Stopping cyclogest at 8 weeks

[WillowPark]

Hello, I recently had my first ever BFP and first ever pregnancy. Currently 7 weeks and measuring on track with a healthy heartbeat. We had a modified natural protocol - all natural except I took an ovulation trigger and am taking cyclogest 400mg twice a day for luteal support. My clinic says their guidance suggests I can stop cyclogest at 8 weeks, but I can continue longer if stopping then will stress me out. Just looking for experience of anyone stopping at 8 weeks?

Update: Decided to keep going with cyclogest for another week (to 9 weeks). During that week we had our first midwife appointment, so were given contact details for our ongoing care, and also had a couple of important family events. I stopped cyclogest at 9 weeks, when I had a few days to chill and relax, and then had a scan to check all was OK - which it seems to be 🤞

[Doodlebug23]

Love how our stories are so similar 💖 I was told to stop at 12 weeks but was just to be safe as placenta takes over from 6-8 weeks. I had some spotting a few days after I stopped and panicked so went to EPU. They have prescribed me more till 16 weeks - they said they could if I wanted if it made me feel better. I’m now doing just 1 a day and planning to start to taper off next week. Still very nervous about doing it tbh….

[WillowPark in reply to Doodlebug23]

I know! Nice to have a buddy to go through it together! I also feel like it won't matter when I stop - I'm going to be terrified at 8 weeks as much as 12 as much as 16 - so might be better just to try it. But the risk feels huge!

[Doodlebug23 in reply to WillowPark]

I also have a friend off here who’s 8 weeks ahead of me. We are like a little baby train all 8 weeks apart!!! 💖

They found no reason for my spotting - only lasted about a day - so I just wonder if it was my body letting go of some old blood (it was very brown) once I stopped the progesterone.

Do you have spares? X

[WillowPark in reply to Doodlebug23]

Yes, I have enough to get me to close to 10 weeks at the same dosage. Might just have to see how confident I am feeling next week! x

[Doodlebug23 in reply to WillowPark]

I got more on NHS. Let me know how you get on x

[Fruitandflowers]

If it was entirely natural except for a trigger then your body should have been making enough progesterone from very early on. Even in a medicated FET by now the placenta would normally have taken over. But each pregnancy can be different - I stayed on progesterone for most of my first pregnancy (a modified/medicated FET) and was worried on my second which was natural that I wasn't on anything but I got my levels tested and they were fine. So you should be absolutely fine. But if you're worried you could get your levels tested for reassurance and if you get spotting etc then speak to your doctor about going back on.

[WillowPark in reply to Fruitandflowers]

Thanks, that is really helpful! The nurse checked my corpus luteum was there and in tact/looking like it should at my scan so I know it is there and therefore producing progesterone, and I've read the research that says I shouldn't really need any cyclogest in a natural cycle (so 8 weeks is already cautious!) but at the same time I can't help but worry. They think my progesterone was low during my first round. I mentioned that to the clinic and they told me that they were entirely responsible for controlling my progesterone in that first round so it wasn't anything to do with what my body can and is doing. Which was interesting! I'm not sure if I'll be able to get my levels tested as I'm NHS and will be in the period after discharge from the clinic but before my first midwife appointment but a good suggestion too! Thanks!

[Fruitandflowers in reply to WillowPark]

I've had low progesterone on several of my medicated cycles - the last one I was on utrogestan and 2 lubion and my levels just stubbornly refused to increase, so absorption can be an issue and maybe why your wwre low. My levels were quite high naturally. If it's natural you should be OK but if you're worried when I'd been discharged from the clinic I got my GP to test my progesterone and as I got spotting/bleeding on my first pregnancy the hospital also said they could check it. I've also had it tested privately using an online lab. So hopefully those are a few options.

[Asha82]

Hi! I stopped progesterone at 7 and a half weeks pregnant and I'm now holding my precious 11 week old baby boy

[WillowPark in reply to Asha82]

That's amazing! And what I like to hear 🙂 Thanks for sharing and hope all is well with you both x

[Asha82 in reply to WillowPark]

Your welcome and thank you we are both doing well x

[Eloquentia]

I was told to stop at 12 weeks but I did have a large bleed at 5w3d, so my clinic said that while they would normally stop the progesterone at 8 weeks, they wanted me to go for a bit longer to be on the safe side. In the interest of full transparency, I had some left over cyclogest from previous failed rounds, so I continued until 14 weeks. Good luck!

[MiniMe23]

Just checking in to see how you are doing xx

[WillowPark in reply to MiniMe23]

Thanks for checking in! All good here thanks. Currently 17 weeks and doing well. Bump is starting to grow which is surreal. Just counting down to the 20 week scan which is our next milestone. Hope all well with you?

[MiniMe23 in reply to WillowPark]

Was just going to dm you! 🩵🩷

Huge congratulations. I am so happy for you. I am doing okay thank you. Not had the best journey tbh, bled right up until I was over 4 months. Was taking cyclogest up to 26 weeks. And cervix opened early before 20 weeks so I needed an emergency cerclage. But thankfully baby is still hanging tight and doing well. Currently 30 weeks and the time is going so quickly now I don’t feel like I’ll be ready in time. How are you feeling now? xx