Progesterone Support with Crinone 8%   Crinone 8% is a natural form of progesterone that is prescribed for women who require progesterone supplementation or progesterone replacement. (If you’re interested in finding out why women need progesterone supplementation, click here.)

 

Crinone 8% is used during infertility treatments, such as ovulation induction, intrauterine insemination, or in vitro fertilization. Crinone 8% is the first progesterone approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use during infertility treatments in women with progesterone deficiencies.

 

How does Crinone 8% work?

 

Crinone 8% comes in the form of a bioadhesive gel. This gel is squeezed from an applicator into the vagina. Once in the vagina, the gel attaches to the vaginal wall where progesterone is absorbed and transported to the uterus. For further instructions about how to apply Crinone 8%, click here.

 

 

When do women take Crinone 8%?

 

During ovulation induction/intrauterine insemination…

Crinone 8% is generally used once a day beginning around the 17th day of the menstrual cycle, or about 3 days after ovulation. To ensure that the uterus maintains proper progesterone levels, it is important that women continue to use Crinone 8% until they receive a pregnancy test result. A pregnancy test is usually provided around the 27th day of the menstrual cycle.

• If the pregnancy test is positive, Crinone 8% may be continued once a day for up to 10 to 12 weeks of pregnancy
• If the pregnancy test is negative, Crinone 8% will be discontinued until the next infertility treatment cycle

Click on the chart below for a larger view.

 

Doctors may prescribe Crinone 8% for women receiving clomiphene citrate and estrogen therapy. The chart below shows when these drugs are commonly dosed.

 

Click on the chart below for a larger view.

 

During in vitro fertilization…

All women undergoing in vitro fertilization need progesterone support due to the infertility medicines commonly prescribed and procedures commonly performed.

 

During in vitro fertilization, Crinone 8% is used around the time of embryo transfer. Each doctor will individualize the correct dosing of Crinone 8% based on the patient’s needs.

 

Important Safety Information

The most common side effects of CRINONE (progesterone gel) 8% include breast enlargement, constipation, drowsiness, nausea, headache, and pain in the pubic area. You should not use CRINONE 8% if you have any disorders involving blockage of your blood vessels, or a history of these disorders, miscarriages, vaginal bleeding that hasn’t been diagnosed, liver problems or disease, or known or possible cancer of the breast or genital organs. You should discontinue use of CRINONE 8% if any symptoms occur that signal a blockage of your blood vessels. There is no adequate evidence that CRINONE 8% will work in preventing miscarriage. Your doctor should examine your breasts and pelvic organs, as well as perform a Pap smear prior to prescribing CRINONE 8%. If you have vaginal bleeding during treatment with CRINONE 8%, your doctor should look for the cause. If you have conditions that cause fluid retention, a history or depression, or diabetes, your doctor should provide special attention to your care while you are using CRINONE 8%.