Progesterone is a female hormone that is produced in the highest amount after ovulation. Progesterone is very valuable during IVF cycles, and can also be an important part of preventing miscarriage in older women and in women with a history of miscarriage. Below, we will look at the benefits of having progesterone injections.

Benefits of Progesterone

Progesterone is used during IVF cycles after the hCG trigger injection is given. During an IVF cycle, the use of medications to prevent ovulation, as well as the egg retrieval procedure, can cause the production of progesterone to be lower than it would be in a natural conception. The benefits of having progesterone injections continue throughout the beginning of pregnancy. In non- pregnant women and early on in pregnancy, progesterone is produced by the ovaries. At the 7th week of pregnancy, the placenta begins to produce progesterone as well. Once the placenta is producing progesterone, concerns about lack of progesterone production are mitigated. By the 11th week of pregnancy, the shift is complete. In most cases, it is safe to stop progesterone supplementation at that point .In women who have a history of 3 or more miscarriages, the use of progesterone throughout the early part of the pregnancy has been proven to reduce the chances of having another miscarriage. Therefore, some women are medicated with progesterone throughout the first part of their pregnancy. Your doctor can determine whether you would get the benefits of having progesterone injections throughout pregnancy as well as during IVF.‍

Administration of Progesterone

‍Progesterone can be administered intramuscularly or vaginally. Vaginal administration is the most effective and reliable method of administration. In addition, it is much more comfortable than intramuscular injection. Vaginal progesterone is typically administered in the evening. Some forms come as a cream on an applicator similar to the applicators used to treat yeast infections. Progesterone can also be given vaginally in a tablet form. The decision on which to use can be made based on personal preference. Only certain forms of progesterone, which are bioidentical to the body's natural progesterone, are safe during pregnancy, so your doctor will prescribe one of those forms. If you are interested in fertility treatments, or are wondering whether you could benefit from having progesterone injections, Dr. Randy Morris would be happy to hear from you. To schedule your consultation today, please click below and enter your information or call IVF1 at (630) 357-6540.