Duphaston has proven itself in solving many women's health problems. It is successfully used when planning conception and when it occurs. Duphaston during pregnancy is necessary for many properties. The opinions and experiences of gynecologists regarding the medicine are almost always positive.
Duphaston has become the most commonly used drug during pregnancy due to its ability to preserve it, especially in the early stages.
The action is based on the replenishment of progesterone, the main hormone of pregnancy. It is responsible for the elasticity of the walls of the uterus, keeping the cervix closed, and influences the proper development of the fetus.
Duphaston during pregnancy: indications
The drug is prescribed for:
- threat of interruption;
- miscarriages, undeveloped pregnancies;
- progesterone deficiency;
- age-related pregnancy;
- prevention of these conditions.
No harm as such from its use was noticed, and the benefits are obvious and justified by the result. Practice shows a good percentage of avoiding miscarriages when taking Duphaston during pregnancy.
Instructions for use
The prescribed dosage of the drug depends on the degree and severity of the threat of miscarriage:
- For therapeutic purposes, Duphaston is prescribed 1 t. per day until the 26th week.
- If there is a threat of miscarriage, bleeding has begun or unusual discharge, a single dose of 4 tablets is prescribed, then 1 tablet every 6 hours until the symptoms stop.
- When the risk of miscarriage in the first trimester decreases and the condition stabilizes, the dosage of the drug is gradually reduced. Next they lead to the standard dose of 1 t. 2 r. per day every 12 hours.
Until when to drink
Until what week and how many tablets per day to take is decided by the gynecologist observing the pregnant woman. Most often, Duphaston is taken until the 16th week, then the dose is gradually reduced and the drug is discontinued.
In case of more complex pregnancy, use is extended until week 26, adjusting the daily dose. After 26 weeks, if there is a continuing threat of miscarriage or the danger of premature birth, it is advisable to replace duphaston with Utrozhestan and its vaginal use.
Contraindications
Contraindications to the use of Duphaston:
- breast-feeding;
- severe liver damage;
- individual intolerance to the drug.
Possible side effects
Possible side effects:
- emotional instability;
- headaches;
- feeling tired;
- weakness;
- insomnia;
- lack of appetite.
All these signs accompany the normal course of pregnancy; their appearance is not always associated with taking the drug.
There are many myths and horror stories about the use of hormonal drugs, and Duphaston, in particular:
- uncontrolled weight gain will occur;
- very strong growth of body hair is possible;
- many side effects.
All these speculations have no basis and are not confirmed by practice and experience. The composition of the drug and the amount of active substance are selected in accordance with the latest scientific data to be as harmless as possible to the body of a pregnant woman.
What effect?
Duphaston's composition is synthetic progesterone, that is, it is a hormone, so you need to take the medicine strictly at the same time.
Even in difficult cases, timely start of taking Duphaston during early pregnancy, in combination with other measures, prevents the threat of miscarriage.
Taking the drug makes it possible for the fetus to develop correctly during the formation of all internal organs and systems.
With tone, Duphaston helps relieve increased tension in the walls of the uterus and return pregnancy to normal.
Cancellation scheme
When taking Duphaston, you should not suddenly stop drinking it, as this may cause bleeding. To discontinue the drug, you need to gradually reduce its dosage in order to carefully eliminate its use.
Possible scheme for reducing the amount and discontinuing Duphaston:
- When switching from 2 tablets per day, you can reduce the dose in one dose by 0.5 tablets.
- After 2 days, reduce the dose of the other dose by 0.5 tablets.
- After the next 2 days, reduce the dose of one of the doses by another 50% and so on to 0.
The action of the drug is based on hormonal support of the reproductive system. We use it to normalize the menstrual cycle in the normal “non-pregnant” position. In this case, it is precisely this property of Duphaston that is used to cause bleeding when discontinuing the drug, which is unacceptable during pregnancy.
Video about prescribing Duphaston to pregnant women
What to do if you forgot to take your pill?
What to do if you accidentally miss a pill? It should be taken as soon as possible, as quickly as possible, and the entire intake schedule is then shifted by this number of hours.
Price
The cost of Duphaston is approximately 600 rubles. per pack. The product is available in tablets, packs of 20 pieces.
The use of Duphaston is safe for the unborn child and the health of the mother. The intake is not tied to food consumption, the drug does not affect the ability to drive, and does not require special storage conditions.
Are there any analogues?
Analogues - Utrozhestan, Prajisan. Prajisan's price is slightly lower.
There are some features of receiving analogues. Duphaston is taken orally, and Utrozhestan and Prajisan can be used as vaginal suppositories.
In later stages, this is justified by the fact that local use of progesterone has a positive effect on the cervix and puts less strain on the liver and digestive tract. The recommendations of the doctor leading the pregnancy are crucial here.
