Question about Progesterone Pessaries

[infinity]

Hi all,

I'm hoping someone can share their experience with me. This is my fourth IVF transfer but my first using progesterone pessaries. I fell pregnant on my first IVF cycle but lost the baby at 9 weeks. All transfers since then have been BFN. My last transfer I had a progesterone blood test which showed slighty too low progesterone levels so my FS put me on 400mg pessaries twice a day for this TWW.

My blood test is this Friday and I have read that progesterone pessaries will delay your AF, and so far no bleeding - I usually would have started to spot by now. My question is really about the side effects of these pessaries and how to distinguish between these and pregnancy symptoms. I've felt nauseous/queasy for the last four days and it seems to be getting worse - it does feel very similar to when i was last pregnant. I've had a bit of cramping on and off and slighty sore boobs. All of these things are listed as symptoms on the pessaries information though!! I did not have these symtoms when I first started using the pessaries, they have come on in the last 5 or so days, but are not constant.

Anyone had these symptoms while on pessaries and what was the outcome? I'd really appreciate anyone who can share their experience. I really don't want to get my hopes up 'cos it's too painful...

thanks,

Infinity

[Baby Dreamtime]

Hi Infinity,
Wishing you the best of luck for your BT on Friday. I can't say if progesterone mimics pregnancy symtoms having never had a BFP, but I have seen lots of woman say it does. Everyone says 'ignore all symptoms', as frustrating as it is. For me however, progesterone never delays AF, no matter how much support I have, and I have had up to 4 x pessaries a day. I hope the rest of the week speeds by for you and ends with a BFP. Good luck.

[Ellie]

Infinity...I had the same question when I was first pregnant...my fertility nurse reminded me that it is the HcG that gives the preg symptoms not the prog...prog will hold off any bleeding and keep the lining nice and rich for your embie to snuggle in. I stayed on the pessaries until 10 weeks and then slowly weaned off them. Good luck hun!!!

[briggsy's girl]

unfortunately progesterone can mimic a lot of pg symptoms - raised temp, the cramping in your abdomen - in some people, if they're sensitive to the meds, if can even cause nausea!

it SUCKS that you cant say what is from progesterone and what is from pg - but yes, many of us have been through TWW on the pessaries and not been able to tell one way or another if a pregnancy has occurred cos you feel the same either way. HCG doesn't start to impact you until later on when it is in higher numbers - the progesterone is responsible for most of what you feel very early in pregnancy....

[infinity]

Thanks ladies for your replies and being so quick with them. My brain is telling me that all the 'symptoms' I have are due to the pessaries but my heart hopes I'm pregnant this time as is always the case we just don't know until the BT or AF..... Will continue to wait and swing wildly back and forth between being positive and negative. Thanks for sharing and the well wishes. Much appreciated

[EmmaPenguin]

Well, this morning i went for my BT following ET to check prog levels which were 300, but the funny thing is that while i was gone my dog got into the bathroom and into the bin and i found her chewing on a used pessary. Eeeewwwwww.
Had to call the vet and check for problems and explain exactly what my pup was eating. Slightly embarrassed but at least when it was all okay i got a good giggle out of it and it momentarily distracted me from my TWW.