Progesterone after embryo transfer?

[DizzyLizzie]

I’m a little confused, I had my blasty transfer exactly a week ago (7dp5dt today) and am scheduled for beta on Friday (11dp5dt). I have not had any hormone tests since a few days before egg collection but have been on progesterone pessaries since. I am apparently meant to be stopping the pessaries today. The clinic told me just to stop when I had used up the supply that they had given me. I think that I have been having some possible pregnancy-type symptoms but I have been having some very light pink spotting yesterday and today. I am worried that I will bleed more without the progestone support even if there is a pregnancy. I’m wondering what day everyone else stopped their progesterone after transfer and to what end? Thank you!!

[nothing2lose]

I've never heard of anyone stopping progesterone before beta. Very unusual! Are you sure that's what they said?? Perhaps ring and check.

[DizzyLizzie]

Thanks Nothing2Lose! I thought it was strange too so called the clinic a few days ago to confirm and the nurse told me to stop when I finished my supply (she didn't even check what my supply was) and that it's normal to stop progesterone before the beta. I think she thought it was a stupid question. I might call the clinic again today and try to speak to someone else about it.

[Cass72]

I was told not to stop taking mine until I received either a positive or negative pregnancy result. If it was positive I was to continue until they told me to stop..... I'd be checking (again!). Sorry to ask, but was it an actual nurse who you spoke to?

There are no stupid questions when it comes to your body.

Good luck and wishing you lots of positive vibes for your blasty on board.

[Joeve]

That doesn't sound right to me either. If it was me I'd be asking for more to see me up to bt. Sometimes you need to be a bit assertive . I remember demanding progesterone From my fs.

[minniemouse]

I have always had it until the blood test and then stopped even if it was positive.

[Saffy]

I think clinics are all over the place in regards to progesterone. I was told to stop after I ran out with my last pregnancy and as soon as I stopped I started spotting, I was really annoyed with my clinic but the theory is that a good pregnancy will have a high enough natural prog anyway I think??
Your spotting might be implantation spotting?
If the spotting continues I would call back and tell them about it and ask for either more progesterone or a blood test.
Goodluck, I hope you are pregnant!

[DizzyLizzie]

Thanks for the replies everyone! I pray that I’m just having some kind of implantation spotting like Saffy suggested – that is definitely possible. Yes, Cass72, it was a proper nurse that I spoke to when I called. I just called again, after reading all of your responses, and asked a different nurse and got the same response. She said that this is just what the clinic does as their standard practice. They will test my progesterone levels on Friday with my beta and put me back on pessaries if necessary. I am pretty scared but guess that I just have to trust my clinic. Really appreciate all of your thoughts!!

[DizzyLizzie]

Oh and Saffy, your pregnancy was okay after the post-progesterone spotting, right? Did they put you back on the progesterone to stop it or just wait it out?

Thanks so much!!

[Jasmine00]

My clinic always said to take progesterone up till BT. If neg stop and if positive continue till 12 weeks. Was it a fresh or frozen embryo? My clinic worries more about progesterone levels in a frozen cycle as in a fresh cycle you should have a corpus Luteal cyst to help with progesterone levels if the cycle is successful.. Does that make sense?
I also had lots of spotting like you are talking about during my TWW with my last embryo transfer and it still stuck. I know it's easier said than done but if it's just 'spotting' and not enough to soak a pad it's usually harmless from what my FS told me. Good Luck Xx

[DizzyLizzie]

Oh thank you Jasmine00 - I really needed to hear that pregnancies can survive a bit of spotting during the 2ww! Congratulations on yours!!

It was a fresh cycle so I'll hope my corpus luteal cysts have kicked in. I have also read on other threads that the progesterone pessaries themselves can sometimes cause spotting too so I will see what happens now that I'm stopping them.

This process is so confusing and frustrating sometimes - I am so grateful to all the people that have offered support and advice!!

[DizzyLizzie]

I reluctantly finished up my pessaries yesterday (7dp5dt) and my spotting seems to have stopped today. I gave into temptation and POASed this morning (8dp5dt - First Response) and got a definite positive line . I think my trigger would be out of my system after 15 days (?) so am getting excited!! I am praying that our little bean can hang in there without the progesterone support!!