Plays an important role during pregnancy hormone progesterone, which prepares the endometrium of the uterus for implantation of a fertilized egg and promotes its further development.
Progesterone protects the fetus from possible reactions of the woman’s immune system aimed at rejecting the fetus in the first weeks after fertilization, suppresses the contractile activity of the uterus and controls its normal functioning.
Lack of progesterone production in the first trimester of pregnancy leads to detachment of the ovum, threatening miscarriage and spontaneous abortion. Drug drug Duphaston is a synthetic analogue of progesterone, the use of which helps maintain the hormone at the optimal level necessary for the normal course of pregnancy.
Is it possible to take Duphaston during pregnancy?
If an obstetrician-gynecologist prescribes a pregnant woman to take Duphaston, then there are objective reasons for this. Indications for use of the drug in the first trimester are a lack of progesterone, confirmed by laboratory tests.
A deficiency of the hormone may be indicated by bloody vaginal discharge, nagging pain in the lower abdomen and in the lumbar region. These conditions are symptoms of a threatened miscarriage.
Duphaston therapy is prescribed to women with a history of spontaneous miscarriages caused by hormonal disorders. In this case, the drug is taken from the first weeks of pregnancy until the middle of the second trimester.
When symptoms of a threatened abortion appear, the obstetrician-gynecologist prescribes Duphaston urgently, without test results, since laboratory diagnosis of hormonal levels is a lengthy procedure. In this situation, it is important to maintain the pregnancy, especially since the drug does not carry no harm to the fetus. Therefore, it is necessary to take Duphaston according to your doctor’s indications.
In the early stages
Treatment with Duphaston for women with recurrent miscarriage begins immediately upon confirmation of pregnancy and continues until the 20th week. For threatened abortions, progesterone therapy is prescribed from the moment symptoms appear.
Bloody discharge in the first trimester of pregnancy, they mainly appear at 4-6 weeks, which are a symptom of detachment of the ovum. The most common cause of detachment is decreased function of the corpus luteum caused by a lack of progesterone.
The appearance of bloody discharge is usually preceded by nagging pain in the lower abdomen. In these conditions, it is necessary to see an obstetrician-gynecologist; in most cases, treatment with Duphaston will be prescribed.
Numerous medical studies of the effectiveness of Duphaston have proven it positive effect on pregnancy. Many scientists raise the question of the need to prescribe the drug to all pregnant women from the first day of detection of pregnancy, without waiting for symptoms of complications, in order to prevent involuntary abortions.
Complete progesterone therapy in the first trimester will allow you to subsequently avoid such pathologies as feto-placental insufficiency and intrauterine growth retardation.
How to take
The drug Duphaston is used in obstetric practice for recurrent miscarriage (if the pregnant woman has had 2 or more episodes of miscarriage in the past), threatened abortion, and during pregnancy through the IVF procedure.
Threatened abortion– a condition accompanied by increased contractile activity of the uterus. It manifests itself as a feeling of heaviness, nagging pain in the lower back and lower abdomen.
After some time, partial detachment of the ovum begins, provoked by uterine contractions. Detachment is indicated by bloody discharge from the vagina.
The drug is available in white tablets with a dosage of 10 mg and has distinctive signs: an “S” engraving on one side, and 2 “155” symbols on either side of the mark on the other side of the tablet. One package contains 20 tablets in a blister.
The dosage and regimen of the drug is determined by the specifics of pathological conditions:
- In case of threatening miscarriage, the appearance of bloody discharge, nagging pain in the lower abdomen - 4 tablets once, then 1 tablet three times a day, every 8 hours. The course of treatment is determined by the attending physician.
- During pregnancy through IVF and in women with recurrent miscarriage - 1 tablet every 12 hours until the 20th week of pregnancy (in some cases, the obstetrician-gynecologist adjusts the course of treatment).
Duration and regimen of taking Duphaston if there is a threat of miscarriage, it is established by an obstetrician-gynecologist. If after taking the medication for a week, the symptoms disappear, then the dose of the drug is gradually reduced and discontinued.
In case of repeated episodes, treatment is resumed according to the established scheme, after 1 - 2 weeks the dose is reduced to 2 tablets per day and therapy is continued until 16 - 20 weeks of pregnancy, it is by this period that the placenta completes its formation and begins to actively function. Before stopping the drug, it is important gradually reduce the dose.
Contraindications for taking Duphaston are: hypersensitivity to the components of the drug, pathological genetically determined increased bilirubin content in the blood (Dabin-Johnson and Rotor syndrome).
Duphaston and IVF
The problem with in vitro fertilization is a large number of spontaneous miscarriages. Researchers have proven that the most common cause of rejection of a fertilized egg from the uterine cavity during IVF is luteal phase deficiency.
