Cyclogest & Pregnancy
Question
I am six weeks pregnant and have been offered Cyclogest by a specialist doctor. I have a two year old but have had three miscarriages, since the birth, Â all ending at about six weeks. The specialist did say that there hasn’t been any proof that the drug works but that he prescribes it frequently to IVF patients. I have no problem in conceiving naturally. The specialist did say that the ‘baby’ may be more hairy than normal but that this is very rare. Â My bloods show that I am not lacking in any hormones so I really do not know whether to take Cyclogest and suffer the possible side effects. Can you please advise me of the pros and cons.
Answer
Last Updated: June 14, 2013
Cyclogest is a vaginal preparation of bioidentical progesterone used in the UK. Progesterone, vaginally or in injections, is frequently used in women who have had previous miscarriages and does not have harmful side effects. The side effect of male characteristics in female offspring occurs with artificial derivatives of progesterone but does not occur with bioidentical progesterone. As far as your progesterone being in the normal range, there is a very large range of “normal” in early gestation, so if you are lower down the normal spectrum progesterone may help maintain your pregnancy. I would encourage you to follow your doctor’s advice.
In the meantime, I would encourage you to have a few more tests for treatable causes of miscarriage such as low thyroid and ureaplasma or mycoplasma organisms in your reproductive tract. As with progesterone, we find that borderline cases of low thyroid, even with TSH’s in the 2.0-5.0 range can contribute to reproductive disorders that improve with thyroid supplementation. I am sure you have been told that probably at least half of miscarriages occur because the embryo is abnormal and cannot live. However, in any given situation and with previous pregnancy losses, it is a good idea to use simple treatments to prevent miscarriage that might be helpful.
Dr. Mary Davenport
In the meantime, I would encourage you to have a few more tests for treatable causes of miscarriage such as low thyroid and ureaplasma or mycoplasma organisms in your reproductive tract. As with progesterone, we find that borderline cases of low thyroid, even with TSH’s in the 2.0-5.0 range can contribute to reproductive disorders that improve with thyroid supplementation. I am sure you have been told that probably at least half of miscarriages occur because the embryo is abnormal and cannot live. However, in any given situation and with previous pregnancy losses, it is a good idea to use simple treatments to prevent miscarriage that might be helpful.
Dr. Mary Davenport
Answered By:
Mary Davenport, MD, MS
Mary Davenport, MD, FACOG, an obstetrician/gynecologist from the Oakland Region of California, offers telehealth services over MyCatholicDoctor.com She graduated from Tufts University School of Medicine and completed her residency at UC San Diego. Dr. Davenport is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and serves on the Advisory Board of the California Association of Natural Family Planning.
