WWYD? Another progesterone thread...

pblge

So I'm piggybacking onto @LO95's recent threads about progesterone. I was just told to stop taking the PIO, but I'm contemplating continuing it a bit longer. I'm 9 weeks as of tomorrow. My peak progesterone was about 118 when I was doing 1.5 ml a day, then they had me decrease to 1 ml a day and it ended up at 42 last week. After about a week of 0.5 ml it's at 29.2, which is above this clinic's minimum of 17, but not an amazingly high number. I'm worried about how much lower it will get if I stop the PIO entirely. Additionally, I'm not sure when I'll get another progesterone test to be sure my levels are okay.

So, would you ladies stop as instructed? Do you know your clinic's minimal levels at this point? Or would you keep doing the 0.5 ml for another week or two? Any other thoughts?

I'm sure we're all terrified at this point, so maybe I'm just being paranoid. It's also crazy to me that they said to stop my 6 mg of Estrace a day!

TIA for any thoughts!

LO95

Girl.

Oh, I'm relating and I'm not even as far as you.

I really, honestly, truly do not understand why you can't stay on progesterone throughout the whole first tri.  My husband actually called the doctor for me because I want to be taken seriously and I feel like if it's not me calling maybe people will hear out the concern instead of jumping to call me crazy.  Haven't heard back yet so let's see...

I literally had my friend call her IVF nurse line (different clinic) yesterday for me even though she's  graduated to ask if I can stay on progesterone.  The nurse wouldn't outright tell her, but her words were, "We keep you on progesterone until 10 weeks when the placenta takes over."

To me, that's pretty damn clear cut.  And when you Google this topic most women are on it so clearly there shouldn't be a reason NOT to take it in first tri. 

At least you're allowed to even HAVE your progesterone checked. As I mentioned in yesterday's message, I am not even allowed to have my progesterone checked and it has NEVER been  checked since I got pregnant.  I am so frustrated.

Sophistikitty

My clinic requires a P4 level of 20. I would probably do another week if it was me since it was an FET. Will they agree to check your levels again in a day or so if you stop? I have heard some clinics even wean down to .5 every other day. Perhaps that might be an option rather than stopping entirely. 

southernyankeegirl

Ask a pharmacist?  Pharmacists know more about drugs and their potential effects than most doctors.  All it would take is calling a local pharmacy and asking to speak with the pharmacist - they should be able to answer your questions on what role progesterone supplementation plays, why your doctor might want you to stop it, and if there's any side effects from continuing it longer than recommended by your RE.

rlk2

My RE told me to stop at 10 weeks or when we heard a heartbeat on Doppler, whichever was first but obgyn said I could continue until 12 weeks and that it wouldn't hurt anything at all. I compromised and stopped after 11 and never looked back

poohniki

Here I am dying to get off of Progesterone! My nurse doesn't see an end in sight. I am on 2 ml a night and promethium every 4 hours. I also get my levels checked for progesterone, TSH, and estrogen weekly. But this is with the Reproductive Immunologist. 

I'm hoping they will stop the PIO very soon. I'm going to send another letter asking if they can guess when I can stop. I'll be 13 weeks on Monday.

Neesey

I stopped at 9 weeks too. I actually had to get meds from their donations because I was a few days short.

FishyMom

Ducky719 said:

The min at my clinic is 25...i never received an update on my number after my initial test and i never asked. I've always been the 'trust my doctor' type gal. I've never a reason not to tho. As for when i stopped taking progesterone - i was instructed to stop at 10 weeks both times. The placenta is developed enough as that point to take over.

this was me exactly. I asked the question when I was told to stop (I think at 10 weeks) and got a test it seemed like a low number but I trusted my doc and all was well. I vote is to roll with it and trust your doc. I'm sorry this is causing so,e anxiety tho.

poohniki

Oh- I probably should have added that the longer you are on progesterone, the higher the risk of baby being born with a cleft palette.

AMShark

According to the patient portal on my IVF clinic's web site, "Progesterone support usually will continue through the 11^th or 12^th week of pregnancy. "

I don't know what the minimum level is for my RE, but I do know that I just ordered enough Endometrim to continue taking 2 doses through week 10, after having a conversation with my RE.

Will you still be going to frequent monitoring appointments, or have you graduated from that?  If you won't be getting any updates for more than a week, I would be inclined to continue the injections, maybe just until week 10.  (I say that, but in reality, I am usually too scared to ever go against medical advice).

I would say, ask your RE if he/she has any objection to you continuing the Progesterone for another week.  Also, ask if you can schedule another test, because you're concerned about your levels falling.

hopeby2015

Personally I'd continue until about 10 weeks min. But after I'm off of them, I'd definitely get tested!! Better safe then sorry .. that's my approach. I've never heard that too much progestrone could cause any issues or problems.

poohniki

Ignore my previous comment. That's prednisone.
I'm trying to get my doctor to get me off of both and I get confused easily. I mean they both start with "pr"

Lillovebug79

I stopped at 10 weeks. I was so nervous but I had been on 0.5ml the whole time and my levels were high. I don't know what my last level was but it was checked at my first OB appointment (along with everything else possible). I haven't had it checked since stopping but I did have an US after stopping and all seemed well. I was so nervous to stop at 10 weeks so I would be in the camp of no earlier than 10 weeks.