Progesterone in Pregnancy
Question
Hello, my OB doctor prescribed PROMETRIUM for me while I am pregnant. I took progesterone last time when I was pregnant. However, the side effects of this drug seem to be worse than the regular progesterone vaginal suppository. He also said to use the capsule vaginally. I only see the oral method used. Could this medicine make me start bleeding? Please advise. ThanksSusan
Answer
Last Updated: July 12, 2013
Dear Susan:
Women make increasing amounts of progesterone during pregnancy and if it falls off, the woman is in danger of miscarriage. Oral, vaginal, and injectable progesterone are used for supplementation during pregnancy. The progesterone levels need to be followed to see if the replacement, by however means, is keeping the progesterone blood levels in the normal range. Some women suffer from light headaches or some nausea with oral progesterone. Some women will not be able to tolerate the injections because of soreness. It really depends on what it takes to get effective levels to help maintain the pregnancy.
Additionally, vaginal progesterone can be used to help increase the progesterone in the uterus. Some of the formularies of progesterone especially those that are made by a compounding pharmacist, can be taken orally or used vaginally. None of these should cause you to bleed.
Gretchen Marsh, D.O.
Women make increasing amounts of progesterone during pregnancy and if it falls off, the woman is in danger of miscarriage. Oral, vaginal, and injectable progesterone are used for supplementation during pregnancy. The progesterone levels need to be followed to see if the replacement, by however means, is keeping the progesterone blood levels in the normal range. Some women suffer from light headaches or some nausea with oral progesterone. Some women will not be able to tolerate the injections because of soreness. It really depends on what it takes to get effective levels to help maintain the pregnancy.
Additionally, vaginal progesterone can be used to help increase the progesterone in the uterus. Some of the formularies of progesterone especially those that are made by a compounding pharmacist, can be taken orally or used vaginally. None of these should cause you to bleed.
Gretchen Marsh, D.O.
Answered By:
Gretchen Marsh, D.O.
Dr. Marsh graduated from Western University of Health Sciences in 1987 in Pomona, CA and is board certified in Family Medicine by the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians. She has been certified as a NaProTechnology® Medical Consultant (NaPro) and Creighton model Fertility Care System (CrMS) teacher since 2001. She and her husband, Jon, have 5 sons and live in the Reno region, where she sees patients in person, in addition to her telehealth services offered via MyCatholicDoctor.com