Therefore, it is very important, from the first day of confirmation of pregnancy, to take Duphaston preparations to produce progesterone, necessary for carrying a pregnancy.
Why didn't Duphaston help?
Unfortunately, Duphaston is not a panacea for all diseases, a treatment that always gives a favorable pregnancy outcome. In many cases, the causes of spontaneous miscarriage may be infectious diseases of the mother that occur in a latent form, bad habits, stressful situations, malformations of the uterus, or artificial terminations of pregnancy in the past.
Many experts believe that spontaneous miscarriages in early pregnancy are manifestations of natural selection. This hypothesis is confirmed by numerous studies of embryos in which various chromosomal developmental abnormalities were found.
In some cases, the cause of spotting may be a frozen pregnancy, which in the early stages can only be diagnosed by a dynamic hCG analysis.
One of the most pressing problems is the problem of miscarriage. The causes of miscarriage are many and varied, but the most common cause is insufficient production of progesterone by the corpus luteum.
Duphaston: application
Currently, in the Russian Federation, to treat the threat of termination and maintain pregnancy, medications such as micronized progesterone Utrozhestan and dydrogesterone - Duphaston, an analogue of natural progesterone of plant origin, are used.
The prescribed drug Duphaston during pregnancy is safe for both the fetus and the mother. The safety of Duphaston has been proven not only in clinical studies, but also in real medical practice, where it has been widely used for many years.
Duphaston
The role of progesterone during pregnancy
Progesterone - (lat. pro- For, gestation– pregnancy) is a key steroid hormone necessary to prepare for pregnancy, both to maintain the menstrual cycle and to maintain the pregnancy itself. Relative or absolute deficiency of progesterone leads to disruption of reproductive function or the menstrual cycle. Progesterone deficiency can be corrected with the help of exogenous progestogens. Currently, they are used to treat various gynecological pathologies, for example, infertility, threatened miscarriage or recurrent miscarriage.
During pregnancy, progesterone protects the fetus, which is foreign to the mother's body, from immunological rejection, suppresses the contractile activity of the myometrium by reducing the sensitivity of the myometrium to stimulation by oxytocin, and also prepares the endometrium for implantation.
Duphaston: indications for use
Progesterone deficiency (progesterone deficiency) can lead to serious consequences:
- before pregnancy– infertility due to the fact that the endometrium of the uterus is not ready for the attachment of a fertilized egg, endometriosis, dysmenorrhea (pain during menstruation), irregular menstruation;
- during pregnancy– spontaneous termination of pregnancy – threatened abortion, habitual miscarriage (pregnancy loss 2-3 or more times), associated with established progesterone deficiency.
Luteal phase deficiency- one of the main causes of miscarriage and menstrual irregularities. Insufficiency of the luteal phase is caused not so much by hormone deficiency as by a decrease in the sensitivity of the endometrial receptor apparatus to the effects of progesterone. A decrease in sensitivity may be associated with damage to the endometrium and mechanical removal of endometrial cells (and, therefore, along with progesterone receptor cells) during any intrauterine interventions (diagnostic curettage, abortion, frozen pregnancy), infections, etc.
How to take Duphaston during pregnancy
Duphaston is available in tablet form. The tablets are used orally. The dosage regimen is selected individually depending on the nature and severity of the disease.
Infertility due to luteal phase deficiency: 10 mg per day from the 14th to the 25th day of the cycle. Treatment should be carried out continuously for at least six consecutive cycles. In the first months of pregnancy, it is recommended to continue treatment according to the regimen described for recurrent miscarriage (10 mg 2 times a day).
Threatened abortion: 40 mg once, then 10 mg every 8 hours until symptoms disappear.
Habitual miscarriage: 10 mg 2 times a day until the 20th week of pregnancy, with a gradual dose reduction.
During pregnancy, Duphaston is taken only as prescribed by the attending physician. The dosage and duration of the drug is determined strictly individually in each specific case.
Until what time should Duphaston be taken during pregnancy?
In order to prevent miscarriage due to a lack of endogenous progesterone, doctors recommend taking Duphaston until the 16-20th week of pregnancy with gradual withdrawal of the drug. The duration of use of the drug is determined by the doctor and depends on the severity of the woman’s pathology and on the level of the hormone progesterone, which must be regularly monitored. After the sixteenth to twentieth pregnancy, the placenta synthesizes sufficient levels of progesterone to maintain pregnancy.
Reducing the dose of Duphaston. It is necessary to start discontinuing Duphaston during pregnancy gradually, slightly reducing the dosage of the drug. The number of tablets is reduced by ½-1 every five to seven days.
An approximate withdrawal plan for Duphaston: if you took 1 tablet. 2 times a day, then with gradual withdrawal:
- 1/2 t. 3 times a day - 5 days;
- 1/2 t. 2 times a day - 5 days;
- 1/2 t. 1 time per day for 5 days.
