Anyone on progesterone suppositories?

[lisaf]

I've been taking progesterone supps since 4 weeks and I'm stopping at 11w6d because that's when I run out. My ob told me the placenta takes over at about 9 weeks so all should be well stopping then.

Thats what I'm hoping/assuming based on my boob soreness going away...
if so.. thats funny that they have us go to 12 weeks aprox as a 'safety margin' ... but then they're adding a safety margin to THAT too for some of us!

 

[pickles]

I was told I may have to keep taking it to 20 weeks!
Get get to see my gyn on the 26th so I'll find out for definate then.


Was just panicking because we are going out tonight and won't be home till about 10pm and I do my "tablets" at 7am and 7pm. I was wondering if its best to do it at 4pm before I travel out, or at 10pm when I get home?

 

[eab]

For folks who stopped or are planning to stop - how does that work?
Do you just stop cold turkey? or do you slowly phase it out?

I was told to stop after 10 weeks. I am 8+5 I was going to ask for more to suppositories last me until 12 weeks as a safety precaution and maybe slowly phase it out (i.e. from suppositories morning/night to 1 suppository nightly... then 1 every other day.... then 1 every 3 days and stop or something like that)

 

[lightweight]

Lightweight- How are you feeling about getting off the progesterone at 16 weeks? That is when I am supossed to get off them too, but the thought stresses me out. My progesterone was soooo low when I first was pregnant and I lost two previous pregnancies. Not sure what to do! Why can't we just stay on them throughout the whole pregnancy for piece of mind??

I'm currently coming off of the steroids (reducing dose slowly) so that's what I'm worrying about at the moment. The worst bit is I don't have any other appointments until the midwife appointment on 1st November, consultant on 3rd Nov and then the next scan is 2nd Dec! So far I've been scanned at 6, 8, 10 & 12 weeks so I feel a bit like I'm just going to have to plod on for now!

Have enough progesterone to take me to 16 weeks which is around time of consultant appointment - so may take until then and then stop - but I think it's just come straight off them for that rather than reducing dose.

I'm now staying on the heparin until 23 weeks when I get an additional scan to check some other stuff but should come off that then. Aspirin is going till 36 weeks I think!

 

[lisaf]

For folks who stopped or are planning to stop - how does that work?
Do you just stop cold turkey? or do you slowly phase it out?

I was told to stop after 10 weeks. I am 8+5 I was going to ask for more to suppositories last me until 12 weeks as a safety precaution and maybe slowly phase it out (i.e. from suppositories morning/night to 1 suppository nightly... then 1 every other day.... then 1 every 3 days and stop or something like that)

You stop cold turkey.
I think I would be fine stopping now to be honest... I have a feeling between my scans showing the umbilical cord and the reduction in my progesterone-related symptoms that I may not need the suppositories anymore. Only a week or so left on them so I'll finish it out then go cold turkey. Everyone seems to be fine when they stop.

 

[BostonMommy]

With my DD I was on them from 4 weeks till 12 weeks. No problems - just a pain in the butt. I had weekly blood tests to confirm good progesterone levels and it was hard to leave work once a week and not let that cat out of the bag. LOL.

 

[ettegirb21]

I was told I may have to keep taking it to 20 weeks!
Get get to see my gyn on the 26th so I'll find out for definate then.


Was just panicking because we are going out tonight and won't be home till about 10pm and I do my "tablets" at 7am and 7pm. I was wondering if its best to do it at 4pm before I travel out, or at 10pm when I get home?

How will they determine if you need to take them to 20 weeks? I want to stay on as long as possible.

 

[bernina]

Just wanted to provide an update since stopping the progesterone at 13 weeks. Had a scan today at 14+5 and everything is looking good. Strong heartbeat and placenta looks good. I was scared silly to stop the progesterone but am feeling more confident now. Just wanted to keep everyone posted since many will be stopping soon. Best of luck!!

