Prontogest vs intramuscular lubion?

[Fruitandflowers]

Hello everyone So after a BFN on my recent FET and finding that my progesterone had actually decreased from transfer day- despite being on utrogestan and 2 lubions(!)- my clinic are a bit baffled but suggesting I have two choices: prontogest/oil intramuscular injections or do lubion intramuscular. Apparently intramuscular is much more painful and you only have protogest every three days, as opposed to lubion every day (or even twice a day) so maybe that's a factor. Anyone have any experiences good or bad about either option, especially if it worked or not? My clinic said they'd check with the lubion manufacturer if they have any clinical data but I thought this community may have some experience.

Thank you

MrsO

[minnesota_girl]

Hi there, I've had both - I had prontogest and while it was a harder injection you do get used to it - and I didn't find it horrible. I did find prontogest skyrocketed my progesterone levels - next transfer I actually just did lubion daily (not intramuscular though) which was enough to keep me at a good level. When I did prontogest, i did it daily.

[Fruitandflowers in reply to minnesota_girl]

That's interesting and reassuring, thank you. Do you mind saying did you have successful transfers on either prontogest or lubion? I had a successful transfer on lubion (not intramuscular) but I just don't seem to absorb it as even on my successful pregnancy my progesterone levels rose very slowly.

[minnesota_girl in reply to Fruitandflowers]

I had successful transfers on both, but for the transfer on prontogest my embryo didn't develop properly so was not viable by week 7 and I had a miscarriage week 8 but that was unrelated to the progesterone. I had high levels at the point of miscarriage (I had them test me). I had the lubion with this latest transfer who is now 31 weeks 💕

[Fruitandflowers in reply to minnesota_girl]

Thank you. I am sorry about the miscarriage but so glad it's worked out for you now - I had a similar experience earlier this year and it's really shaken me x

[PaulaDag]

I struggle to get to a good progesterone level on FETs and it’s always around 40/45 nmols on transfer day so this time we’ve mixed the two options. I take Prontogest every other day and 3 x Lubion (sub cut) on the alternate days.

This has got my level to about 90. So I rate Prontogest and I don’t find it painful really. Needle is longer but I don’t look as my partner does the injection in the upper quarter of my buttock

X

[Fruitandflowers in reply to PaulaDag]

Thank you! My consultant says that above 30 is fine for transfer and would be what the levels would be naturally but ideally they want above 50. And now because my body seems to just be rejecting it entirely I think he's open to ideas so the idea of mixing it is another option for me to raise.

[PaulaDag in reply to Fruitandflowers]

Yes mine said ideally above 50 too. Good luck x

[Wishinandahopin]

I had two medicated FETs last year and was on cyclogest 3x - day and Lubion daily and both times my progesterone was low. Neither worked (we don’t know if that’s the reason). This time we did a mild stim frozen transfer so I was making my own progesterone as well as supplementing (two cyclogest and one Lubion a day) and on day of transfer my progesterone was super high which was a relief! It worked and I’m now 9.5 weeks. Although weaning off progesterone in the next few weeks and I’m terrified!

[Fruitandflowers in reply to Wishinandahopin]

Thank you! I did have a successful medicated FET on lubion with similar low numbers on transfer so that's why I'm so conflicted about changing anything. But doing the same thing has just failed so I know it's not a magic formula. Interesting re the natural FET - I've actually asked about doing a natural FET because my progesterone is high naturally and also asked if I could add in progesterone support just to cover all bases - my consultant said yes, but I don't think has much experience of it (he said 99% of his patients go fully medicated) so that's so great that you've had success doing that. Btw, I was also very nervous about coming of progesterone with my successful pregnancy and because I started bleeding, the hospital put me back on them for the rest of the pregnancy. It turned out not to be anything that was a risk but they saod I could keep taking them if it stopped the bleeding and made me feel reassured. Most women are fine but if it's worrying you or you get symptoms, they said it doesn't do any harm to stay on them x

[Jdsbaby]

I had experience with both routes 1) subcutaneous progesterone x2/day + vaginal suppositories x3/day and 2) intramuscular PIO every third day +vaginal suppositories x3/day. I had chemical pregnancies with both so I’m not convinced there is a difference but for the next transfer my doctor recommends PIO every day which he believes is the gold standard. In my view subcutaneous twice a day is infinitely easier than any IM because you are not dependent on someone else even if it is once every third day.

[Fruitandflowers in reply to Jdsbaby]

Thank you. I'm sorry about the chemicals. I've had losses on just pessaries, and pessaries plus lubion, but then also a success on pessaries plus lubion, so it doesn't seem to 'cure' whatever the problem is. But I'd also like to give it my best shot (sorry for the pun). I am nervous about doing the IM and I've never been able to let my OH do my injections on stims (we tried a few times and I jumped or dodged!), and I travel for work, so it may come down to something as simple as practicality if they do say it's best daily.