clinic doesn’t think progesterone levels are that important in a FET??

[Whatever098]

hello ladies, just trying to gauge if this is normal or not….

I am trying for a second baby and have moved clinics, and my specialist from clinic #1 also moved to clinic #2 which (I thought) would be handy.

This is my second transfer with clinic #2 and we are doing a medicated cycle, replicating what we did for my 4th successful transfer at clinic #1. My progesterone was always really low at transfer day and it took 3 cycles to work out the right level of prog I needed to take.

Despite the specialist being so on board with doing exactly what we did last time (pessaries x4, 2x prog injections weekly starting before transfer day and prog blood test prior to transfer), the clinic want me to be on 3x pessaries, and injection starting AFTER embryo transfer and no blood test to check my progesterone levels til OTD?! I questioned this and they said that’s their method as there is no justification to to do the blood test as they expect the levels to be low on a medicated cycle…they also think I’m on more than enough progesterone despite me explaining my history. My old clinic seemed obsessed with prog being a certain level before transfer day.

Does anyone else’s clinic have this belief? Has it worked for you?

I’m trying to talk to the specialist directly, as the nurses are stonewalling, but interested to hear others experience

[Doodlebug23]

My clinic always put me on pessaries 2 a day 5 days before transfer and check progesterone the day before in case they want to add in inject time to boost it before transfer x

[Whatever098 in reply to Doodlebug23]

Thanks for your reply, just frustrating that it is my 6th transfer so know how much progesterone I should be on. I managed to get them to bend to my will 🤣

[Ladycoco20]

Hi my currant clinic do not do any blood work ! Before or during . My last clinic did ?!

After being with 3 clinics in total im now understanding that they are all different & iv lent into it as they are supposed to be the experts 🫠🙏🏽❤️

[Whatever098 in reply to Ladycoco20]

Very frustrating isn’t it! And I see from other posts here that they all seem to like different levels of progesterone as well.

[Eswyn]

I’ve had different experiences at different clinics. Both had me on 2x pessaries a day for five days before transfer, but the first clinic also asked me to take progesterone injections and didn’t do a blood test. Our new clinic did a blood test after transfer and then based on the result decided whether or not to change the does of progesterone. They all seem to take a different approach. Good luck with your treatment!

[Whatever098 in reply to Eswyn]

Interesting! Thanks for your reply, funny how they are all different. Thanks 🙏🏼😊

[Mol2019]

With a FET protocall most clinics would commence progesterone 5 days full days in advance of ET. I would push for a progesterone level check the day before transfer and studies recommend a progesterone level of at least 30 nmol/L optimally above 60nmol/L in more recent studies. I'm assuming you are paying for this treatment so no matter how annoying you might think you are being you need to advocate for yourself; it's your body, your potential baby and if it gives you peace of mind that the level is in optimal range pre transfer at least you know you've done all you could in that instance. For the sake of a simple blood test I don't think it's much to ask. X

[Whatever098 in reply to Mol2019]

Thanks for your reply and yes you are absolutely right and that is also what I had been reading re prog levels. I find it bizarre this clinic (and others) get so stubborn about such little things.

I pushed for it and the nurse said I could do a blood test prior and start prontogest the day before “if I reeeeally want to”. Could literally hear the eye rolls over the phone. So I did the blood test and of course it was super low.

Yesterday at my transfer I felt very validated that my fertility specialist made sure I had done my test/taken the injection prior to the transfer in front of the nurses and then asked me to do another blood test that day just for good measure 😅

[Cinderella5]

I had a nightmare with anyone listening to me about progesterone especially the NHS. I eventually did get listened to and in out last cycle the consultant agreed to throw everything at it and we had success after 2 early losses and multiple failures. Although we did do an ERA test too but upping the levels I firmly believe helped us get pregnant and stay pregnant.xxx

[Whatever098 in reply to Cinderella5]

It is very strange that some clinics are so ambivalent about it, and others aren’t. That is the same experience I had with my first pregnancy, which was why this experience really upset me. All sorted now and I got my way 😁

Also, I remember your user name from when I was lurking on this site trying to get pregnant the first time, and I remember your post about falling pregnant with twins a few months before I fell pregnant. Glad to hear it all went well with you xx