 

[pickles]

I was told I may have to keep taking it to 20 weeks!
Get get to see my gyn on the 26th so I'll find out for definate then.


Was just panicking because we are going out tonight and won't be home till about 10pm and I do my "tablets" at 7am and 7pm. I was wondering if its best to do it at 4pm before I travel out, or at 10pm when I get home?

How will they determine if you need to take them to 20 weeks? I want to stay on as long as possible.

I've no idea, that's what I was told when I was given them. I'll ask at my appointment.

 

[eab]

So someone told me today that it's bit risky taking progesterone past 12 weeks especially if you are having a boy.

Thoughts?

 

[lisaf]

ummm... never heard that! I think there is still progesterone involved with the pregnancy after the first 12 weeks, its just produced by the placenta, not your corpus luteum (and therefore less likely to have problems producing enough unlike those with corpus luteum issues)

 

[ettegirb21]

So someone told me today that it's bit risky taking progesterone past 12 weeks especially if you are having a boy.

Thoughts?

My OB's exact words (for continuing after 16 weeks): "You could be screwing with the baby's hormones if it's a boy".... I tried to research this, but found nothing. I have an appointment on Wednesday & will ask her where I can read up on this. My thought is that progesterone should be being produced by the placenta & they will be receiving it anyways...why would the shot be a problem?

 

[lisaf]

if you're getting the shot it might be a more intense dose than the other forms of progesterone?

I know someone who gets put on progesterone at the end of her pregnancy because she's prone to pre-term labor and its supposed to help? Not sure if the hormones matter less then or what?

 

[ettegirb21]

I have no idea?! I know someone who took them 22 weeks to labor b/c she was at risk for preterm labor....Doesn't really seem to make a whole lot of sense to me (the whole boy's hormones getting screwed up thing). I'm gonna check with my RE to see if they have heard of this theory. When I asked about staying on the shots he just said it wasn't necessary- no reason provided. I think I just need some more answers..

 

[lightweight]

My Mum was given progesterone injections with me (obviously a long time ago...) and they didn't know whether I would be a boy or a girl at that point - and they continued until later on in the pregnancy.

I'd say it definitely is ok until 16 weeks as that's what my documentation says!!

 

[SugarKisses]

Im taking progesterone all the way through my pregnancy.

 

[ettegirb21]

Im taking progesterone all the way through my pregnancy.

Why are you taking them through the whole thing? I spoke with my OB about it again today (getting off at 16 weeks), and she won't keep on them past then & won't monitor my levels once I come off. She says there is no evidence of what a "normal" progesterone level should be at that time and that the placenta has taken over. I am soooo freaking nervous about getting off! I'm doing daily injections, which suck, but totally worth it...Why are they keeping you on the whole time??

 

[Tiffa130]

Was anyone put on progesterone without a history of miscarriage or a blood test? My dr prescribed it but I'm not comfortable taking it if there is no reason for her to have prescribed it. I want to wait for a second opinion, but I'm just wondering if any other women have been prescribed it without a blood test/history of miscarriage?

 

[lisaf]

they will sometimes put you on it if you are spotting... possibly as an assumption that your progesterone might be dipping and they don't want to wait or bother with a blood test... it doesn't do any harm once you are already pregnant.
I think a lot of women who've had miscarriages wish their doctors would have just put them on it in case...

The ONLY risk (that I've heard of anyway) is that it may prolong a non-viable pregnancy... for this reason my doc gave me multiple early scans... not something most pregnant would consider a down side!
If they are going to put you on it, I think you should request extra scans so that you don't go on thinking things are fine.

 

[lisaf]

I should add that I don't have an official history of miscarriage.. and that my blood test was actually fabulous (US FIGURES: progesterone 15 at 7dpo and up to 22 at 9dpo when my HCG was a 7)... my doc put me on it just to be 'safe' because I had low progesterone post-ovulation on my previous 4 cycles.... so we had no reason to think it might dip, but no reason to risk the pregnancy if my body gave up on making the progesterone.