The duration of drug withdrawal and dose should be adjusted by the doctor taking into account the condition of the pregnant woman.
Contraindications
- Individual intolerance to dydrogesterone and other components that make up Duphaston (lactose, hypromellose, corn starch, colloidal silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate).
- Bleeding from the vagina of unknown origin.
- Liver dysfunction caused by acute or chronic diseases.
- Galactose intolerance, lactase deficiency.
- Age up to 18 years, due to the lack of data on effectiveness and safety in adolescent girls under 18 years of age.
With caution Duphaston should be used for conditions that previously appeared or worsened during a previous pregnancy or previous use of hormones: herpes during pregnancy, severe skin itching.
Side effect
Most common: headache, nausea, breast tenderness/sensitivity.
May cause mild drowsiness and/or dizziness, especially in the first hours of use, so caution should be exercised when driving, but is generally well tolerated by women.
Safety of Duphaston during pregnancy
Duphaston does NOT have androgenic or estrogenic properties. Unlike a number of other gestagens, it does not cause masculinization of the genital organs of a female fetus and feminization of the genital organs of a male fetus. That is, the fear that when using Duphaston, a female fetus will develop primary and secondary sexual characteristics of a male and vice versa, is groundless.
Duphaston extremely rarely leads to weight gain, does not lead to seborrhea, deepening of the voice, the appearance of pimples (acne) and hirsutism (excessive hair growth on the body and face) in women, and does not significantly affect blood clotting.
Many women, while expecting a baby, face the problem of pregnancy. Bloody discharge can appear at any stage, but timely, competent treatment will help maintain pregnancy without disrupting the normal development of the fetus. "Duphaston" during pregnancy acts as an analogue of the "gestation" hormone. What indications exist for its use? And what is better and safer to use - Duphaston or Utrozhestan?
"Duphaston" is a synthetic analogue of women's own hormone - progesterone. The latter is secreted after ovulation, is responsible for the normal growth and development of the endometrium, and also supports the development of the embryo up to 22 weeks and beyond. A lack of this hormone in the body provokes not only menstrual irregularities, but also the threat of miscarriage and even miscarriages. Proper administration of Duphaston in many cases helps to cope with such problems.
Is it really necessary to take it?
The attitude towards the use of Duphaston before and during pregnancy is ambiguous. This is due to the lack of a reliable evidence base on its effectiveness, as well as different tactics for managing pregnant women in Europe and Russia. But we can reliably say that excessive and in many cases unnecessary prescription of the drug still exists. This can be explained as follows.
- The patient's faith in the miracle drug. Many women and even doctors are confident in the “miraculousness of Duphaston.” In order to avoid another misunderstanding between the patient and the doctor, the latter includes the maximum possible in the prescriptions.
- Low qualifications of individual specialists. There are many reasons for the threat of miscarriage. But progesterone deficiency is detected in no more than 10% of cases, when its administration is required.
- Difficulty in diagnosing progesterone levels. For many hormones, it is difficult to “catch” the right moment to take the test and subsequently determine their amount in the blood. In order for the result for progesterone to show the true picture, blood should be donated on the 10th day after ovulation or already during pregnancy. Not every institution, especially a public hospital or clinic, can afford such a definition.
Thus, the question of why Duphaston is prescribed during pregnancy often remains open. The only argument that is given in most cases is: “To be on the safe side.” Is this medicine safe? In many European countries, Duphaston is used exclusively after identifying low levels of progesterone in a woman’s blood. Moreover, often pregnancies up to three months are not preserved at all, considering them obviously unsuccessful and defective.
Main effects
After ovulation occurs, the corpus luteum (remnants of the burst follicle) begins to produce progesterone. It is necessary for the following processes in a woman’s body.
- Preparing the uterus for conception. It is needed for normal changes in the endometrium, which prepare it for implantation (introduction) of the fertilized egg.
- Preservation of pregnancy. The hormone reduces the intensity of contractions of the uterine muscles, which reduces the risk of miscarriage at two to three weeks and beyond.
- Protection of the fertilized egg. Progesterone increases mucus secretion by the fallopian tubes. It is necessary in the first few days for the fertilized egg as a source of nutrition and for its normal movement to the uterine cavity.
- Fetal development support. Progesterone is necessary for the normal development of the embryo in the first three months. Over time, the placenta itself begins to synthesize this hormone and the corpus luteum gradually fades.
With a lack of progesterone production by the corpus luteum and subsequently by the placenta, various disturbances in the growth and development of the embryo are observed. But if the deficiency is corrected in time with Duphaston, the likelihood of maintaining the pregnancy increases significantly. Thus, the role of progesterone in a woman’s body is great, especially during pregnancy.
