When to stop taking progesterone? - Fertility Network UK

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When to stop taking progesterone?

anz07 profile image
8 Replies

Hi Everyone,

We've had some good news this end. I am currently 7.5 weeks pregnant...and with twins! After three early miscarriages, it felt like IVF was never going to work for us. We are still in a state of shock and are absolutely terrified day-to-day. Desperately hoping luck stays with us this time.

I am after some advice regarding when to stop progesterone. My clinic have said that I can stop cold turkey at the 10 week mark. However, I've read online that some women keep taking it until 12 weeks (and beyond). I understand that the placenta should take over by week 9 so the drugs should no longer be necessary, but after my previous losses I am super anxious about life without meds (much though I yearn for it!).

I am on a high dose of progesterone at present - 2 x Lubion injections a day + 2 x Cylogest pessaries a day. My plan is to reduce this at 10 weeks to 1 x Lubion injection a day + 1 Cyclogest pessary a day until 12 weeks and then stop. My clinic said they are happy for me to do this. Has anyone else walked a similar path?!

Also, I am taking oestrogen patches (2 every other day) which I have also been told to stop at 10 weeks. However, the nurse from the clinic just said I can carry on with them until I have none left (I probably have enough to take me to the 12 week mark) but I read online that continuing with oestrogen can be potentially damaging to male foetuses?

Sorry, so many questions! I am rather confused and the relaxed attitude of my clinic doesn't do much to calm my nerves!!

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anz07
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8 Replies
RecipIVF profile image
RecipIVF

Massive congrats! Fingers and toes crossed for yous 💕💕💕

AFoxcraft profile image
AFoxcraft

Congrats!!! Xxx

Running79 profile image
Running79

Hi

Congrats!

My clinic stated that I needed to have had the 12 week scan before coming off of my medication, and even then it wasn’t stop it cold turkey - I had to wean myself off over a week

I was on 2 cyclogest a day, so needed to reduce it to one at night for 5 days then stop

3 prognynova tablets went to 2 for four days then to 1 fir a further four days then stop

My prontogest injections went from every other day to every third day, so I had a 2 further injections in that week.

Each clinic is different in what they advise. The placenta can support itself from 8 weeks, but that they advise to follow the programme above.

You’ve just got to trust what they are saying to you, I stopped my meds as instructed and I seem okay

Ranchu90 profile image
Ranchu90

Congratulations on your pregnancy 😘💞. My IVF clinic advised me to take oestrogen and progesterone until 12weeks and 6 days. Recurrent miscarriage unit advised me instead to carry on taking progesterone until week 16 and they released me a prescription. They are advising for all who had at least 3 miscarriages (in my case 3 chemicals) to take progesterone until week 16. I am now 14 weeks pregnant and still on progesteron pessaries - 2 in the morning and 2 in the evening. Oestrogen cannot damage the foetus as your body releases anyway this hormone during your pregnancy. We always need to have a balance between this 2 hormones oestrogen and progesterone. Take care 💕🤗

Zami98 profile image
Zami98

I stopped everything cold turkey at 10 weeks on the advice of my clinic. I was pretty terrified too especially as a lot of clinics carry on until 12 weeks and I’d had a previous early loss. However for me it was absolutely fine. Have had 2 scans and heard the heartbeat since. Congratulations!

Mellyboo111 profile image
Mellyboo111

Congratulations. I stop cold turkey at 10 weeks with my twins as well. But they did make me stop the day before my blood work. Then i went in and took a blood test to see where my progesterone level was. It came back good so the doctor called and said i should stop all medications. I am 15 weeks now

Social-Butterfly profile image
Social-Butterfly

Congratulations!! My clinic suggested I stop all medication on week 12 as well, but I did consult a separate obgyn, who confirmed the placenta will take over at 12 week, so no need for me to take further medication. I was on progynova 3xdaily/ progesteron 2x400mg daily/1x Lubion. I stopped cold turkey at 12week, but if you feel a bit uneasy, best to have a talk with the clinic! Wish you all the best for your pregnancy.

Beatrix_K profile image
Beatrix_K

Huge congratulations! It is scary but it gets easier with every week that passes. I was just on cyclogest x 2 a day and came off at about the 10 week mark despite bleeding heavily day before wk9 - mad I know. At that scan they basically told me the placenta had already formed and had taken over. I was quite worried so they agreed to give me another prescription but in the end I didn’t feel I needed to take it.

My clinic said they only recommend taking progesterone til 12wks with FETs.

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