Anyone who had to abandon a cycle after estrogen but before progesterone, how long before you got your period?

[JadeH92]

Unfortunately my scan on day 13 showed no change to my lining and my estrogen bloods were too low for the amount of time I had been on the Estrogen Patches. With that and the fact I had still been having some bleeding my consultant advised to abandon the cycle and have a follow up in 3 weeks with him, to plan the next steps and discuss why my body doesn't seem to like estrogen the second time round!

Anyway I was just wondering how long I should expect to wait before my period arrives? Ironically since stopping the Estrogen patches my bleeding and spotting has stopped. You couldn't honestly write it 😭😂.

Thanks in advance!

[Hoop123]

Hi Jade, I've had this before and it's sooo frustrating 😭. I was put on progesterone for 3-4ish days to reset everything (i.e. mimic ovulation and a short luteal phase) so I'm not 100% sure of the mechanics if you just stop estrogen without that. But if it's a similar timeframe it might be a week or so? Not super helpful but I'd be interested to hear if anyone has else has done it.

Hope the follow up goes well and you get some answers!! For me I had to switch to a mini stimulation rather than external estrogen as I wasn't responding at all to patches and pills (even though I used to). Bodies are weird. And annoying. Xx

[JadeH92 in reply to Hoop123]

Hi Hoops thank you for your reply!

What is a mini stimulation? It is soo frustrating isn't it is like the second time my body has a certain type it just doesn't absorb it the second time I had tablets it didn't work so we swapped to the patches and the 2nd time now on the patches it hasn't worked.

And before my bloods had come back the clinic were convinced it would be fine and we would be able to carry on, I mentioned this and asked if it could be an issue or just coincidence, I was looked at like I was daft. Low and behold my levels weren't high enough so I had to stop.

Did you ever find out why the external estrogen just stopped working for you?

Xx

[Hoop123 in reply to JadeH92]

Hi Jade, happy to help!! A mini stimulation was like a low dose version of what you go through for egg collection. The idea being you produce some follicles that will produce their own estrogen. Hope that makes sense! I guess it's like a super charged version of a natural cycle.

On the external estrogen, I had a thin lining that wasn't thickening and one time became quite uneven then shrunk. It was so strange and frustrating. The consultant said it can just happen, it's like your estrogen receptors are just saying "no"!

There must be some more options for you!! Fingers crossed 🤞 if you find out why it happens do share xx

[JadeH92 in reply to Hoop123]

That's really interesting! It does fascinate me how different things can work!

I'm not sure if that would be an option for me, because I have PCOS the egg collection process was awful, very slow and long because I have soo many follicles and I ended up with OHSS anyway. Which considering all the things I've been through I can honestly say was the most physically painful thing I have ever experienced. But it is something I'll definitely keep in mind.

It does actually make sense for your body to say "no" at times, I think we actually underestimate how much of an impact all the diffent drugs actual has on our bodies. Doesn't make it any less frustrating when it doesn't work though does it!

I will update you if they give any explanation for it. Thanks again I really appreciate it 💕

[JadeH92 in reply to Hoop123]

Hi Hoop123, just a quick update but not a very informative one unfortunately 😂. I had my follow up yesterday I asked my consultant why estrogen works sometimes and not others and he just said "it's just one of those things"... I got the same answer when I asked why I still haven't had a period since stopping it... Oh the irony considering I was bleeding whilst on it 🤦‍♀️. So I'm not any clearer as to why it happens and from what he said not sure there is a definite answer... But for my next attempt we are going a long protocol so introducing Prostap to shut everything down before starting the estrogen to see if I absorb it better that way 🤞. Hope you are well 😊 xx

[Hoop123 in reply to JadeH92]

Ah sigh, "just one of those things" is the worst! It's all such a mystery.

But are you still waiting for your period since stopping?! That is mad. I'm surprised they didn't bring it on by using progesterone but I'm sure they have their reasons. I've had a protocol using buserelin before for similar reasons so 🤞 it works for you! I always appreciate when they try new things rather than making you repeat the same protocol over and over... Good luck!!! ❤️ And yes, all is well at this end thanks xx

[JadeH92 in reply to Hoop123]

I know! I have found this journey the only thing to expect is the unexpected 😂.Unfortunately yeah still waiting for my period to arrive! Another mystery ( at this point I just think my body hates me), my consultant said by the looks of my scan on Monday because I have "fluid" in my uterus he expected I would have definitely been bleeding by Tuesday of this week... If I have nothing by tomorrow I have to bring it on with a week of Norethisterone. Thank you! Glad all is well 🥰 xx

[Hoop123 in reply to JadeH92]

Eek good luck!! Xx

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi Jade. Oh dear how annoying for you. It can sometimes take a few weeks for it to return to what is normal for you. Hope it is soon. Diane

[JadeH92 in reply to DianeArnold]

Hi Diane,

Thank you for your reply. Yeah it is super annoying, it was for my ERA not a transfer so it wasn't as disappointing however, it has put things back further for us 😔.

I don't have regular periods but the clinic told me to expect a period as majority of my lining was 14mm, I was just trying to get a rough idea because my periods are extremely painful I try and plan them around days off at work (which is as hard as it seems 😂). I have started spotting tonight anyway so think it may be on its way but thanks again. xx