"Duphaston" during pregnancy: indications
"Duphaston", as a synthetic analogue of progesterone, is prescribed in cases where a deficiency of the hormone's own production is suspected. Most often, pregnancy occurs on Duphaston in women with the following indications.
- With an initial decrease in progesterone levels. "Duphaston" is prescribed during the planning period to all women with a deficiency of endogenous (own) progesterone identified according to test results. This allows you to increase the chances of successful conception.
- If there is a threat of spontaneous miscarriage. "Duphaston" is used for bleeding in a pregnant woman, as well as in the presence of signs of abruption according to the results of an ultrasound examination of the uterus.
- If you have a history of miscarriages. To correct the endocrine background before and after conception, synthetic progesterone is often prescribed.
- If conception occurred as a result of IVF. In vitro fertilization protocols involve the creation of artificial cycles to increase the likelihood of successful conception and subsequent embryo growth. Therefore, after IVF, additional hormonal support with progesterone is almost always prescribed.
You should not start taking the drug on your own. Despite its relative safety, taking incorrect doses without indications can worsen, rather than improve, the situation. Only a gynecologist after examination and examination can tell you how to take Duphaston during pregnancy in each specific case.
Dosage regimens
Pregnant women are always interested in the question of how long to take Duphaston and in what dosage. Dosage regimens depend on the clinical situation, the presence of complaints from the pregnant woman, as well as the results of laboratory tests.
- During planning. To correct the second phase of the cycle, the drug is prescribed 10 mg twice a day, starting from days 12-14 and ending on days 25-26. If conception occurs on Duphaston, the medicine is not discontinued in the future, but its maintenance dose is maintained (20 mg/day) for up to 12-16 weeks.
- If there is a threat of miscarriage. If there is spotting or other signs of detachment of the ovum, you need to take four tablets (40 mg) of the drug once, and then every eight hours - one. At a dose of 30-40 mg/day, you can take Duphaston for a week, gradually reducing the dose when the symptoms of threatened miscarriage disappear. Further, it is recommended to take a maintenance dose (20 mg/day) for at least two to three weeks.
- With habitual miscarriage. Duphaston is recommended for prophylactic use at a dose of 20 mg/day. If signs of a threatened miscarriage appear, the dose is increased.
- After IVF. The dose of progesterone after using assisted reproductive technologies should be much higher than during natural pregnancy, and it is prescribed individually. Usually this is even a combination of Duphaston and Utrozhestan in vaginal form. The total dose is several times higher than that used during normal pregnancy.
You can take the drug both before and after meals, but it is better to take it in several doses rather than in one dose. The main thing is to maintain an equal time interval (every 8 or 12 hours). It is allowed to take Duphaston for up to 32 weeks inclusive, but if there is no need for it, you should immediately discontinue the drug.
Advantages of the drug
Duphaston has a number of properties that set it apart from other progestins. He:
- does not have other hormonal effects;
- does not lead to the appearance of signs of the opposite sex in the fetus;
- does not affect thermogenesis, so you can easily determine your basal temperature;
- after two hours it reaches maximum concentrations in the blood;
- has no tendency to accumulate in the body;
- completely eliminated within three days.
When not to use
There are practically no contraindications to the use of the medicine. It should not be taken if you have a history of allergic reactions to progesterone. You should be careful when taking the medicine if you have liver problems, especially with some hereditary syndromes.
Adverse reactions
"Duphaston" during early pregnancy can help lower blood pressure and cause dizziness and nausea in a woman. If the effect is pronounced, it is recommended to switch to the use of its analogues, for example, Utrozhestan.
The following side effects from taking the pills are also possible:
- discomfort in the chest;
- skin rash;
- headache;
- depressive states.
The frequency of their occurrence is extremely low, considering reviews from practicing gynecologists and instructions for use of the drug.
Which is better: “Utrozhestan” or “Duphaston”
Duphaston has several analogue drugs. The most common is “Utrozhestan”. It belongs to the category of natural gestagens, therefore it is unreasonably considered by some experts to be more effective and useful.
But Utrozhestan has one clear advantage - it comes in the form of vaginal tablets. This way you can reduce the transformation of synthetic progesterone in the body and increase the effectiveness of the drug.
It is believed that “Duphaston” is more suitable for spotting and signs of abruption, and “Utrozhestan” is more suitable for increasing the overall tone of the uterus, shortening the cervix and for preventing premature birth. But based on why Duphaston is usually prescribed during pregnancy, there is no fundamental difference between it and Utrozhestan.
Is the hormone safe?
Most researchers claim that Duphaston is one of the most effective and safe drugs. But its purpose should be treated with caution. This is due to the fact that its long-term impact on adolescent children, especially girls, has not yet been studied. There are opinions that the use of Duphaston without indications further affects the reproductive system of girls, leading to polycystic disease, anovulation and other problems.
