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Progesterone for infertility

by Ellie
(USA)

This website is an amazing treasure trove of information! I'm grateful to have found it as my husband and I are trying to conceive (TTC) our 3rd child. After a chemical pregnancy in February, I started seeing a naturopathic doctor and was told I have low progesterone.
My cycle is currently 24-26 days with a couple days of spotting before bleeding. Mood swings, weak ovulation/anovulatory cycles and weight gain have been other issues I've dealt with.
I have tried progesterone cream a few times in my TTC journey with no success. I just recently learned I've been using far too little to even make a difference (20mg/day of the progesterone cream by Emerita).
At cycle day 23, I started using 70-100mg/day. It was hard to be consistent because the cream was so sticky and didn't absorb well. I started spotting the next day but continued using the cream and was surprised and pleased to see that the spotting was a little less and my period held off until I'd completed a full 28 day cycle. It's been months since I had a 28 day cycle, and that was with acupuncture.

I'm hoping to switch to the Natpro next cycle. Should I start with 50mg am/pm and slowly increase, or should I start with a higher dosage since I was still spotting last time?

Comments for Progesterone for infertility

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Aug 24, 2022
 Progesterone for infertility
by: Joy

Hi Ellie

Thank you for your kind words. Progesterone is the pregnancy hormone, if it's low conception could become a problem. Progesterone must only be used at ovulation if pregnancy is the aim. It should be used during your luteal phase which is always, in all women, 12-14 days long. Progesterone is used during this luteal phase. Stress could also be a contributing factor. It lowers progesterone levels as well as vitamin D3 and other valuable nutrients. The Pregnancy page will explain in more detail.

As you are battling with ovulation and anovulatory cycles it is recommended that you use progesterone every day with NO breaks until this improves and a regular monthly cycle returns. Then use the cream by following your cycle i.e. luteal phase. Please read the Menstruation page. If progesterone is not used correctly it will not help you. Please do not start on 50mg, between 100-200mg is needed as stated many times on this website. Use a good organic progesterone cream such as Natpro which is a 3% cream. If using another cream, please adjust so that it equates to Natpro. Natpro absorbs extremely well and can be used anywhere on the body. Is excellent when inserted in the vagina at night. Helps with dryness and inflammation. When first using progesterone, the body will react in a number of ways, it could be spotting, aches pains etc. This is normal as progesterone becomes the dominant hormone, it must be dominant at all times. Please read the How to use Progesterone Cream page as well as the Estrogen Dominance page as you are also suffering from this.

Vitamin D3 is important and the level must be optimal at all times. A deficiency reduces the benefits of progesterone and is connected to every single function cell in our bodies making it vital. If a mother is deficient in D3, it will be passed onto the baby.
Aug 25, 2022
 thanks!
by: Ellie

Thank you for the response, Joy, and thank you for more helpful information!
I have my NatPro in the mail and look forward to starting 100-200mg per day beginning at ovulation.
I'll do more reading through the articles you recommended. Thank you!!
Nov 09, 2022
 Update and question..
by: Ellie

Hello!
Since September, I've been using 100-150mg of the Natpro progesterone cream per day, from day of ovulation until bleeding, split between mooring and night. I'm also daily taking 10000iu of Vit D with cofactors.
I've had 3 cycles since September, and each has been only 25 days long. The second month I had a week of spotting before my period. This last cycle, I had less spotting, but still a couple days of it and again only a 25 day cycle.
I'm hoping this is just part of the worse before better thing but it's a little disturbing as my cycle was 26+ days before progesterone cream. I've also had some huge clots/pieces of uterine lining, bigger than usual. My mood has been more stable during my luteal phase though, which is good.

Should I start taking a higher dosage split between am/pm, or should I try adding a mid-day dosage to up the progesterone?? Or just wait it out a few more cycles?? Or other recommendations? Thanks!!
Nov 10, 2022
 Update and questions
by: Joy

Hi Ellie

I really do feel that you should be using progesterone every day with no breaks as already mentioned. You need to continue doing so until your cycle returns normal, then use it by following your regular cycle i.e. luteal phase. It can take 2 - 6 months before the body adjusts.

The clots are normal, a good thing actually as progesterone is helping to clear out the excess estrogen build up in your uterus.

Please use 200mg per day every day and see how you get on. Progesterone is not easy, I wish it was, time and patience is needed.
Nov 12, 2022
 Thanks!
by: Ellie

Hi Joy,
Thank you for taking time to respond.
I was mistaken and was using 200-250mg/day while my cycle was still only 25 days, and was ovulating. But I'll try all cycle through and see how things go. The progesterone helps me sleep better and feel good overall, so it's not a burden, that's for sure. Thank you for your input!
Dec 08, 2022
 Update
by: Ellie

Hi Joy,
Just an update both for myself and for anyone else who might be reading this..
Upon your advice, I began taking 100mg 2x/day straight through my entire cycle. When I seemed to have more mood swings and feel a little "off" I upped my dosage to a total of 300mg/day split into two doses of 150mg each. That's where I've been staying and it feels like a good level for me for now.
Possibly due to a stomach bug that was going around, or possibly due to starting more of the progesterone, mid-cycle I grew very ill with what felt like food poisoning and extreme dizziness leading to nausea. I'm chalking it up to a bug that was worsened by my hormone levels suddenly changing.. who knows for sure, though! It was interesting though as no one else of my family had similar symptoms.
At any rate, I ovulated closer to CD14 or 15, was still recovering so didn't track as closely, then had a 29 day cycle for the first time in months.
I also had minimal spotting before, and no clotting or heavy flow, though my period did last for 5 days with 2 days of spotting following.
I'm looking forward to seeing what a second month of progesterone all cycle will do, hopefully with no illness this time:)

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