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Does progesterone definitely suppress ovulation?

I am almost driven demented with this. :). ........ my fertility doctor put me on clomid but after day 10 follicular tracking, she prescribed me Progesterone (Lutinus) 100mg x 2 daily as my lining was thinned out from the clomid.. She prescribed it every day of my cycle until I get pregnant and then I've to stop!

After researching it, all I'm reading is that its the common understanding that progesterone suppresses ov. I did ask a pharmacist about this and she rang the doctor to confirm if I was taking it the correct way. But the doctor says yes , to take it all cycle.

Has anyone got eany idea if it looks like the doctor made a mistake or does this somehow seem reasonable? I'd really hate to think I'm wasting my efforts each month. I'm wondering if I only take it after ov, will it still work on thickening my lining in that short time for implantation...

....I could not be more puzzled as to why she would prescribe it this way if its actually stoping me getting pregnant????

Thanks :/

Comments for Does progesterone definitely suppress ovulation?

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Jul 25, 2013
 Does progesterone definitely suppers ovulation?
by: Hamideh

Hi...I am doing an artificial reproductive process (IVF) because of sever infertility problems, my husband and me have. Actually I don't know how effective the progesterone is on stimulating ovaries (the drug I took for this purpose was folitrophin alfa(Gonal-f) injection which provides FSH hormone to help ovaries with producing eggs) but during my treatment, since transferring embryo into my utters, I have been taking progesterone injection and supposed to go on until the pregnancy test. If a PBF, I will be again on progesterone. progesterone, a steroid hormone, is naturally produced inside female's body by the ovary in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and after pregnancy is also produced by placenta which helps with implantation of embryo as well as supporting it to be developed, generally it supports gestation. This is all I know my friend...
I wish you luck and success.
Jul 26, 2013
 Does progesterone definitely suppress ovulation?
by: Wray

Hi there Well the ignorance surrounding progesterone sometimes leaves me stunned! For one thing it can stop ovulation if used before it. It works in the same way as any Contraceptive does, but with no adverse side affects. After all the progestins in the pill are merely synthetic versions of progesterone and they stop ovulation! Secondly progesterone inhibits mitosis, so it will never 'thicken' your lining! Only oestrogen can cause cells to proliferate. Even the Lutinus site says "In the presence of adequate estrogen, progesterone transforms a proliferative endometrium into a secretory endometrium." i.e. progesterone stops the proliferation. There's more info on our Menstruation page. Thirdly stopping progesterone once you know you're pregnant is a sure fire way of causing a miscarriage. I take it you are having problems falling pregnant? Please don't take any more clomid, see here, here and here. Please don't attempt to fall pregnant for a few months until it's cleared your system. Please have a vitamin D test done, often it's only a lack of this which prevents pregnancy. And that you are not 'Infertile'. See here and here. Please read our page on Pregnancy and this one here too to get an idea of how vital progesterone is and how to use it to best advantage. Incidentally a lack of vitamin D reduces the benefits of progesterone. Continued below
Jul 26, 2013
 Does progesterone definitely suppress ovulation? Part 2
by: Wray

Hi there These are some papers on progesterone and IVF, see here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here. The first paper is actually one on diet. It seems a low carb diet and adequate protein is essential for a successful pregnancy, from the vitality of the egg to implantation and beyond. You might consider following the Paleo Diet, there's a link on our Nutrition page. Or try the Ketogenic Diet. This has higher fat to protein ratio than the Paleo, fat is essential for our hormones. I suggest you use the progesterone daily, for about 2-3 months, through any bleeding, to get your level high. Once you are ready to consider falling pregnant, then begin following your cycle. The pregnancy page explains how to use it for this. Continued below
Jul 26, 2013
 Does progesterone definitely suppress ovulation? Part 3
by: Wray

Hi there Your Vitamin D level must be high too. For more info on vitamin D levels, test kits etc see the following websites, Vitamin D Council, GrassrootsHealth and Birmingham Hospital. Blood levels should be 70-100ng/ml or 175-250nmol/L, and not the 30ng/ml or 75nmol/L most labs and doctors regard as adequate. The minimum daily dose should be 5000iu's per day, although the latest research indicates it should be 10,000iu's per day, see here. I also suggest you take about 2000mg/day taurine, it's essential for a successful pregnancy and the growth of the foetus too. I've looked at the ingredients in the Lutinus and I'm not impressed. Suppositories would be far kinder to the vagina, these are often used for inadequate progesterone levels. Injections are often used too, but are painful and to my mind don't supply sufficient progesterone. They've also found that the creams are as effective as injections, see here. Take care Wray
Jul 26, 2013
 I think only in excess of 100mg per day
by: davidgmills

I would like to know the answer to this question as well. I seem to remember Wray saying somewhere on this site that a woman can take 100mg per day during the follicular phase of her cycle and not affect ovulation. But I can not seem to find where I think I read that.

