Can Over-the-Counter Progesterone Cream Prevent a Miscarriage?

Some researchers theorize that a low progesterone level could cause miscarriage in some women, particularly in those who have had recurrent miscarriages. But does that mean that you should run out and buy progesterone cream from your local health food store? The short answer is: Maybe, but talk to your doctor first.

Why Some Women Use Progesterone

Progesterone is a hormone that is associated with the menstrual cycle. A woman's level of progesterone rises after ovulation and falls just before she gets her period. In pregnancy, the progesterone level should stay elevated.

Progesterone works to maintain the uterine lining and, thus, indirectly nourish the developing baby. So one theory is that a low progesterone level during pregnancy could indicate that a woman has an insufficient uterine lining. For this reason, some doctors prescribe progesterone supplements to women who have had past miscarriages in the hopes that the supplements might reduce the risk of miscarriage in the future.

Further, a review of 13 research studies published in 2018 concluded that "for women with unexplained recurrent miscarriages, supplementation with progestogen therapy probably reduces the rate of miscarriage in subsequent pregnancies."

Over-the-Counter Creams

You are likely to see progesterone creams on health food store shelves. These creams are available over the counter, thus circumventing the need to find a doctor who is on board with prescribing progesterone supplements.

There's a ton of material on the Internet about progesterone creams, ranging from claims that they are the greatest thing since sliced bread to accusations that progesterone creams are absolutely worthless and a waste of money. (The creams are often marketed as a way to balance hormone levels for women who are facing menopause.)

Some so-called progesterone creams are, indeed, worthless. For example, creams that are derived from wild yams do not contain any progesterone; they merely contain a chemical that can be converted to progesterone in a laboratory—but not in the body. It is not a good idea to buy wild yam cream with the idea of boosting your progesterone and preventing a miscarriage. It will not work.

Other progesterone creams on the market actually do contain real progesterone that can be absorbed by the body. However, these creams are highly variable in the amount of progesterone that they contain. 

Other creams contain much smaller amounts, but there is a lot of variability in terms of how well it is absorbed. No studies have looked at how a fetus might be affected if a mother has an extremely high progesterone level during pregnancy due to using a progesterone cream.

Should You Use an OTC Cream?

Using an over-the-counter progesterone cream is not recommended without a doctor's approval. If you are working with a doctor, they may prescribe pharmaceutical-grade progesterone so that you know the exact dose that you are taking and so you can expect that the progesterone will be absorbed.

Remember, the majority of one-time miscarriages and a significant number of recurrent miscarriages involve chromosomal abnormalities in the developing baby and other factors that would not be affected by a low progesterone level.