Thus, Duphaston is an artificial analogue of progesterone, which is used in obstetrics and gynecology to correct a woman’s hormonal levels. The drug is so popular and shrouded in “miracle” myths that sometimes it is not even clear why Duphaston is prescribed for some women during pregnancy. There is no specific data on the safety and effectiveness of the product, so you should always use it with caution, weighing the pros and cons.
If there is insufficiency of natural progesterone in the body, one of the medications is usually prescribed to compensate for the deficiency of this vital hormone. Duphaston and Utrozhestan have become the most popular during pregnancy. Let's analyze the mentioned drugs separately.
Duphaston is a product for internal use that has progestogenic activity in relation to the lining of the uterus. It is well accepted by the body, does not affect liver health, normalizes the condition of endometrioid tissue, does not disrupt the onset of the menstrual and ovulatory periods, increases the chances of successful conception, and reduces the risk of miscarriage and missed pregnancy.
It differs from utrozhestan in that duphaston does not have a tranquilizing effect on the nervous system and is not a tocolytic. Does not cause estrogenic, corticosteroid and anabolic effects on the body.
Unlike duphaston, which contains dydrogesterone, the drug utrozhestan consists of the active ingredient progesterone. This is a hormone produced in the corpus luteum, placenta and adrenal glands. Progesterone and dydrogesterone have different chemical structures due to only one methyl group, so no significant differences in the action of the drugs have been recorded.
Utrozhestan has the advantage of being released: capsules can be taken orally or, in case of toxicosis and problems with the digestive system, instead of suppositories, intravaginally.
Duphaston increases the resistance of brain tissue to damaging factors. It virtually does not cause side effects and has no androgenic effects.
Duphaston and metipred during pregnancy
Metypred is a preparation of the adrenal hormone methylprednisolone. This is an active glucocorticosteroid used during pregnancy planning, mainly as an inhibitor of male sex hormones, or as an immunosuppressant.
The immunosuppressive properties of metipred allow the drug to be used during pregnancy, when there is a threat of fetal rejection due to overly active defenses of the body. Methylprednisolone artificially suppresses the immune system, thereby helping to maintain pregnancy.
Also, an important property of metipred during the intended conception is considered to be the drug’s reduction in the likelihood of the formation of adhesive disease in various inflammations. Metypred also has an anti-inflammatory effect, in addition, it ensures a balance of all types of metabolism - water, mineral, fat, protein and carbohydrate.
Duphaston and metipred during pregnancy complement each other, creating a favorable background for the development and course of pregnancy, increasing a woman’s chances of safely bearing a child.
Divigel and duphaston during pregnancy
Divigel and duphaston during pregnancy are a fairly common combination of drugs, since the necessary balance of progesterone and estrogen is extremely important for successful conception. The lack of progesterone is compensated by the appointment of duphaston, and the deficiency of estradiol is compensated by Divigel.
Divigel is an estradiol preparation, available in the form of a dosed gel, which is applied in a thin layer directly to the skin. When the substance is applied, the alcohol quickly evaporates, and the hormone is absorbed into the skin, penetrating into the bloodstream. This use of the drug makes it possible to eliminate the effect of enzymes on the drug during passage through the gastrointestinal tract, as well as to avoid the initial stage of hepatic metabolism.
During the combined use of Divigel and Duphaston, it is recommended to conduct periodic blood tests for the content of estrogens and progestogens.
Should I drink duphaston during pregnancy?
Whether to drink duphaston during pregnancy is decided solely by a gynecologist. In most cases, dydrogesterone, which is part of the drug, in the required doses, contributes to the preservation and successful course of pregnancy, leading to normal levels of progesterone in the blood.
Duphaston can be prescribed if there is a threat of miscarriage, to prevent miscarriage during artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization, especially if such cases have already occurred in the woman.
If duphaston is prescribed and taken under the supervision of a specialist, it can and should be used during pregnancy.
The effect of duphaston on pregnancy
Repeated scientific studies once again confirm that the effect of duphaston on pregnancy is generally favorable. This drug, as it were, “prepares the ground” for the successful conception, attachment and gestation of an unborn child.
The use of duphaston significantly reduced the percentage of spontaneous abortions in the first trimester, and also reduced the risk of morphofunctional disorders of the fetus and maternal placenta due to various pathological processes.
The intake of additional doses of progesterone (dydrogesterone) into the body helps the placental membrane to timely create a hormonal, oxygen and nutritional balance for the developing fetus. Thanks to this, babies born while taking the drug have normal weight, physiological and mental development indicators at birth.
Frozen pregnancy when using duphaston
The main functional purpose of duphaston is to prevent the threat of spontaneous abortion and preserve it whenever possible.
