How / when did you come off IVF meds

[Olive_77]

Hi all,

I wanted to ask if anyone please could share their experiences and regimes of coming off the IVF medications?

Did you come off the medications all at once eg. at week 12, or did you come off gradually over a number of weeks?

I wanted to find out a bit more about how peoples experiences’ were and whether anyone had to come off earlier, eg. due to side effects from the IVF medications

Thank you

[MoonbeamMcSwine]

I'm 9+1. Will be stopping Inhixa and baby aspirin at 10 weeks, then tapering down from two to one Crinone a day from 12 weeks until 14 weeks. This is pretty much the same as my weaning-off protocol (minus PIO) 2 years ago when all was fine. No ill affects so far this time either 🤞

[Olive_77 in reply to MoonbeamMcSwine]

Thank you, Moonbeam

[JenRoy]

I weaned off over one week at 12 weeks - oestrogen, progesterone (Lubion and pessaries) and steriods. I’m still taking aspirin though.

[Olive_77 in reply to JenRoy]

Thank you, JenRoy. I’m on similar medications except on Prontogest instead of Lubion.

[Missl73]

First baby I stopped prontogest (intramuscular progesterone) at 7 weeks and from then I started slowly reducing my cyclogest and fully stopped by 10 weeks. This baby I stopped all progesterone by 8 weeks because I ran out and didn’t bother getting any other prescription as I had some confidence from last time and as I understand it there isn’t a lot of strong evidence for continuing to 12 weeks in most cases. Again also fine.

[Olive_77 in reply to Missl73]

Thank you, Miss. Were these FET or fresh transfers?

[Missl73 in reply to Olive_77]

The first was a FET the second was fresh x

[Riri88]

Hi hun, might depend if you have a fresh cycle or FET. In a fresh cycle a lot of the time they reduce meds earlier on as your body should be producing hormones itself and after 8 weeks the placenta starts taking over. With a FET you are relying on the meds so many take it till 12 weeks to be certain.I had a FET and started to reduce my estrogen tablets from week 8-9 and totally off it by 12 weeks (was at 4x2mg tablets originally) and cyclogest 2x a day which they said I could stop at 12 weeks but for my own mind continued to 1 a day for 5 days extra to wean myself off. Just made me feel better haha.

Still taking baby aspirin now at 20 weeks as said can’t harm but also not strongly needed so they left it up to me and again just carrying on as it seemed it might have made a difference for me. More a mental thing I think.

Generally go by what the consultant recommends depending what meds you were on and type of IVF?

[Olive_77 in reply to Riri88]

Ah, sorry forgot to say that mine was FET. I read that some women come off earlier but reading your reply it makes sense now that it’s probably more suitable for fresh transfers as in this case you’d have natural hormones as well.

The trouble for me is the medications are causing elevated liver enzymes. I’ll reach out to my consultant to check if I can start weaning off the meds earlier than 12 weeks or maybe try alternative meds.

Thank you!

[Riri88 in reply to Olive_77]

Aah sorry to hear the meds are causing issue’s. Definitely speak to the consultant about other options or reducing gradually earlier on. Or if better to continue for a few weeks depending on the liver value’s and consequences of that. Difficult! But I hope it all can get sorted and you will be at the 12 weeks soon!

[HollyT7]

I came off at 12 weeks but only because I requested extra meds, they were happy for me to stop at 9 weeks

[Doglover7866]

Hi Olive, I was scared too. The meds were like my safety blanket. I phased mine over a week, reducing every day. It was actually really nice not to be taking them or using the pessaries 👍🏻❤️🙂

[Olive_77 in reply to Doglover7866]

Oh, I can’t wait to cone off them! Only 4.5 weeks to go 😆

[Hidden]

Hi Olive, I had longer on the progesterone meds due to previous miscarriage & bleeding in this pregnancy so I’m on them until 16 weeks. At that point they say I can just stop completely. Looks like everyone is a little different. I stopped baby aspirin earlier due to bleeding. I’m sure you’re consultant will advise you.x

[Olive_77 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, Starlight. Yeah, looks like it varies quite a bit.

[Hidden]

Hi Olive_77,My clinic advised me to stop taking my meds at almost 10 weeks with both my pregnancies. I found it both a relief and a worry! I didn't have to wean myself off - just stop completely. I believe the placenta is supposed to produce sufficient hormones by 8-10 weeks. I guess it depends on your clinic and protocol though.

Hope your consultant helps you find a solution x

[Olive_77 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, LilacLady. My clinic says 12 weeks as standard but will nag my consultant for some advice given the side effects 🙂