I recently had a weird cycle after coming off the pill 4 months ago. I was late on my period(2 weeks), ovulated late(at the time my period was due) and then never got my period 14 days after that. I was very regular Jan-Feb-March, 28 days like clockwork and had definite signs of ovulation. I have always been regular but for some reason I had a weird cycle in April. I had a blood test and I am not pregnant, so my OB gave me Prometrium to induce my period and start my cycle again. We are TTC, so this has been really frustrating. I got pregnant the first try with my daughter(she's 2.5) and now it'll be three months of trying so far for #2. I am just worried because I am 36 now. I am wondering if stressing about getting pregnant b/c I feel I am running out of time with my age has caused me to miss my period.
Just wondering about Prometrium and if anyone's taken it for this reason. Also, if you are having problems getting pregnant with #2. Literally with my first child, I went off the pill and two weeks later I conceived.
Thanks for the encouragement!
N.
Hi N.!
I'm also TTC (with my first one) and I have irregular cycles that last anywhere from 25 days to 45 days so my fertility doctor puts me on Prometrium to start up my cycles at 28 days. He also kept me on it after my two inseminations until I found out I wasn't expecting. I think it's just a good hormone to take for the first few weeks of pregnancy. Hope this helps! Good luck!
Hi N. - isn't it frustrating?? I've been dealing with FUN fertility problems for #2 as well....I feel your pain!
I've taken Prometrium, but not to induce a period. My doc describes Prometrium as the "voodoo drug" - meaning yeah, it may work, or it may not, but if it makes you feel better to take...I've had trouble keeping pregnancies, so Prometrium is supposed to help in those very early days of pregnancy. She has me take it right after I ovulate. She put me on Clomid to force ovulation, though. She had never mentioned Prometrium, though I do know some docs prescribe it. Are you testing for ovulation? That may really help.
Because of your age, if you're not pregnant in the next 3 months, you should seek the help of an infertility specialist. I'm 34, and actually have been trying for a very long time (after a wam bam quick conception with my first baby, too), but my doc and I just now made the decision to get me over to a specialist.
If you decide to go that route, so far I really like my specialist - Dr. Barnett in Plano - one of the top 10 infertility clinics in the US. It took me 2 months to get an appointment, but it was worth it.
Good luck! And hey - at least it's fun trying, right??
S.
I got pregnant with #1 within 3 months of getting off the pill. I have been off now since September and have only had about 3-4 periods since then. And I don't know when I'm ovulating. Anyway I'm in the process of finding a doctor, I want to tour Baylor Grapevine to be sure I like the hospital and then I'm going to make an appt. with a doctor that delivers there. We haven't been "trying" per se (because I can't count days with irregular periods), but like I said, it happened pretty quickly with our son.
I'll be 32 in a month, and although I'm not in a high risk category yet, Ryan will be 2 in July and I want them to be fairly close in age. We're anxious to get #2 underway! (and before I lose my nerve, lol :o)
Good luck to you!
~ t
~ t
Hi N.,
There are a lot of natural supplements/hormones you can take to get your body more regular. Unfortunately, often times when you take the medications the minute you get off of them it can cause your hormones to go out of control again. I am a chiropractor and I work a lot with nutrition. I can check your thyroid, adrenal glands and your ovaries to make sure they are functioning correctly. If something is not working properly, I can get you on the right nutrition to help get your system functioning optimally. If the organs are not functioning properly, it won't allow you to go through a normal cycle. If you are stressed it definitely can reach havoc on your reproductive cycle. It is very common to need extra help after having a child. If you are interested in more information, feel free to email or give me a call at ###-###-####. Thanks!
Dr. Sandra S.
In general I have a low progesterone level and I am very familiar with taking it to get a period as well as taking it in order to stay pregnant. I acctually just finished a round of it. Yes, worrying about it will cause your period to be late and in general make it harder to become pregnant. As for how not to stress out about it...I have yet to figure it out. Having a hormonal imbalance, which is what causes menstrual irregularity, will cause you to stress out. It is a viscous cycle. If you can I would get the book "Taking charge of your Fertility” It contains a wealth of information. Good luck.
Sorry for the prolonged delay in getting this msg. My internet browing was down for like a week. If you're still wondering about the Prometrium,....
