How Long Should I Continue Duphaston During Pregnancy?

Posted on Wed, 10 Dec 2014

Question: Hello
My wife had 2 recurrent miscarriages. On the 3rd pregnancy the OBGY started her on duphaston from about 8 weeks to 20 weeks. The sporting stopped and she has managed to carry the pregnancy to 22weeks now.The last antenatal visit was had everything fine. 2 questions
1. When is the right time to stop duphaston and will the pregnancy continue normally without it?
2.any side effects of Duphaston to the baby?
Thanks XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Timothy Raichle (7 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You can stop this medication

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the question and thank you for visiting our site.

It is true that in patients with two prior unexplained miscarriages that they are at risk for future miscarriages. In many cases, when we have no explanation for the prior losses, we place patients on progesterone medications such as the one that you are on. This has been used in literally millions of pregnancies and is believed to be safe. Theoretically, though, there is no reason to be on this medication at this point in your wife's pregnancy. This is obviously a healthy pregnancy that has gone far beyond where she miscarried before.

I would recommend that you talk to your OB Provider before stopping, but if I had a patient such as you, I would have stopped the progesterone by now.

And yes, I predict that the pregnancy will continue normally after stopping this medication.

Thank you again and good luck!

Dr. Raichle

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Timothy Raichle (12 minutes later)

Thanks Dr XXXXXXX
From your answer I understand that there is no harm duphaston puts on the baby right?
Yes we saw out OBGY and he stopped it. I was just curious to know if there was any harm of the drug to the baby. Please emphasize on this.
Any reason for her to take aspirin
XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Timothy Raichle (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
No evidence of harm

Detailed Answer:
There is no evidence of harm using progesterone during pregnancy. We use it to treat recurrent miscarriage and in patients who are at risk for preterm birth. It was right to stop this medication, though, as there is no added benefit. We sometimes place similar patients on a baby aspirin which is equally safe and can be stopped at 36-37 weeks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Timothy Raichle (37 minutes later)

Sorry May be I am asking too much
But lastly,does she need to take the aspirin
XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Timothy Raichle (9 hours later)

Brief Answer:
This is controversial

Detailed Answer:
You are not going to get a definitive answer regarding the aspirin. We have patients that have a history such as your wife, and we place them on progesterone in the first trimester, and aspirin for the entire pregnancy. It is not harmful to continue the aspirin, but in reality, it is probably of little to no benefit. I am not here to provide specific medical advice, so I would continue the aspirin until she talks to her doctor.

I hope that this helps and good luck!

Dr. Raichle

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari