On Progesterone pessaries but only till 8 weeks, how long have you been told to have

[blackduckies]

Hi everyone I am 6 weeks pregnant and my FS has prescribed progesterone pessaries for me but only until 8 weeks. I am quite concerned because I have read about people being on them for 10-12weeks, I spoke to the nurse who I am convinced dislikes me and she said that your placenta is fully formed and functioning by 8 weeks so I would only be prolong a pregnacy that was'nt going to last if I continued on with them. What are others experiences? I want to trust my FS but feel concerned that others have long treatment periods, if it has no effect why???? Does a GP have the experience to prescribed them, I really do not want to fight my way through the nurse to get another appointment with FS.
Any answers /thoughts much appreiceated, thanks Pam.

[Georgette]

I had these with this ivf pregnancy and i was told to use them up till 12 weeks, but i had problems with them as i couldnt use them vaginaly because of far tooooo much CM in early pregnancy, and when i used them rectaly they gave me severe constipation, so i guess i kind of took myself of them at around 10 weeks.

[Visitor9]

I took them till 12 -13 weeks, I remember thou because I was a high risk preg I rang as my script had ran out at 11+4 days and said "oh do I need them ?" And he made me go and get more to take me to the 12-13 week stage as that is when the placenta does kick in fully
Bec

[anney]

I have always heard the placenta kicks in properly at 12 weeks so 8 weeks sounds a bit strange. but then again, sometimes progesterone is just a standard thing the FS's give to cover all bases so maybe he thinks that it is not necessary. But I think it would be very reassuring to have it until your NT scan at least. I have 5 x 90mg crinone applicators I can send you if you want.

[dusty]

...but then again, sometimes progesterone is just a standard thing the FS's give to cover all bases so maybe he thinks that it is not necessary.

pam hun i have heard this too. a friend of mine who miraculously fell pg naturally after trying IVF many times was given prog but not until she was at least 7-8 weeks as she hadn't contacted her dr until then. everything went fine even though she didn't start until late and the Dr was just giving it as a precaution. although like anney says it may be better to keep on them for your peace of mind (reduce stress and enjoy this pg ).

sending you loads of . i have been reading your posts and things are going really really well for you hun. bring on this miracle baby..... xxx

[sushee]

I was on P4 pessaries for a very short time with my pg to Charlie. In fact I was taken off then at just under 5 weeks because my body was producing it's own quite well.

My FS doesn't even give you P4 supps if you do a natural FET. Your FS should know from previous BTs too whether you produce enough progesterone on your own during your luteal phase.

Have you had repeat BTs? Your levels may be better than expected at your stage of pg, and you may not need them for much longer. Not every women does.

[blackduckies]

Hi thanks for the support,
Sushee we have been doing AIH then I had one failed IVF cycle, no-one has ever discussed progesterone levels with me until we found out we were BFP naturally while waiting for Feb IVF cycle. At our last appointment FS just said progesterone until 8 weeks. We have not got results back from BT to confirm any levels in this pregnancy. So maybe I should just wait and see how good the levels are before I get to anxious.
Anney thanks for the offer but I think it would be a better idea to use what I am already on.
Dusty when he found out I was pregnant he said I should have started on them straight away, so I started a week or so later than he would have liked, I just don't know??? Sometimes I think these nurses just get carried away with control, he may be just as happy for me to have them if I could get to see him or even talk to him. But she has a way of making me feel really stupid and annoying that I am wasting her time with stupid questions and I should just relax, this is the same woman who called me a stress head? What do you expect?
Thanks for the other answers I have them for a bit longer so I will try and find out a bit more.

[Curmon]

I am using them at the moment and was told to keep using them till about 10weeks. Around that time i have blood test every 2nd day to see what my levels are doing and then they will begin to wean me off them. Hope this helps
Claire

[blackduckies]

Thanks Claire, yes it helps!! I feel really alone, I am on my own now until my OB appointment 18th Feb, well I have one BT to have next week to check levels then thats it. They have told me to get a referral from GP for another US, I wonder if it is because I have fallen pregnant naturally and I don't do anything for there stats so they don't really care? That is a pretty negative thought I know, but I feel ditched. Does'nt make me feel relaxed. Everything is monitered every step of the way, your life is all on a schedule then OK BFP, see ya later.

[sushee]

I think that with IVF, they're bound by duty of care to ensure they check up on you regularly, in case of ectopics or multiples, or all manner of things which carry a higher risk with IVF, but with a natural pg, the onus is not on them to rule out an IVF-related risk maybe? But I do understand feeling abandoned after all the monitering you've undergone previously.

Why don't you wait for your BT and then after your results are ready, give your FS a call and get him to explain your P4 levels to you, and why he thinks you should stop the supps. I know we are not encouraged to call our FSs with questions, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't. In fact it is your right to know why your particular treatment (or withdrawal of treatment in this case) was decided on. And it's his job to explain it to you.

BTW the nurse was not right to firstly undermine your FS's instructions, and secondly to plant the seed of doubt in your head without offering you a possible plan of action to resolve it, IMO. If it had happened to me, I would also be mentioning to my FS that so-and-so told me I should be on P4 for 12 weeks, just so he's aware you're getting differing advice that is stressing you out.

[blackduckies]

Sushee thanks I got my levels back today progesterone is 196.4 estrogen 794 so they say to finish at 8 weeks will be safe because the levels are great, I worked out I have enough scripts to take me through to 10 weeks but I am aware that I need to go of them gradually so maybe 9 and a bit then down to one a day. I have been afraid because in previous pregnancies I have had sub chronic heom which have threatened the pregnancies into the 2nd trimester also I have spotting with this pregnancy, the nurse explained today that my uterine lining will be very thick so some spotting should be expected. I just want to relax and enjoy my time, but I guess that is the problem you get after trying so hard for your babies and MC, make it difficult to relax for a while.
Thanks for everyone help!!!

[dusty]

well done on the levels pam, it sounds like you can start relaxing as best you can btw one thing i have gotten out of reading BB lately is that LTTTCers can find it more difficult to stop worrying about anything going wrong even when they are finally pg. you are are not alone hun, but try your best. xxx

[blackduckies]

Thanks beautiful Dusty!!! I am trying and I have days that are really good, but the harder you try the more you seem to have to lose.

[Melsta]

Hey Pam and Dusty - I agree with you girls about the stressing over everything ... even though DH and I were not LTTTC the AC side of things still makes me question every little flinch, movement, ache, pain or onset of tiredness ... I have never been so panicked about things for fear of what this will mean .... but as my OB said the more you stress the more stress you place on bub so relax ....

Still Pam hun those levels are great and easing off is the best way .... i was on the gel when we first got our BFP ... and it was an instantaneous stop i swear i think i asked our FS nurse about 6 times will this ruin the BFP or will it fall away now that there is no support but levels were great so they stopped so similar in a roundabout way to you hun ..... hang in there hun it will get easier and you know you can always us ask questions and cry on our shoulders or anyting you need hun to help you get through this .... xoxox

[blackduckies]

Thanks Melsta!!! Got a smile on my dial, makes life a lot easier how did I ever survive without BB???????????????????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????????????????

[Melsta]

I dont know hun it is my lifeline atm .... OB or no OB i still refer to advice on BB as well ....
hope you are feeling good today hun ....

[LachiesMum]

I'm currently on progesterone too! I'm nearly 7 weeks pregnant and was told to stay on it until I was 12 weeks. With my pregnancy with DS I was told 10 weeks so i'm not sure what the difference is.

My falling progesterone levels were picked up when I was having 48 hourly blood tests. Maybe for your own peace of mind you could suggest having blood tests so you know what is happening when you stop - I mean they can't deny the proof of those results!

The only other thing I could think of is maybe your levels aren't as low as some of us that need it longer term? Either way i'd definitely be asking more questions!

[blackduckies]

Thanks Lachiesmum, since I have been on then my levels have been good, but they made the decision before I had even had any bloods done???? Tests are only done weekly and really I am now no longer under there care, I really am not sure what to do, I have never seen anyone face to face since I found out I was pregnant. I am going to try and get into to see my OB and get some further support from him, I am praying there is a cancellation, before my Feb 16th appointment. Cheers Pam.