Progesterone (P4) is a crucial hormone, more so in a woman. It is produced by your ovaries naturally and made in the laboratory. However, if you have a P4 deficiency, the doctor can prescribe Progesterone pills under the following circumstances:
- Induce menstrual periods
- To treat abnormal uterine bleeding
- To cure menopausal symptoms
- To improve the signs of premenstrual syndrome
- During hormone replacement therapy
- During pregnancy
- To treat infertility
The medication is available in the following forms:
- Vaginal gel
- Vaginal suppositories
- Vaginal inserts
- Pills /tablets/ capsules
- Injectable oil
If the doctor prescribes progesterone pills, take the tablet orally with a glass of water, but be prepared to experience side effects. Adhere to the doctor’s prescriptions and take it at regular intervals. Don’t take more or less of it; an overdose or an under dose may worsen the negative effects.
Using Progesterone During Pregnancy
If you have low P4 levels and you desire to get pregnant, your physician prescribes Progesterone tablet to attain and sustain a pregnancy; that’s how important progesterone is in a woman of childbearing age. However, you will be at risk of its negative effects. Before conception, this medication prepares and sustains the lining of your uterus. After conception, the fertilized egg, implant in the lining of the womb. The tablets support your P4 levels, but you will be faced with negative effects of Progesterone during pregnancy. Since genetic makeup is different from one woman to another, inquire from the doctor about the expected unwanted effects and be ready to tackle them in case they occur. There is a package insert that you can go through frequently as you use the medication and contact the physician if you have any question regarding the drug negative effects. Don’t allow the unwanted effects to bother you; always update the doctor if they become irritating to find a solution. The good thing is that with time, the negative effects will clear after a couple of weeks or even days, especially the common side effects.
Taking these capsules prevents a miscarriage from occurring since low P4 levels can trigger a miscarriage in the first trimester. These tablets are taken in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Why take the drug for only 12 weeks? After the first trimester, the placenta takes over the role of producing progesterone hormone for the remaining period of pregnancy; though your health care provider will give the guideline on when to stop taking the medication. When using Progesterone to treat infertility, let your doctor know if you realize you are pregnant, so that he can closely monitor you for unwanted effects of these tablets during pregnancy and take the necessary actions. The unwanted effects have been elaborated below.
Side Effects
Your doctor will prescribe this drug depending on your age, the symptoms of what you are being treated for and the body chemistry. You will be faced with unwanted effects, which will require medical attention whereas others won’t. The following are negative effects of taking this drug that you may encounter:
- Allergic reactions, for example, swelling of the face, tongue and lips, skin rash
- Breast tissue discharge
- Breast lump
- Unexpected or unusual vaginal bleeding
- Signs of depression like weakness, mood changes, and sleep problems
- Bone or muscle pain
- Pain or numbness in the leg or arm
- Pain in the groin, chest or leg
- Tremors or seizures
- Severe headache
- Stomach pain
- Sudden shortness of breath
- Getting tired and feeling weak
- Speech and vision problems
- Yellowing of eyes and skin
It is important to take note that the above-mentioned side effects need immediate medical attention. If you note the undesirable effects, don’t hesitate to contact your doctor as they may compromise your overall health. But don’t panic if the serious negative effects occur, contact your doctor to handle them. Don’t concentrate on the undesirable effects before you experience them, but focus on the benefits you will get by taking tablets. The capsules have worked out for many, why not you? As mentioned earlier, there are undesired effects which may clear with time and they include the following:
- Acne
- Fluid retention as well as swelling
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Hot flashes
- Mild headache
- Increased hair growth
- Dizziness
- Weight gain
- Breast tenderness or pain
- Diarrhea
- Cough
- Brownish or white vaginal discharge
However, if negative effects outlined above persist, visit a health care facility. For instance, you may tend to assume progesterone pills side effects weight gain but do not. If you continually add weight let your doctor know. Your health care provider will give you remedies to prevent or minimize some of the undesirable effects. Well, if you are lucky enough, you may not experience any at all!
What to tell your physician before taking these pills
Your existing health conditions and your medical history matters a lot; the two may deteriorate the medication side effects. You shouldn’t use this medication if you have the following health conditions, although the doctor has the final say on this:
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding
- Liver disease
- Allergic to progesterone or to peanut
- Suffers from blood clots
- At risk of stroke and heart attack
Still, before taking the drug and to ensure it is safe for you, let your physician know if have a medical history of:
- Heart disease or circulation problems
- Migraines
- Asthma
- Kidney disease
- Depression
- Risk factors for coronary artery disease, for example, high blood pressure, diabetes, being overweight
- Breast cancer
Don’t leave out anything crucial regarding your medical history as well as existing conditions, even though it doesn’t make any sense to you, the healthcare provider will decide if the drug is safe for you. The doctor can prescribe these pills for a short period or for a long time, follow the dosing instructions faithfully and you will reap the benefits. But be vigilant on the side effects and seek medical intervention if need be.
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Disclaimer: The contents of this article are for informational purposes only and must not be considered as medical advice. YouDrugstore does not endorse or approve the opinions or views expressed by any contributing author in our community articles. Always consult your doctor for medical advice.