Maybe she will confirm this.
Jul 26, 2013
 Re: progesterone suppressing ovulation?
by: Anonymous

Hi, you can check this out but I "think" that if you take progesterone before, you ovulate (ie from say day 6 when your period ends right up until day 28), that should prevent ovulation happening mid cycle. If you take it after, you ovulate then it helps to promote an environment in the womb that is very favourable to maintaining a pregnancy. Pro-gesterone means 'pro-gestation'. If you have too much estrogen and no progesterone to oppose it, you will continue to shed the lining of the womb (ie have a period)... However, obviously when pregnant, you make a lot of progesterone so that you don't, shed the lining and lose the pregnancy. Make sure you check these details out for yourself but that is my general understanding of how it works. Good luck.
Jul 29, 2013
 I think only in excess of 100mg per day
by: Wray

Hi David I always appreciate your questions. You are right, I wouldn't trust 100mg/day to give contraceptive protection. The amount does depend on stress levels, and of course vitamin D too. Dr Dalton used 100mg or 400mg per day and found both effective, see here. She says "A daily dose of 100 mg (half a 200 mg suppository) or a 400 mg suppository are equally effective." I do have doubts about that, as I know one woman who used the lower amount only to fall pregnant. Stress is rarely taken into account, and stress drops progesterone levels, vitamin D too. So if a woman is using progesterone for contraceptive purposes she should be aware of this aspect, and increase the amount she's using substantially if she wants protection. And if her vitamin D is too low, the benefit of progesterone will be reduced. This will make the amount used ineffective. Take care Wray
Feb 03, 2017
 Differing opinions for pregnancy
by: Chelsye

Hi Wray,
I was told I have low progesterone levels, so I started the cream about 5 months ago. I am only using 20 mg daily, all month long. Now we are trying to get pregnant (just started). I've had a period EVERY month without stopping the cream until this month, but I've had two negative tests. In trying to figure it out, I've read that I should stop to allow a period, in case I'm not ovulating, but I'm afraid to in case the pregnancy just isn't registering yet. I'm going on two weeks overdue on pregnancy, and about one week since last sexual activity. Help!
Jul 22, 2017
 Progesterone Daily
by: Andrea

I've had severe PMS for 17 years. I am 45.

I was thankfully prescribed progesterone sublingual drops. They make me feel normal again, but only if I take them daily even though I still have regular periods.

I've been on them for a year and this menstrual cycle I had heavy bleeding with large clots. Am I preventing myself from ovulating and causing a heavy period by taking progesterone daily?

I feel like I can't function mentally or physically without progesterone daily, but I don't want to have heavy periods with clots. either.

Thank you for any advice.
Andrea
Jul 25, 2017
 To Andrea:
by: Chelsye

Andrea, I posted a comment in February and never received a response.

This kind of therapy can affect ovulation, I discovered that on my own over time. Best advice is to use the drops according to what your cycle should be. For example, I discovered that I ovulate when I'm still spotting following a period, so I don't start my progesterone until after that up until what should be the first day of my period.

Obviously, we're all different, but I went through what you are going through and determined that every day is not the way to go unless you're post menopausal. Good luck!
Jul 25, 2017
 Thank you Chelsye
by: AnonymousAnfrea

Thank you Chelsye,

That is helpful. I'm trying not to take any progesterone this month until I ovulate. A little nervous about that since I think I still have symptoms of too much estrogen and not enough progesterone. Maybe from taking progesterone this year I have enough stored in my body to get me through to day 14. (Wondering if in the future I could take just a lower dose of progesterone on the days when I'm not supposed to be on it since it seems to get so low because of high estrogen, then a higher normal dose of progesterone when I should be on it and still ovulate. Hmmm...)

Thank you for your kind reply!
I read that Wray passed away in January 2017. It made me cry. So sad. So, I'm not sure if anyone is monitoring this site anymore. I'm thankful for all of the prior years of information.

God bless you in Jesus' name!
Jul 26, 2017
 Differing options for Pregnancy
by: Joy

Hi Chelsye

The reason why yours and many other posts have gone unanswered is because Wray Whyte passed away late January 2017. It set most of us back terribly and took a long time for us to recover. We do encourage everyone to use the search bar as most questions have been answered numerous times. Notification of her death is still posted on the website.

