Fact Sheet From ReproductiveFacts.org
The Patient Education Website of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine Progesterone supplementation during IVF
What is progesterone? When and how should I take progesterone? Progesterone is a hormone produced by the ovary. It is Progesterone supplementation is usually started first detected in the middle of the menstrual cycle when on the day of egg retrieval. If a pregnancy takes an egg is released (ovulation). Progesterone prepares place, supplementation may continue throughout the lining of the uterus (endometrium) for a fertilized the first trimester. Progesterone may be taken asan egg (embryo) to stick or implant. If a pregnancy intramuscular injection or given through the vagina does not take place, progesterone levels drop and a as a suppository, gel, or tablet. There appears to be woman has her period. If an embryo implants into the no difference in the chance of becoming pregnant or lining of the uterus, the ovary continues to produce continuing a pregnancy based on how the progesterone progesterone for eight weeks to ten weeks. After that is given. It is important to follow instructions and talk time, the placenta produces progesterone to support with your doctor about the form of progesterone that the pregnancy. best fits your needs. Taking progesterone as a pill does not work well to support the pregnancy because Why do doctors prescribe progesterone during it is not absorbed by the stomach enough to help the fertility treatments? pregnancy. During an in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle, medications are usually used to prevent you from the early release What are the risks of taking progesterone? of an egg from the ovary (premature ovulation). There are two basic types of progesterone. One is a These medicines affect your ovary’s ability to synthetic type called medroxy-progesterone acetate. make progesterone. Your doctor may prescribe a The other type more closely resembles the natural progesterone supplement to make up for this decrease progesterone produced by the ovaries. The natural in your progesterone levels. Progesterone support form is the one recommended for use in pregnancy. the uterine lining and helps an embryo implant and grow inside. Many scientific studies have looked at Revised 2016 pregnancy rates in IVF cycles that used progesterone. For more information on this and other reproductive These studies have shown that pregnancy rates are health topics, visit www.ReproductiveFacts.org much higher in cycles with supplementation compared with those without.
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