Keen, regarding weaning yourself off progesterone....

whne I was using the Crinone, none of my pregnancies worked (nothing to do with the Crinone tho), so I stopped cold turkey when AF arrived or I had to have a D&C (actually just before the D&C when we found out the pregnancies stopped). But for last pregnancy (Thomas) I was on the pessaries until about my 14th week. I did stop cold turkey, but only after I had HEAPS of reassurance from Nick L that supplementary progesterone later in pregnancy doesn't do anything much as the placenta is making quite enough of it on its own.

So I guess that as far as weaning yourself off, then no, you don't have to do that, as hopefully the placenta will take over. It seems to be very important for some women - some included in here no doubt and myself included - to have extra progesterone early on in a pg, and that includes when you are not sure that you are pg (after transfer for instance, or following a +ve blood test very early on). I would then stick to the dose you have been prescribed and be religious about it!!!

Just a comment about Crinone vs pessaries, I'm not sure that one is better than the other in terms of effectiveness, but the pros of the Crinone is that it doesn't leak out but the cons are that it is hideously expensive if you have to buy it yourself. The pros and cons of the pessaries are the reverse. Crinone can also be sent via courier to a chemist, but pessaries are more widely available. But I have no opinion on whether one sustains a pg better than the other. Personal choice (of both the dr and yourself) I guess.

Hayseed