If you were only using 20mg per day, you were not using progesterone correctly. Nothing less than 100mg of Natpro Progesterone Cream is needed daily, more if symptoms are severe. It should be used every day for 2-6 months or until the cycle returns. Progesterone cream must then be used by following the cycle if pregnancy is the aim. Monthly periods must be regular. If progesterone is not used correctly it will not work and often makes matters worse.

Any form of oral progesterone is not the best delivery method as 96% gets destroy but the gut and liver.

If Vitamin D3 levels are low, it affects the benefits of progesterone, co-factors are needed

Please read the following pages and the references:

How to use Progesterone Cream

Estrogen Dominance

Pregnancy

Dr Kittie Dalton

Vitamin D3

Magnesium

Delivery Methods
Jul 26, 2017
 Progesterone daily
by: Joy

Hi Andrea

Please refer to my reply to Chelsye about oral progesterone.

You are in Peri-Menopause which can be a torrid time for most woman but it need not be with the correct use of progesterone cream, not drops. Heavy bleeding and clotting is very common in PM, but action needs to take place otherwise anemia could set in, or doctors just love performing hysterectomies at this time. Unless cancer related, this is not necessary. Please consider trying the protocol for heavy bleeding, it has helped so many woman in the past.

•Natpro Progesterone Cream - 400mg to 500mg/per day
•N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) - 2000mg/per day
•Taurine - 2000mg/per day
•Vitamin D3 - 5000iu's/per day more if Vitamin D3 level is low. Vitamin D3 actually helps to shrink fibroids
•Bioflavanoids - 1000mg/per day

Please read these pages and the references:

How to use Progesterone Cream

Estrogen Dominance

Peri-Menopause

Vitamin D3

Magnesium

Delivery Methods
Jan 30, 2018
 Peri-menopausal but trying to conceive
by: Anonymous

Hi,

I was having symptoms of perimenopause and finally found a doctor who listened to me. I was having heavy periods which led to iron deficiency anemia amid a lieu of other issues, mood issues, spotting mid cycle and had my first miscarriage after two successful and easy pregnancies. After the miscarriage I could no longer get pregnant. After labs and multiple ultrasounds, it was determined I also had Hashimoto's, polyps and higher levels of estrogen. I was prescribed 100 mg of oral progesterone daily and a low dose (25 mg) of levothyroxine.

My last menstrual cycle following the progesterone was even heavier than normal. I contacted my doctor and she increased the progesterone to 200 mg daily. She knows we are trying to conceive but will the daily progesterone keep me from getting pregnant?
Feb 01, 2018
 Peri-menopausal but trying to conceive
by: Joy

Peri-Menopause is a difficult time for most women. Please try the heavy bleeding protocol mentioned in the above post to Andrea. Once your bleeding is under control and your cycle becomes regular again, progesterone should be used by following your cycle i.e. luteal phase especially if you are trying to conceive. If you do decide to try the protocol, once the bleeding is under control and your cycle becomes regular, you can slowly reduce to an amount that suits you, 200mg is a good amount. Reduce by 25mg and stay on that for a week and then reduce again by another 25mg and so on. The heavier period experienced is probably progesterone clearing out the excess estrogen in your uterus which is a good thing.

Progesterone therapy is not an over night fix, it can take 2-6 months, possibly longer for the body to adjust.

Please read these pages.

How to use Progesterone Cream

Estrogen Dominance

Peri-Menopause

Vitamin D3

Pregnancy
Mar 30, 2018
 10 mg progesterone
by: Chrystal

I had a miscarriage 3 and 1/2 months ago, the lining thickened up a lot, they said that if it doesn't go down that I might have cancer. I do not want to do the biopsy yet they put me on 10 mg progesterone for every single day.

I halfway would like the possibility of having another baby, I want to know if I can still ovulate on 10 mg progesterone daily. I have lots of cm and I seem to be following everything correctly this last period. I actually did lose a lot of lining being on the progesterone. 3 months no lining lost.
Thank you
Apr 04, 2018
 10mg Progesterone
by: Joy

Hi Chrystal

I am so sorry to hear about your miscarriage. Stress and low progesterone levels can them as well. Progesterone does clear out the lining but I do not believe that you are using enough progesterone, between 100-200mg is needed. Once your cycle returns to normal, progesterone should be used by following your cycle, your luteal phase. It should be used up until the fourth month when the placenta takes over the the manufacture of progesterone. Yes you can ovulate on 10mg, but you really do need to use more progesterone.

Please read these pages and the references given:

How to use Progesterone Cream

Estrogen Dominance

Miscarriages

Stress

Pregnancy

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