Progynova Side Effects - need advice

[S2017]

Hi everyone,

Hope all are doing allright, or the best they can in these trying times…

I am currently on progynova, 6mg/day and need advise. I am experiencing a very bloated stomach, feeling nauseous, chest discomfort which I don’t know is anxiety or reflux, very tired (almost to the point I feel I’m so lazy) and rather emotional but that has stabilised for now.

I have read and seen a number of people having the same symptoms. Right now what really bothers me is the bloating and chest discomfort to the point it is making me anxious (not all the time though).

I now only take 2 meals, breakfast and dinner to manage the bloat cause I literally can’t eat and even water makes me feel so full. Has anyone has symptoms like this or were they milder or worse?

I wanted to get feedback before I reach out to my Dr as Im torn between should I rough this out as I have at least 10 more days of the same medication before I have to start lubion and progesterone suppositories OR ask if I can change medication.

Any advice on what you experienced or did to reduce symptoms or change medication is appreciated!

Thank you and good luck everyone!

[Daisy0909]

Hi S2017,

I’m currently taking progynova 6mg/daily and finished Fyremadel yesterday. I’ve been feeling very unwell since Saturday (fatigue, sore throat, bloating, abdo discomfort and headaches) I got a Covid test just to make sure as was convinced my symptoms were due to that but it was negative.

Im feeling slightly better today but your symptoms sound similar to mine. I’ve put on approximately 6 pounds in weight too and feel like a beached whale.

Be interesting to see if anyone else comes on here with similar symptoms.

I’ve had a look at the side effects for the drugs and malaise is listed for fyremadel with bloating, fatigue and abdo discomfort for progynova. I have my scan on Friday so was going to discuss my symptoms then, until then I’m just trying to wait it out.

I hope you can get some relief soon, have you tried peppermint tea for the bloat?

[S2017 in reply to Daisy0909]

Hi,

Thank you for your reply. I was on fyremadel as well and was bloated then too. The beached whale explanation is so accurate, I too have put on about 6-7 pounds and because I have had repeated cycles/procedures, the weight hasn’t gone down. In fact, I’ve had to go up one dress size and I hope this is temporary.

For the bloating I tried peppermint tea, sometimes I feel relief, at other times, not much as I don’t feel this is bloating due to ‘gas’, but instead due to ‘water’. I also have the other symptoms such as abdominal discomfort, sometimes diarrhoea, occasional headaches, tiredness, lousy/low mood and anxiousness.

Replies like yours make me feel like I am not the only one going through this, so that’s a relief despite it not being an easy time for both and others.

Let’s hope there are a few more replies and perhaps some suggestions on how to get relief.

Thank you and hopefully we get positive news on this journey.

[Daisy0909 in reply to S2017]

Fingers crossed for us both and good luck x

[S2017 in reply to Daisy0909]

🤗 Xx

[Patches86]

I’m on day 9 of progynova now. I’ve also had chest discomfort which I thought was weird (I thought it was anxiety), and also bloated/feel like I’ve suddenly put on a lot of weight. Also, although still feel hungry, I don’t feel like eating (or only feel like eating carbs) which is not like me at all. I had similar when I was on progynova previously so I think it is the meds. For me I’ve been able to cope with the physical symptoms (it’s the mental side which I’m struggling with) but if yours get too bad I’d def chat to the doctor just to put your mind at ease. Feel better x

[S2017 in reply to Patches86]

I can relate to all the symptoms as I too have been having more carbs as I find they are easier on my stomach somewhat and have not been able to follow the recommended high protein intake during IVF.

I found the chest discomfort quite alarming and basically am just waiting to get off this medication. When I started it, I was emotionally down and feeling uneasy but it did somewhat get easier as the days passed.

I will be seeing the Dr in less than a week and will discuss this with him then. I don’t want to mess up my treatment plan so hope I will be able to tolerate this.

Good luck to you and thank you for your revert. Much appreciated! Xx

[RecipIVF]

I’ve had the chest discomfort and found myself getting out of breath/ having a heavy solid feeling in my chest doing the simplest of tasks. The anxiety definitely doesn’t help either! Sorry I’ve no words of wisdom but I sympathise! Good luck Xx

[S2017 in reply to RecipIVF]

Same here, I found the chest discomfort very alarming as I couldn’t figure out if it was anxiety or reflux or something else and I was out of breath every time I did simple task/went upstairs.

Now after all the feedback, I feel more ‘normal’ and just hope I can get through this okay.

Thank you for coming back to me. Good luck to you too.. Xx

[Lancal]

Hey 👋🏼,

Progynova was absolute hell for me! I had all the things you are complaining of plus I felt like I had been hit by a truck. I was sleeping ridiculous hours. I was taking 8mg a day and I did this for my first two transfers. Both failed and I just pushed through with it.

Luckily for me, we can’t get progynova in Australia at the moment. I just did a mock cycle using estrofem at the same dose. It is a more natural estrogen replacement. I cannot tell you how much better it was! I had no side effects at all. Didn’t even realise I was on it. I will be using estrofem again for my next FET, which should be mid August.

Wishing you the best of luck! 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

[S2017 in reply to Lancal]

Thank you so much for your reply! I have not heard of estrofem but I am so glad you reached out as that may work better for me/who knows a few others who are on progynova.

This is my 2nd round of progynova and I find these symptoms worse this time around so definitely looking forward for a switch.

I don’t know how you did 8mg/day, it’s already so hard with 6mg/day.

I will reach out to my Dr tomorrow as I just checked and estrofem is available in the U.K. Hope he can make that switch for me.

Thanks again for your revert and good luck… 🤗

[Lancal in reply to S2017]

A lot of Australian women are using estrofem instead of progynova right now, because of the supply issue. It makes me wonder why progynova was the go-to previously (?). Regardless, I’m very grateful for the change! 🤞🏼🤞🏼

[Kbear83]

Hello. I'm about to start these meds tomorrow and have been on them before. I experienced everything you described. The bloat is horrific. I plan to do intermittent fasting this time and skip breakfast just like you, should definitely help. They also made me feel very miserable and fatigued. Can't wait to start them again 😂

Hang in there, will all be worth it xx

[S2017 in reply to Kbear83]

Hi,

Thank you for your revert. Looks like a lot have similar side effects. Yesterday had a headache and checked my BP and it was high, in the 140 range. Checked side effects and apparently progynova can cause this too 😦… not great.. I have about 10 more days of medication and hope to change the medication but that all depends on my Dr.

Let’s see and good luck to you on this next phase of treatment.. Xx

[Luna_79]

Hi there I’m just coming to the end of taking prognova and can completely relate, I’m so so tired , I literally slept the whole day the other day, have been more anxious of late and tight chest but had thought that was my asthma, headaches too and last week at an app my blood pressure was high , so I think defo all of the symptoms you have described defo sound like side effects. Hopefully though all the side effects will be worth it, best of luck on your journey xx

[S2017]

Hi,

Thanks for coming back to me. This is definitely one of the harder drugs to manage.

Initially thought the BP was brought on by stress but now believe it is the medication. My Dr has just changed my medication to Evorel (patch) which I pray doesn’t have such side effects.

You have had a range of unpleasant symptoms like me, but the good thing is you made it to the end of progynova course. Let’s hope the journey gets easier as we move along…

Good luck 🤞 Xx