I have a doctor in New York who is a neuroendocrenologist(sp?). Thats a doctor who specializes in how the hormones affect the brain. There are very few of them around (hence NY) because it is a new and very specialized field. Anyway, he prescribes me Prometrium to take Day14 thru 28. I like the fact that it's all natural and not synthetic, plus that company Solvay, is the only one out there who has captured natural progesterone in a form you can take orally (all else are creams). I take it for catamenial seizure control. Nevertheless, when I first takled to this dr, I had just come off the DepoProvera shot (synthetic progesterone) after taking that injection every 3months for 3 years. I knew not to expect a period for probably 6 months, maybe a year. I was instructed to take the Prometrium once I started my period back. I asked if taking it would help bring my period back sooner and he said that was doubtful, but it wouldnt hurt me if I wanted to try it but the problem is with that was that I didnt know where Day 14 was because I was having no periods at all! So he suggested that if I took it all month in the larger doses he had prescribed for the seizures, it might prolong the return of my cycle - so he said if I really wanted to try taking it before the return of my cycle, go with a lower dose. When I realized how expensive Prometrium is (I have an Rx deductible), I decided to just wait for my period. I'd say just relax and wait. Your body will come around. Coming off the pill can do that...mess you up for a while, even if you thought you were good for the first 3 months. Every other month its the other ovary's turn anyway... and since each ovary is different from the other (thats why a lot of women say alternate periods are heavier/harder), maybe you could give the second one a break here. I have one "mean" ovary and one "gentle" one and they take turns each month. I know that sounds funny but all my friends say they do too. If its the same for you, maybe your gentle one (or mean one, if the case may be) is a little slower to get regular with the program. Anyway, the only thing else I would say, is double-check the label about taking it if its possible you might be pregnant. Progesterone is the more "friendly" hormone of the three prominent ones but they really don't know too much about HOW it works. Still, I think my Rx bottle says not to take it if possibly pregnant. Hope that helped & didn't come too late. -A.
I am ttc #2 & my doctor but me on prometrium after not having a period for 2 months. I just got off birth control 2.5 months ago. After taking the prometrium for 4 days I got my period even though I think I was suppose to get one after I finished the 20 pills. I am very happy it worked out this way because from what I understand my body is trying to get regulated on its own again. I also have just started an extreme exercise plan to lose a little weight which am not sure if that helped. It took me 7 months & 1 round of clomid for me to get pregnant with my daughter. I pray I don't have to go through all of that again but will if needed. Now that I have my period I am suppose to use a ovulation predictor kit. But I do know one thing the very best advice I can give to anyone when ttc is to try not to let it get to you. NO STRESS! Its hard to do but you will notice once you relax things will fall into place. Hope this helps! wish you all luck.
I've never taken Prometrium but I had secondary infertility. #1 took 18 months on our own but I was 30 so not in a rush. #2 I was 35 so panicked after a few months. I used Dr. Douglas in Plano. Dr. Barnett is associated with Dr. Douglas. I finally got pregnant on try #4 so had #2 just after I turned 37. General rule of thumb is if you are over 35 and aren't pregnant in 3 months then get to a specialist. I probably should've gone on #1 but wasn't in a rush at that point. I was never never regular so that was my biggest problem. My kids are 4 1/2 years apart and it's worked out great so far. Good luck.
I have not taken Prometrium for this issue, but I would like to recommend a great website and book called Taking Charge of Your Fertility. It's a wonderful resource for women trying to conceive. It will teach you things about your cycle that you never knew anything about! I used it when I was 34 and having fertility issues. The message boards are fabulous. You'll learn much from other women with similar issues to what you're going through. Good luck!
N., I have found that when periods get whacky it is helpful to do a progesterone creme twice a day starting on your 12th day and ending on your 26th day. Its more natural than the Prometrium and usually fixes the problem after only a few months of using it. It helps your cycle to get back on track. Also, if you are trying to get pregnant again it will help make sure that your progesterone levels are normal to conceive and hold onto a baby til the placenta takes over. My favorite is the Arbone one. I like their quality control and it is a pump so its an easy measure. One pump in the morning and one pump in the afternoon or evening. You rub it on the "sensitive" parts of your body. The places that don't get much sun. The under part of your arms, chest, inside of your legs...etc. It will cause your period to start usually on the 28-30th day. Good luck and have fun making a new baby! Blessings,
A. Crowell, CPM, LM
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