My good friend K is having a quandary, and she is asking for your expertise!
She is trying to get post-ovulation bleeding under control. She has had her normal 7dpo progesterone checked, and it was 20 something. She has tried taking prometrium orally (prescribed by her obgyn), but it did not fix the bleeding at all. Recently she went to her RE, and her RE suggested that she try Endometrim during the LP. K goes to order the prescription and it was $360 A MONTH!!!
She called her RE and asked for prometrium suppositories instead, and her RE said that she does not prescribe those, as prometrium was formaulated to take orally (which I have never heard, but of course I do not know everything...but my RE is in love with prometrium suppositories!), while Endometrim was specifically made to be a suppository.
I wondered if the RE wouldn't mind paying K's $360 a month bill ;-) Haha.
ANYWAY, if you have taken Endometrim or Prometrium, please weigh in. Do you know why your RE prescribed either? Have you read that one is better than the other? Have you been on each of them at one time or another and have opinions about one or the other's effectiveness?
Thanks for giving us your experiences!!
From what I understand, Prometrium is used to induce a period and Endometrin is used as supplementation during the luteal phase. I don't think I've heard of Prometrium during the LP. Not sure what the difference is between the two...
ReplyDeleteEndometrin is expensive. I wonder if the pharmacy-made suppositories would be less expensive?
During the LP my RE prescribed Crinone gel. It worked wonders and we were able to get pregnant. It was not very expensive (and I have crappy!! prescription coverage).
ReplyDeleteI used prometrium suppositories the day after my egg retrieval and then for almost 2 months after our BFP.My RE only prescribes prometrium as a suppository. Hope this helps!
ReplyDeleteI used prometrium orally, then as suppositories. Orally, they can not be absorbed as much. But, both RE's I've seen have prescribed Endometrin. My insurance covers it (copay of $50). Endometrin was made to use for ART and for pg. The suppositories "supposidly" are not as messy...I beg to differ. Honestly, I did not notice much difference between the two. I actually needed to add progesterone in oil to Endometrin to boost my prog. levels (but that was after a retrieval). Best of luck figuring things out!
ReplyDeleteI don't know anything about endometrium, but my RE prescribed Prometrium for me to use during my LP for my IUI's. He said I could use it orally or vaginally, but pointed out that there are fewer side effects when taken vaginally - so that's what I did.
ReplyDeleteI was on prometrium after my IVF transfer. i started with the PIO shots and then he added the Prometrium PILLS to give me more progesterone.
ReplyDeleteThe prometrium scrip was not that expensive.
Oh.....there is progesterone cream you can buy at Walmart. It is in the menopause section...but I used to use it when my periods were messed up.
I have used prometrium, endometrin and crinone, all as suppositories. I was a bit flummoxed when instructed to use the prometrium as a vaginal suppository since they look like pills that you would take orally, but I double checked with my RE and he assured me that vaginal suppository was the way to go. I don't know which of them was most effective. They were all kind of "messy." Hope this helps!!
ReplyDeletePrometrium can be used orally or as a suppository. The same pill is used for either way.
ReplyDeleteif im not mistaken, Prometrium is a brand name, and the gelcap is taken orally. ask your friend to call and see if he will prescribe a generic progesterone suppository instead of the brand name Endometrin.
ReplyDeletehope that helps!
lis
Wish I could help - fortunately or unfortunately, I've not taken any of these. Anyway, I just wanted to say hi :).
ReplyDeleteAgreeing with Kacey that I have seen/heard Prometrium being taken both ways.
ReplyDeleteI have used prometrium orally and the pharmacy (cheap) suppositories post ovulation. I honestly believe different doctors just have different preferences. My RE prefers the vaginal suppositories for post ovulation, but pills to induce a cycle. My Reproductive Immunologist prefers the pills b/c she is concerned of bacteria being introduced to the cervical area when using the suppositories. However, the RI was fine with me doing the suppositories as instructed by RE, but stated if there is ever a pregnancy, she would want to switch to oral form after a couple of weeks.
I say the friend needs to try whatever form of progesterone she can afford.
Sorry :) Didn't mean to do that comment twice.
ReplyDelete