]

Gosh I have no idea if it was nmol or ng, I just know that it has to be 30 to sustain a pregnancy. Someone told me that you can ovulate with a lower level of progesterone and this makes sense as I read at ovulation there is only a tiny surge of it. So that's probably why your temperature is in normal range for ovulation. The problem is it has to be 30 for the pregnancy to hold.
Yes I've also read in my book that you can double the dose, you said you didn't think it made a difference but your lp being lengthened by 4 days is a massive difference, thats brilliant !.
Regarding the saliva test Dr Lee says saliva progesterone is the only way to get an accurate reading while using the cream. He goes into technical explanation of how progesterone takes 3 months to show in a blood test even though your levels are higher from the cream. Is the saliva test in the UK ?, I'm interested to have mine checked if it is.
You are right about the clinic, my friend has just had to lose weight to get her appointment for ivf, but she did get given clomid before this even with high bmi so its definitely worth going. Her progesterone was low at 4, but on clomid her levels were in the 40's and 60's, massive improvement.
It mentions weight in this book as well, apparently if you are overweight it makes you estrogen dominant, this progesterone cream will help balance that out.
Aww hun, you haven't waffled in the least, it's nice to know I'm not alone I am thinking about a round of iui as well.
I'll dig out the name of the place where I ordered that progesterone cream hun. xx

 

[lisey]

If you have low progesterone then that means you are likely not ovulating or not strongly enough to sustain pregnancy. Using progesterone cream won't help. It could make your levels higher in a blood test but the hormones for ovulation happen really early in cycle so something needs to be taken at the beginning to stimulate this. Angus castus may help that. Also if progesterone is used too early then it can prevent pregnancy (I was on progesterone supplement due to miscarriages and the fertility doctor told me this)
Clomid is likely the best step but I say Angus casts is worth a try or alternative therapies like acupuncture xx

 

[CockerMum]

I have started vitex this cycle so will see what happens with temps etc, they are pretty stable at the min which is unusual. I will still use the cream in my LP as your right Lilith to have my LP increased is much better.

I have been researching private clinics but just don't know where to go, we really don't mind travelling if it means they will start doing something. I would really like clomid and prog pesseries to try first but then I think should I just do iui or ivf to save money in the long run?

We are going in holiday next week to Cornwall then after that we are going to decide where to go but tbh I really just don't know. It will also be my time to diet to at least lose abit before getting to a clinic xx

 

[lillith112]

I have started vitex this cycle so will see what happens with temps etc, they are pretty stable at the min which is unusual. I will still use the cream in my LP as your right Lilith to have my LP increased is much better.

I have been researching private clinics but just don't know where to go, we really don't mind travelling if it means they will start doing something. I would really like clomid and prog pesseries to try first but then I think should I just do iui or ivf to save money in the long run?

We are going in holiday next week to Cornwall then after that we are going to decide where to go but tbh I really just don't know. It will also be my time to diet to at least lose abit before getting to a clinic xx

Whereabouts are you?, I've booked with Cotswold fertility clinic in Cheltenham, It's run by NHS fertility specialists and is a satellite clinic for Oxford. I got an appointment without a GP referal and my appointment was just 2 weeks wait. I'm hoping she will give me clomid to try. I'm seeing Mrs Reddy, she has amazing reviews on another pregnancy group. x

 

[CockerMum]

I live in Leiestershire.

I will have a google and see. When is your appointment?

There is an open day tomorrow at care in notts was thinking of just popping over and asking a few questions. xx

 

[lillith112]

I live in Leiestershire.

I will have a google and see. When is your appointment?

There is an open day tomorrow at care in notts was thinking of just popping over and asking a few questions. xx

My appointment is on the 16th of this month, if you google Cotswold fertility clinic you can have a look at their website. I drove to Leicester a few months back, took an hour and a half I think. x

 

[CockerMum]

Had a nosey but not sure on it. i have found one i like buts its in Wandworth - 2 hours away they wont do IVF with a higher BMI but it says on their website that they will other things. How true that is and what they do will be a different matter - i have emailed them aswell as they have an open day 20th May (just hope i can get the day off).

Its called Concept Fertility Clinic, i am going to start losing weight after my holiday. its just a never ending battle. i eat because i am depressed especially when CD1 shows up x