Can we talk progesterone please

From what I’ve learned you can only get it via the early pregnancy unit/GP referral and possibly going private.

My GP was adamant they don’t /can’t prescribe it. You’d have to go privately I am afraid

So I've also had losses and was told by the midwifes in the early baby unit to do 75mg Aspirin per day alongside Progestrone 400mg AM & PM same time (generally comes in suppositories).. Generally you start progestrone and asprin as soon as you find out. I'm currently in IVF and they've told me to do the asprin Day 1 of of stims, and start progestrone at egg collection, So again it's all at the very beginning, especially with a history of losses 🫶🏻🥰🙏🏻

@Dominique I've just saw your comment, I'm so angry they turn people away, because the guidelines have changed regarding early losses and future care 😫😢

It’s so horrible they turn us away my dr just basically said the same thing to me he cnt help yet I’ve had losses for 2 years now and I’ve spent days in his office crying and he turned me away by saying call the epu .

@Dani thank you for this advice , I’ve started 75mg of asprin I got from the chemist , drs didn’t help me this morning so contacted epu and have a scan & appointment on the 17th 🙏🏻🌈

@Paige This makes me angry soooo badly. Tell him the NICE guidelines have changed regarding losses and reoccurrence miscarriages, and they are meant to prescribe Asprin and Progestrone as a standard. I'm nearer Brighton, but it's discusting half the country is still having issues, should be consistant care throughout!

@Dani it really is shocking how they hold it back when it could help us out 🥹 what is the nice guidelines? X

Hi @Paige, sorry to hear about your past losses and congrats ☺️ the NICE guidelines for progesterone state that you can get a prescription if you've had previous losses, a confirmed intrauterine pregnancy and are currently spotting/bleeding in pregnancy. I've recently been prescribed it by the EPU (the GP won't be able to) as soon as they could confirm there was a pregnancy in the correct place, due to some light spotting. It's worth asking if these criteria aren't met, but there's no guarantee they'll give it to you unfortunately. Perhaps you could try going privately?

I was prescribed aspirin through the midwife and then progesterone by a consultant at the prem prevention clinic the midwife referred me to and they then told my GP to provide the repeat prescriptions

Private doctor took them until I had the baby

What I was told at my EPAU is that they only prescribed after they have seen a heartbeat and there is some concern lile bleeding.

I had previous losses and then had a subchronic hematoma so they prescribed progesterone due to that. It was the early pregnancy unit that prescribed it and I was told they don’t give it out often. I was 6 weeks when they prescribed it and I had to take for 10 weeks. Personally I found it really horrendous to take and had some bad side effects but it was totally worth it as the pregnancy was successful. Be persistent and keep on at your doctor and if no luck speak to your midwife at your first appointment. Good luck, keeping my fingers crossed they prescribe you it x

@Paige Sophie touched base on the NICE guidelines above.. Have a look online (not sure if I can share on here) But try researching it online, Protocols have definately changed.. I'm still annoyed though as alot of people are saying the GP aren't able to do a perscription, but I've managed to get progestrone off my GP under the guidelines changing, aswell as others I've given this advice to in the community and personal friends.. Generally though you are better off talking to the midwifes on the early baby units, They are probably quicker sorting you out and gaining your history of losses than the GP 🙏🏻

Same as what others have said! Call your local EPU, mine booked me in for a 6 week scan to confirm viability. I said I’d had some spotting (i’d had implantation bleeding so not strictly a lie but NICE criteria for prescription is 1 miscarriage and bleeding). I didn’t even have to ask, once they saw a heartbeat they prescribed it up to 16 weeks. GP was absolutely 💩 no help don’t bother they’re not up to date with guidelines. You should not have to go private and I didn’t need aspirin but it might depend on trust/circumstances.

Three previous losses (all around 5 weeks) and NHS did nothing to help. I went private as soon as I was pregnant they did my bloods and since my pregnancy was viable I was out on progesterone until 12 weeks and I had daily aspirin 75mg. Even at my 6 week scan NHS still didn’t prescribe me any so I continued getting it privately. Currently 18 weeks so I would say go private 🫶🏽

@Madeleine I have a scan booked for the 17th oct I will be 6 weeks then so will push to get it thank you x

Had it prescribed after having some brown bleeding once I'd had a 6 week scan with a confirmed pregnancy (the request for it was sent to my GP to approve). I'd had 2 previous losses and one of those I'd had bleeding in early pregnancy before. I've taken since 6 weeks until a few days ago at 16 weeks.

@Hannah did u have to wait until u was 6weeks ? X

@Paige yeah I had to wait until I'd had my scan. I don't think i would have got it unless I had the bleeding/ they had confirmed it by ultrasound. They usually don't prescribe until they confirm the pregnancy is in the uterus. If you look at the tommys website they did the research for it so there's info on there about when they will prescribe it. You should be able to approach your GP and ask for a scan so you can be given progesterone, although it seems a bit of a lottery as to if you have someone who listens and takes it seriously/ knows the new guidance. No harm in educating our GPs on it though!

@Hannah my gp is a myth honestly , I’ve a scan booked for the 17th hoping I can get them then as I’m classed as a high risk pregnancy x