If signs of a frozen pregnancy are detected, duphaston is canceled to naturally rid the body of traces of the failed process. By itself, this drug cannot provoke fetal fading; rather, on the contrary, it creates the prerequisites for the normal course of pregnancy and the full development of the unborn child. When there is a threat of pregnancy, Duphaston is considered the No. 1 drug, and this has been proven more than once by the world's leading experts.
Duphaston for abortion
Duphaston is a preparation of the hormone of the corpus luteum of the ovaries, adrenal glands and placenta progesterone, which is in no way a contraceptive or a means for terminating pregnancy. Dydrogesterone is designed to maintain pregnancy and help cope with any threats of its termination.
Duphaston for ectopic pregnancy
During an ectopic pregnancy, the fertilized egg begins to develop outside the uterus. With the progressive growth of the process, there is a danger of rupture of the organ in which the pregnancy develops.
When an ectopic pregnancy is diagnosed, all medications, including duphaston, are stopped, and the amount of surgical intervention required is determined.
Duphaston, as a medical drug, does not have a provoking effect on the development of ectopic pregnancy. Its development is determined by completely different factors, for example, obstruction of the fallopian tubes, the presence of inflammatory processes in the reproductive organs, adhesions, or abnormalities in the structure of the genital organs.
Duphaston during pregnancy with spotting
As pregnancy begins, women may notice the appearance of brownish discharge. At 1-2 weeks of pregnancy, this can be explained by the body’s attempt to readjust to a new state, when a radical change in hormonal levels occurs.
But do not forget that spotting can be a serious symptom of an impending miscarriage or a sharp drop in hormone levels in the blood. At the slightest opportunity to maintain the pregnancy, the woman will be prescribed duphaston or another progestogen drug to stop the threat of spontaneous abortion.
Duphaston for fibroids during pregnancy
How does duphaston act on a benign tumor, in particular on fibroids? This problem has not yet been sufficiently studied. However, experts are inclined to assume that progesterone taken in excess of the therapeutic dosage favors the enlargement of existing uterine fibroids. At the same time, progesterone drugs in small dosages, on the contrary, inhibit its growth and development.
It should be noted that duphaston for fibroids during pregnancy should be prescribed only strictly individually, according to data and indications, weighing the risk of complications and possible benefits for the normal course of pregnancy.
Is duphaston harmful during pregnancy?
Despite some isolated negative comments about duphaston treatment, which can be found mainly on social networks, experts still consider the drug absolutely safe and harmless during pregnancy. Scientific statistics over many years of using duphaston in gynecology and reproductive medicine do not describe a single case of a negative effect of the drug on the process of conception and gestation. Duphaston is absolutely not harmful during pregnancy, and sometimes it is simply necessary for the normal development of the baby. Naturally, when taking it, monitoring the hormonal level in the blood of a pregnant woman is essential.
Duphaston instructions during pregnancy
Duphaston, when used internally, has a selective effect on the endometrium, while simultaneously preventing the existing danger of excessive growth of the endometrium or malignancy of healthy cells due to excess estrogen.
Duphaston does not have contraceptive abilities, does not inhibit the ovulation process and does not disrupt the menstrual process.
The drug is easily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, the highest concentration is observed within two hours after taking the tablet. Metabolism occurs in the liver, is excreted from the body mainly through the kidneys, the elimination period is up to three days.
Regimen for taking duphaston during pregnancy:
- for endometrial-like tissue proliferation, take 1 tablet 2 to 3 times a day, from the last day of menstruation to the 25th day of the cycle, or constantly;
- for luteal phase deficiency, 1 tablet per day from the moment of ovulation until the 25th day of the cycle. It is recommended to take it for at least 6 months in a row, and also, if conception is successful, during the first trimester of pregnancy;
- if there is a threat of spontaneous abortion, take 4 tablets at a time, then 1 tablet 3 times a day until the threat ceases;
- during treatment and for the prevention of uterine bleeding, take 1 tablet 2 times a day for a week.
The dose of duphaston during pregnancy is determined exclusively by a gynecologist based on diagnosis, clinical symptoms and a mandatory blood test for the content of estrogen and progestogen hormones.
How to take duphaston during pregnancy?
If duphaston was prescribed before pregnancy, it must be continued until the 16th week. The dose taken is calculated by the doctor based on the level of progesterone in the patient’s blood.
If the expectant mother did not use progesterone preparations before pregnancy, and then it turned out that the level of the hormone has decreased for some reason, then in this situation duphaston is also prescribed in accordance with its content in the blood, until the 24-25th week of pregnancy.
How much to drink duphaston during pregnancy?
