Cyclogest side effects

[Marg29]

Hi all I've been on Cyclogest for a few weeks now and I've been struggling with extreme bloating. I mean EXTREME! My stomach is so huge and so hard. I've had constipation as well and the doc has given me some laxatives to help that, but it's no longer chronic.

I feel like my whole stomach is so heavy, so tight - particularly in the upper abdomen, that it actually makes it harder to breathe!

I've been using peppermint tea which has really helped the trapped gas and I wouldn't say that's causing me any pain now but the bloating is just so so tight and huge.

Has anyone else experienced this? It's really been a problem since egg collection so I think it's likely the Cyclogest causing it.....

Help really appreciated!!

[Skittles11]

Hello. I think cyclogest can cause bloating but something else I wondered when I read this if it could be symptoms of OHSS which can come about usually if you had quite a few eggs. I haven't had OHSS myself but I am aware it can cause significant bloating and abdominal pain amongst other things. Always worth getting medical advice if any chance of OHSS.

[Marg29 in reply to Skittles11]

Hey skittles The clinic said I'm not really at risk of it as I only had 11 eggs retrieved and have none of the other markers for it!

I had also thought this myself and if it isn't any better by Monday I will call the clinic for a scan. My gut tells me it's not that tho.....

[raverg]

I’m currently on Cyclogest and Lubion and my belly is bloated as well. It’s way bigger than usual and it’s hard to touch, very weird. I look like I’m already a couple of months pregnant lol

I wasn’t particularly concerned because both Cyclogest and Lubion have various stomach-related side effects mentioned in their leaflets. Cyclogest says stomach discomfort, flatulence, diarrhoea, whereas Lubion says bloating, constipation, stomach tenderness - they’re both progesterone so I think that the symptoms are pretty interchangeable.

My clinic told me after the egg collection, when I started the progesterone, to eat lots of fibre - so that might help? Fruit, veg, beans, hummus etc or maybe take gut probiotics, that should help too. But check with the clinic first ofc

I’m a bit out of breath as well especially when I go up the stairs or walk faster, so I think that part of what you’re feeling is the progesterone, but when I’ve had stomach issues in the past I did sometimes feel a heaviness in my chest and was breathing more heavily. I think that it might all clear up when you fix the digestion. But definitely book a scan with the clinic if you’re concerned!

[Marg29 in reply to raverg]

Hi raverg, Thanks for this - a good reminder that some of this is probably to be expected!

I think part of the problem was that I was really constipated after EC so used prune juice to clear it but the excess fibre reaked havoc with my system and I couldn't digest it which then gave me such bad trapped wind. It was SO painful. I usually have a high fibre diet but the doc said just to reduce it a bit to stop the gas - which has happened! So I think I will do what you suggest and now go back to my normal diet, just without prune juice! I already take a probiotic so hopefully that is also helping!

I had no idea you could get into such a pickle in early pregnancy!!!

Xxx

[Catmumtogoose5 in reply to Marg29]

Just to say.. I have been there with the prune juice whilst I was on stims. I woke up at 3am in SO much pain! Never again, I’ll stick to laxido. I’m expecting this to happen to me again as I have just started medication for a frozen cycles, so I’m going to try and tackle it early and have laxido sachets as and when needed.

[Marg29 in reply to Catmumtogoose5]

Good to know the prune juice mistake wasn't just me! I've never known pain like it. I feel as though my body is still recovering. Good good luck with your next cycle ❤️🙏

[raverg in reply to Marg29]

That’s good to know with the prune juice! As it gets recommended so much on these forums. I hope that you find a good balance with it all! Xx

[Doodlebug23]

I’ve been on progesterone for virtually 18 months and found I was very bloated and looked 3 months pregnant! Now I am 3 months pregnant I look 5 🙈 I also huff and puff after going up the stairs!

[Cahoots]

I think this is quite common, unfortunately. One of my friends had bloating in early pregnancy even without taking any hormones. I definitely had it when I was on Cyclogest too.

I found Deflatine works really well.

[MrsOrangejuice]

I have been a beach ball pretty much the whole time I've been doing IVF and during pregnancy (way before I could have been showing and I looked the same at 8 weeks as I did at 6months). I think it's partly inflammation but also progesterone - that in particular gives me a bad stomach. I didn't really find a cure for it, pears kind of helped with the discomfort for some reason but high fibre etc just made it worse. Check re OHSS just to be sure but if not unfortunately I think it's quite a common side effect of the meds.

[MsEWS]

Yes I experienced this with cyclogest in a naturally conceived pregnancy

[WillowPark]

Hi Marg29, I can also relate! I find if I am the slightest bit dehydrated it is 10 times worse so keep downing the water/non-fizzy juice and it might help 🙂