Will go off progesterone at 12 weeks—what is it like?

[LuxFleur]

Hello! I am still more than three weeks away from doing this, but I've started to think about it. I've been taking estrogen tablets, progesterone pessaries and nightly progesterone shots since the start of this pregnancy and am now 8w2d pregnant. We saw the little shrimp on Monday and heard a normal heartbeat as well.

I know I have some weeks to go on this, but I am curious if others could share what it was like for them to go off progesterone and other hormonal drugs after a medicated FET cycle?

I am scared about what will happen. What side effects did you have? What was it like? How did you feel, and did you have any problems?

I will also be going off of PREDNISONE at this time as well.

Thanks so much!!

[Sweethear]

Hello how are you doing? hope fine, I was scared also when I was told to stop at 12 weeks that my body produce all this Hormones but I let my doctor know how scared I was because I had had 3 miscarriages and was bleed for a day with this pregnancy so the professor said l can go of it slowly not in once so at 12 weeks we started reducing it till 14 weeks that is when I stopt everything and was fine. My baby is now 2 years 3 month old. I understand your fears but you don’t have to worry just explain your fears to your doctor am sure they will do everything to make you feel better.

[LuxFleur in reply to Sweethear]

Thank you. What did it feel like for you when you stopped the hormone drugs?

[Sweethear in reply to LuxFleur]

I did not feel anything bad I felt great and not sick and I also bought a home Doppler to check hart beat myself so that put my mind at peace plus I had ultrasound every week as I was a high risk pregnancy

[Crabonks]

My doc has told me to come off the estradiol pill and the progesterone injection at week 10 (in 2 weeks) so I'll let you know how I feel! xx

[LuxFleur in reply to Crabonks]

Thank you!

[KiboXX]

Hey lovely,

I know it’s scary coming off them, like you I was on tablets, pessaries and daily injections. I actually felt great after coming off them! My clinic get you to stop them all at the same time when you hit 12 weeks, I had a little bump by that point but it soon disappeared as it was more the drugs bloat than baby apparently 🥴

Try not to worry, the only side effects were feeling better!xx

[LuxFleur in reply to KiboXX]

That is good to know about the bump going away! I have a little bump too, but I will anticipate it maybe going down once I quit the drugs!

[Msze]

No side effects at all for me. No change.

[Pu217]

Hi there lovely.

I was on Progynova, Cyclogest pessaries and progesterone injections following my FET in November.

My specialist got me to stop the progynova and progesterone injections cold turkey by Christmas when I was 9+6, which I did. And I continued my cyclogest under his advice until I was 11+6.

So technically he did get me to stop prior to 12 weeks but everything was just fine, if anything I felt so much better and lighter once off all hormonal meds.

At that point as with any viable pregnancy, the placenta had taken over production of all hormones necessary to carry on. No side effects, no problems, felt good to be off them. I am now 20 weeks.

Hope this helps and wishing you an easy and smooth pregnancy 😄

[jengi]

Hi LuxFleur, Congrats on you pregnancy! I can only share my experience and like you i was so frightened of coming off the progesterone. It will be fine coming off everything else, i didn't notice any major changes. It was a nice relief because i could stop worrying about forgetting to take the meds. My understanding is that it is the progesterone that maintains the pregnancy. I was really anxious during my first trimester due to loosing a twin and just general anxiety of the pregnancy being swept away from underneath us at any point. So needless to say i was super anxious about stopping the progesterone. A consultant, not the IVF consultant but the obstetric consultant at the hospital i saw at my 12 week scan agreed for me to stay on the progesterone until 16 weeks. I don't think it is normal to see an obstetric consultant at 12 weeks, but i asked the midwife if it was possible to speak to one to talk about my medication and she found one for me to talk to. He said there is no scientific evidence to demonstrate any benefit of staying on it beyond 16 weeks so gave me a month prescription to stay on it for another month. However, i think too much progesterone (the tablets i was taking along with what my body was naturally producing) did accumulate into depression. Depression is a side effect of too much progesterone which i only learned once i came off it at 16 weeks. Once i came off it, i felt like a new me, much calmer, no fog of depression, less anxiety etc. I've never had depression before and wouldn't wish it on any one. Please don't worry and just listen to the experts. But do ask if there is any benefit of staying on it for a few extra weeks if you think that would help you mentally/emotionally. Its only my experience and we all respond differently to the medication but just thought i'd share. Xx

[LuxFleur in reply to jengi]

Thanks! Definitely do not want to stay on hormone medication just for an emotional safety blanket. I hate being on them and they do make me feel anxious and depressed. I will go off them as soon as the doctor says it is safe, just curious if people experienced side effects when they went off them.

[jengi in reply to LuxFleur]

No side effect coming off them, in fact the opposite for me, I started to feel a lot better, less anxious etc. Best of luck Xx