Your doctor will definitely tell you about the duration of use of duphaston during pregnancy, based on the test results and the condition of the pregnant woman. Typically, the drug is prescribed in the first trimester of pregnancy for successful implantation of the fetus and formation of the placenta. Further, according to indications, it is possible to use duphaston in the second trimester for the prevention and treatment of threatened miscarriage. After 36 weeks of pregnancy, use of the drug is stopped.
What to do if you missed taking duphaston during pregnancy?
If during treatment with duphaston you accidentally missed one dose (forgot, it didn’t work out, or for another reason), it is recommended to drink the dose of the drug you are taking in the next 6 hours. If more than 6 hours have already passed since the required dose, then you do not need to take an additional tablet, just continue to adhere to the usual prescribed regimen of taking the drug. And try not to forget about the need to take medications in the future!
How to stop duphaston during pregnancy?
The withdrawal of duphaston during pregnancy is carried out gradually, with a slow reduction in the dose of the drug. For example, if a pregnant woman took 2 tablets per day, then this dosage is reduced to 1.5 tablets, and after a week to 1 tablet. This way, the medication intake is gently reduced to zero.
Cancellation of the drug is possible only with the recommendation of the attending physician, if the hormonal level in the patient’s blood is normal. The discontinuation regimen may last several weeks.
It should be remembered that abrupt withdrawal of any hormonal drugs can lead to irreversible consequences.
Side effects of duphaston during pregnancy
Side effects of duphaston during pregnancy are quite rare and, as a rule, can be eliminated by adjusting the dosage of the drug. When used in small doses, diffuse bleeding from the uterus is possible, which disappears after increasing the dosage. Possible enlargement and tenderness of the mammary glands, spastic headaches, pain in the epigastric region. Less commonly, skin rashes as a result of allergies, or accumulation of fluid in tissues, swelling of the legs and arms. There may be an increase or decrease in sexual desire.
Duphaston overdose during pregnancy
At the moment, there are no cases of overdose of duphaston during pregnancy. In case of a single accidental use of the drug in a significant dosage, it is necessary to rinse the stomach with plenty of water and provide the victim with rest until the unpleasant symptoms disappear. It is possible to additionally prescribe medications that act on the existing clinical symptoms of poisoning. There are no special medications that neutralize duphaston that has entered the body.
Contraindications to taking duphaston during pregnancy
The main contraindication to taking duphaston during pregnancy is the tendency to allergic reactions to any of the components of the drug. You should be careful if you have increased individual sensitivity of the body.
Progesterone preparations are not prescribed to patients with rare Rotor and Dabin-Jones diseases, severe diseases and liver dysfunction, and malignant neoplasms of the mammary glands and genital organs. Patients with active vascular thromboembolism, as well as severe thrombophlebitis and a tendency to thrombosis, are treated with caution.
Usually, you stop taking duphaston from the 36th week of pregnancy, or in case of frozen and ectopic pregnancy, as well as when bleeding of unknown origin occurs.
Duphaston when planning pregnancy
Duphaston is widely used when planning pregnancy. After all, it is progesterone that prepares the endometrium for egg implantation, accelerates its development, improves tissue nutrition, and reduces the tone of the uterus. Its positive effect on the immune interaction between the expectant mother and the embryo has also been proven. The drug is prescribed for infertility due to a lack of progesterone produced in the body. This condition is called luteal phase deficiency of the menstrual cycle.
The usual course of taking the drug during planning is at least six months.
Take, as a rule, 1 tablet per day from the moment of ovulation until the 25th day of the menstrual cycle.
If the pregnancy is successful, the drug is continued to be taken to avoid possible problems: miscarriage or fetal death.
Duphaston in early pregnancy
The synthetic progesterone contained in the drug Duphaston plays one of the most important roles in the early stages of pregnancy. First of all, it helps a pregnant woman in bearing a child. The drug relaxes the uterine muscles and reduces the strength and frequency of its contractions, which greatly reduces the risk of premature spontaneous abortion.
In addition, duphaston blocks the immune response of the woman’s body, which avoids the destruction of the developing fetus by immune agents.
During the period of bearing a child, the use of the drug should be carried out under mandatory monitoring of the hormonal balance in the body and basal temperature indicators.
Duphaston in late pregnancy
The duration of use of duphaston directly depends on the course of pregnancy. As a rule, it is used until 16-20 weeks. During this period, the formation of the placental layer ends, which independently begins the synthesis of progesterone. Sometimes, according to indications, taking the drug is delayed, but after 36 weeks the prescription is canceled in any case.
Duphaston in late pregnancy does not have a teratogenic effect on the fetus.
Does duphaston help maintain pregnancy? Absolutely yes. It is not for nothing that progesterone, a synthetic analogue of which is included in duphaston, is called the “female pregnancy hormone”. It not only helps preserve the fetus, but also supports its nutrition and development.
