Angry and worried

In November I was prescribed cyclogest pessaries to treat unstable progesterone in my luteal phase preventing implantation, something I had been fighting for for a year. I was pleased to get the prescription, happy to see it stop the spotting, and ecstatic to fall pregnant on my second month of taking it. I am now 10 weeks pregnant, with a scan at 7 weeks showing a heartbeat after a small bleed.

Since week 5 of my pregnancy I have been chasing the fertility clinic for what I should be doing in pregnancy. How long should I take the cyclogest for, when should I come off it, should I reduce down my dosage when stopping, should I expect a small withdrawal bleed at stopping or should I use a pessary at the first sign of any spotting. Today I finally received a response after threatening to complain. The lead clinician replied "We don't provide care in pregnancy, visit your GP"! Am I alone in thinking this is crazy? They prescribed me with something to help me get pregnant and are now refusing to support me in my pregnancy! My baby's life could be in danger because of this. Another poor woman may have stopped the cyclogest on getting a bfp, who knows where I'd be now if I had done that. My GP has already said she can't help, and I doubt my midwife will be able to help much when I finally get to see her as she won't have the medical justification for me being prescribed the cyclogest in the first place. Equally I am sure a private clinic would not accept the liability of advising me without the advice of the fertility clinic.

So now I am left to make this scary decision myself. I would love to hear from you ladies who have stopped cyclogest at any point. What should I expect? When did you stop and did you taper off? I know each situation is unique and I would never blame any of you if something went wrong, but without your stories, I have absolutely nothing to go on. Thank you in advance xx

[AllWeNeedIsluv]

I'm so sorry I think Dianearnold1 would be able to help and , reassure you she's a 🌟

Im really sorry for what your going through lovely. It's awful they have left you alone to make this scary decision. Big hugs my dear. Keep strong you'll get lots of cyclogest information here

💗🤗😘 iv only gone and tagged the wrong one DianeArnold sorry now iv got the right one 🌟xx

[Hidden in reply to AllWeNeedIsluv]

Thanks hun. I'm hoping someone who has come off cyclogest in pregnancy will be able to tell me what to expect. For example, should I panic if I start spotting, etc. It's a little worrying.

How are you getting on? Xx

[AllWeNeedIsluv in reply to Hidden]

I know lovely it's hard isn't it. Try search for posts regards to cycloegest and see what peoples answers are. 💗

I'm ok hun still tired quite a bit but life's getting really exciting and keeping me on my toes 😁

I hope you get some reassurance soon 💗🤗😘

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi Jacqui84. Just read your post and can fully understand your frustration. Basically, progesterone was always prescribed for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. However, clinics/physicians have their own ideas. My feelings are that your little one has been developing well for 10 weeks, so it should be safe to start weaning off the progesterone, rather than just stopping. Drop one dose each day for a week at a time, then every other day, then twice a week and stop. Hopefully, your own body will be supplying plenty of progesterone to sustain your little one on its own. I think with fertility clinics, most feel their job is done once you are pregnant, but forget it's a scary place to be, especially first time around. these are my thoughts, but have a chat with your midwife/GP for their thoughts too. I shall be thinking of you , and I hope all continues to go well and you will be reassured at your 12/40wks scan. Diane

[Hidden in reply to DianeArnold]

Thanks Diane, this is some really helpful advice. Thank you for providing the support my own clinic failed to offer, I really appreciate it. It has felt rather lonely without any advice and I'm so grateful for the support on here

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK in reply to Hidden]

xx

[Shanks_21]

I was told to stop taking progesterone after my 7 week Scan I wasn’t advised to taper off just that I no longer needed to take it and that my body was now producing enough on it’s own, I finished what pessaries I had left and then that was it. I know some clinics say to take until 12 weeks but my clinic said this was there policy so had to trust them. I’ve been ok since I’ve come off I didn’t have any bleeding or anything I’m now 22 weeks pregnant x

[Hidden in reply to Shanks_21]

Thanks for sharing your experience hun, it's very reassuring. It's particularly reassuring that you didn't have any bleeding. And congratulations on your pregnancy. Wishing you the best of luck for the rest of your pregnancy and a healthy birth xx

[Shanks_21 in reply to Hidden]

Same to you too lovely xxx

[Krushby89]

We’ve had ivf and are on progesterone until atleast 10 weeks, possibly 12, so I would say to start weaning off it any time now x good luck with the rest of your pregnancy x x

[Hidden in reply to Krushby89]

Thanks hun. Good luck with yours too xx

[vansoire]

Hi there, my best friend got pregnant using progesterone pessaries - she had a short cycle like you and did exactly what Diane suggested - wean yourself off slowly between 10-12 weeks rather than stopping suddenly! 😊

[Hidden in reply to vansoire]

Thanks hun. Glad to know that route worked for your friend xx

[jupiter1234]

I was on 2 a day and just completely stopped after my 12 weeks scan x

[Hidden in reply to jupiter1234]

Thanks for sharing hun. I hope all is going well xx

[E8989]

I was on 2 x daily and told to stop after 12 week scan good luck xx

[Hidden in reply to E8989]

Thanks hun. Did you have any bleeding or spotting on stopping them? Xx

[E8989 in reply to Hidden]

No not at all I was so worried to stop taking but the clinic reassured me it is only needed to support the first 12 weeks xx

[Hidden in reply to E8989]

Thanks hun, that's good to know xx

[BBlucky]

I take 1 every evening until 9 weeks im only 5 wks so another 4 weeks. I was adviced to ween off them. I feel for ladies take more than 1 application a day.

[Hidden in reply to BBlucky]

Thanks for sharing. It seems like weening off is a sensible idea. Congratulations and good luck with the rest of your pregnancy xx

[Lizzielizzielizzie]

I think you should still write a complaint letter, as the prescribing doctor must surely be responsible for giving you information about the drug they have supplied.

I have never taken cyclogest so no practical advice about the drugs but I had to respond as I think the clinic is being negligent and I feel cross on your behalf!

[Hidden in reply to Lizzielizzielizzie]

I'm still considering it. I think it verges on negligence as well. I'm sure no doctor can prescribe something and then wash their hands of it. If my GP prescribed me something and I had a severe reaction to it, there would be an investigation. Thank you for taking the time to reply xx

[Lynnr54]

The policy at my clinic is take it until 7 week scan if pregnant from a fresh cycle (though nurse did say you could stop at BFP they just keep it on as a precaution) or 12 week scan if frozen cycle. I don’t know why there is a difference in lengths. I would speak to your midwife and GP and then perhaps write one more letter to your clinic saying this is your plan, please could they advise if not the right thing to do.

[Hidden in reply to Lynnr54]

Thanks hun. And I think this is where the problem lies. I'm asking ladies who, while on the same medication, are on it for very different reasons. I've been told that some clinics only put women on cyclogest on IVF as a precaution, whereas I have been put on it to prevent my progesterone levels dropping as has been determined happens in my body. This would suggest that coming off it too early could put me at high risk of miscarriage, hence why I have been so worried. But I am so grateful to each of you for sharing, so thank you. I don't know where I'd be without you all xx