Tip for anyone that has experienced bad insomnia on oestrogen tablets

[BenjitheG]

Hi,

Just a quick tip incase it helps anyone else looking for alternatives . I’m just starting our 3rd round (please let it be the lucky one!) and have previously had awful insomnia on the oestrogen tablets in a previous cycle and was really worried about it happening again so asked about alternatives.

I am on the patches this time instead. The difference couldn’t be more extreme, I’m sleeping better than I do normally! The difference it makes to my body being able to cope with everything else can’t be underestimated so wanted to tell others incase anyone else had had similar challenges.

[GranolaHippo]

This is a great tip!

I had insomnia on the tablets (until I started the progesterone) and I did wonder if teh patches would be better -interesting to hear they have been for you.

I'm lucky (?!) in that I have insomnia quite often, so have managed to reach a zen place with it all -acknowledging that it will just be what it'll be that night and although I'll feel rough the next day, I can get through it. Also learning that pre-industrial revolution, broken sleep was the norm -so we're just reverting back to that.

I also found I needed to entirely cut caffeine once I started the oestrogen -farewell cheeky morning tea...!

I hope the rest of your cycle goes well and thanks for sharing. xx

[BenjitheG in reply to GranolaHippo]

That’s so interesting when you started the progesterone sleep got better as it didn’t change for me.

I also agree about reducing caffeine, my cut off is mid day at the mo.

I have also had a fair amount of broken sleep in the past but this was so extreme (when I was taking the tablets), an hour to 2 hours a night tops, for weeks straight made work and doing an IVF cycle really hard. I have had 2 days of patches so far and slept 8 hours and woken refreshed it’s so different and it does make everything easier

Best of luck with your treatment to! X

[GranolaHippo]

Gosh, that sounds awful!! Even at my worst, I think it's only been for a few weeks at a time!

Yes, i was pleasantly surprised by the impact of the progesterone. I think it must be balancing the hormones out somehow. It's not 100% better but I'd say 85%. I take progesterone in non-treatment cycles and don't find it usually makes me tired, so I think it must just be the counter-balancing of the oestrogen.

Are you swimming this round or FET? I have an FET today(!). Of course, I didn't sleep well last night, but that's pretty standard the night before, I find.

Hope youre going well!xx

[Christianbaby]

Thank you so much for sharing this—it’s so thoughtful of you to help others who might be struggling with the same thing. I’m so glad to hear the patches are working better for you and that you’re getting the rest you need this time around. Wishing you all the luck in the world for this cycle—may it be the one!