I completed a FET transfer at my clinic 2 months ago and have since had a positive pregnancy test and early scan at 6 weeks.
I am currently 8weeks, 6 days and with tomorrow being my 9th week, my clinic want me to do the following
Immediately stop my Prolutex (progesterone in oil)
Ease off my Utrogestan/ Cyclacur/ medrol/ night aspirin over 3 days...then stop
I know perfectly well I should be listening to their advise on this BUT I do not feel comfortable by their support, or lack thereof since getting my positive test
No congratulations was offered. When I shared the pregnancy test result, they wanted me to have a HCG blood test done. Since then, it has been all clinical a and tbh quite abrupt emails where for a moment, they told me to check with my GP/ NHS team over here...then the next telling me that they as my treating clinic make the decisions.
I am worried about the following (and thank you for reading this whole thing)
1. Uk timeframes of progesterone support extend beyond the Greek 9 weeks. I have read those using for 10 weeks, and others for up to and even over 12 weeks
2. Since my 6 week scan, no further scans have been held to check the lining thickness/ lil baby. My NHS midwife appointment is on Wednesday, and I plan to either go for another scan that day, or on Saturday (which will place me at 10 weeks, 1 day)
Essentially I would like to hear other opinions on the above, how others have had their progesterone support modified/ stopped and (from)when
I cried to my GP today, who understood my concern but unfortunately could only offer me speaking with another Fertility clinic in the UK for support..this is pending.
Any anecdotes/ support would be GREATLY appreciated right now
X
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ALM9
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I had treatment in South Africa so since FET I've not seen my clinic for any scans. They recommended getting a scan at 6 weeks mainly to check for ectopic, I think it's quite standard in the uk for clinics to do just one early scan before your 12 week scan, I've not heard about checking lining after embryo transfer. Honestly there's nothing a scan can do to change the outcome, early scans are really just for your reassurance not to diagnose anything.
I phased out the PIO injections at about 7/8 weeks thenam using crinone gel until 10 weeks then go cold turkey. 10 weeks is standard in the US too for stopping progesterone, the placenta will be producing all you need by that point!
Honestly after IVF I've been enjoying a very hands off approach!
My fertility clinic only did one scan after BFP at 7 weeks, then I was pretty much discharged to the NHS and they do a scan at 12 weeks. I paid for extra private scans for peace of mind but it wasn't about lining or anything like that. I came off progesterone injections from about 10 weeks and was meant to come of utrogestan at the same time but I got some bleeding and spotting that only stopped when I went back on the pessaries. I think it's very normal in early pregnancy but mine carried on whenever I stopped the pessaries so I had some additional tests - it was all fine but my consultant said you couldn't have too much progesterone and was happy for me to stay on them the whole pregnancy if it made me feel better. There's new UK NICE guidance that recommends extra progesterone for certain at risk pregnancies so you could point your GP to that. But I think it's very common to come off progesterone somewhere between 8-12 weeks after a FET as the idea is that the placenta should be making enough by itself.
that sounds about right. In my first successful cycle I stopped meds at 8 weeks. Just like that. One scan at 7 weeks. The clinic support finishes with the scan. Ivf was successful.
Second successful cycle , 4 years later, the same story. Its now on the midwife, who knows little about ivf, but why would she, she just deals with the pregnancy. Now its just a normal pregnancy.
It os scary to stop the meds, but pregnancy isnt supported only by meds, your body is already doing a lot to support it. Difficult to trust your body after it let you down so many times but I think if its going to work, it will. As it does with natural pregnancies.
Be strong, be brave, be kind to yourself. There are months of worries to come ❤️
I had treatment in Czech Republic and also came off medication pretty early. I did a progesterone test just before I stopped (for peace of mind) and it was around 1000. That told me it was definitely time to let my body take over.
I was told to stop my utrogestan after my BFP at 2 weeks post transfer. I was so scared but they said your body will have taken over producing it. My 7 week viability scan is on Tuesday. I’m terrified but all I can do is trust them. Good luck! xx
hello hun, congratulations on your pregnancy and sorry to hear you are having so much stress about this.
First of all clinics advice does differ it seems and indeed the placenta should take over between 8-12 weeks. It is important to understand though that with an FET your body isn’t producing progesteron so is in need of it longer than with a fresh cycle when the ovaries are producing it due to the egg retrieval. Hence why some people might say they went off it much earlier after transfer as likely they would have had a fresh transfer.
From what I understood you can’t really have too much progesteron so check with your GP and midwife perhaps as your clinic is abroad and if it gives you much more peace of mind to continue till 10-12 weeks I would say the reduced stress about it is very important as well at this stage!
On my successful FET I was told to stop cold turkey at 12 weeks. Even found that scary so eased myself of the progesteron pessaries in a weeks time which my clinic was happy with if it gave me peace of mind.
Do check with a clinic here or your midwife if you speak to them soon and hopefully you can get a plan in place.
I understand why you’d be feeling like this. I personally will stop progesterone support at 12 weeks (UK based) but when I asked the clinic why then, they did say that we were kept on medication much longer than needed so I don’t at all think 12 weeks is necessary
I was on PIO for 10 weeks as ordered by my reproductive endocrinologist. However, my high risk pregnancy doc kept me on progesterone basically the entire first trimester of my pregnancy and into the second because he is a very cautious man. After the first tri, he said it no longer was for miscarriage risk, but it could also support preventing preterm labor. Talk to your OB and maybe stay on to 15-20 weeks, if it will make you feel more comfortable. I do remember my RE saying it was OK to stop and your placenta takes over so you will be OK, but you should do anything that helps you get through it. I know that feeling of being scared all the time. I’m so sorry your clinic isn’t being supportive. They absolutely should be. We are here to support you! Grow baby, grow, and congrats! You are doing great! Xo
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