Progesterone Supplements - just because?!

[Miranda9]

My question is directed to those of you who were prescribed progesterone supplements after learning you were pregnant.

How safe is it to take progesterone supplements if you DON"T know your progesterone levels?  My Dr. is offering to prescribe next time I get pregnant...but...shouldn't she be testing to see if I need the progesterone?  What if my levels are fine?  Isn't there a delicate balance btw. progesterone/estrogen?  

Some background: I miscarried last month at 5 weeks.  It's my second m/c and because of my age (42), I asked to be referred to a fertility specialist.  I had asked my Dr. about baby aspirin and progesterone supplements.  She shared her doubts about the validity of these prescriptions, but said it wouldn't hurt.  We both realize that the m/c are likely due to chromosal abnormalities.  (My first m/c was a blighted ovum diagnosed at 6 weeks but I didn't miscarry naturally until week 10...so...wouldn't that mean that my body produced enough progesterone if it took this long to expel the sac and placenta?)

I went to my Dr. a few weeks ago for another reason and we chatted about my m/c.  She seemed to have changed her tune.  She told me one of her pregnant clients who is going to the fertility clinic is being prescribed both baby aspirin and progesterone.  My Dr. told me if I get pregnant before my fertility clinic appt, I should call her and she'll find out the details for progesterone therapy and will fill out a prescription for me.  "It wouldn't hurt".  But would it?  There's lots of conflicting info out there...a book that my friend has ("Taking Charge of Your Fertility") informs me that clomid and progesterone can hurt natural conception in the long term?!

I've been anxiously awaiting my AF and it's finally arrived today, Day 29.  So I'll be ready to TTC again.  

[Miranda9]

Thank you for your responses; you've alleviated some of my worries about taking hormone supplements...even though I'm the one who first brought it up with my doctor;)

[7preg3b]

Thats my drs philosphy too.  I asked about them when I changed drs my previous drs had prescribed them and they too said it wouldn't hurt but there is no proven evidence they work either.  I had a missed m/c and was on thema dn believe it stopped my body from doing what it should of done natureally

[Suzie0224]

Going on progesterone is good because if you have a sudden drop in your levels, you can m/c and not really know it was because of the levels.  I have had 5 m/c's all before 10 weeks and now I am almost 8 weeks and scared.  Just knowing that I don't have to worry about my progesterone helps with some of the unanswered anxiety.  I too am taking baby asprin.  The dr. seems to think the m/c's are chromosome related.  Like I said, taking these safe suppliments makes sure that progesterone and clotting aren't the issue.

happy thoughts

[adgal]

My Dr. doesn't know if my progesterone caused my m/c's or not.  I haven't tested overly low.  His theory was it can't hurt anything and even though he was an RE, not an OB, he did specialize in feritility for many years.  So I take it.  I am seeing a new OB (also a fertility specialist) on the 26th of this month.  I will be asking her about this as well.  

I do know that with clomid, they typically won't prescribe it for longer then 6 cycles.  I'm not sure what the reason is, although it certainly could be because it hurts long term fertility.  I don't know if thats the case with progesterone or not.

I hope that helps a little bit.