progesterone messing with cycles?

Ann612

I had been off birth control for 2 years before seeing my RE.  My cycles were very regular - 27 days without fail.  Since taking the progesterone, my cycles have grown a bit longer.  For example, I am on day 30 and still no AF (the blood test was negative and this is not the first time so it's not for happy reasons).  Anyone else experience this?  I kind of feel like I want to test at home and stop the progesterone a couple days before the blood tests to avoid this.  Once I get the BFN I want AF pronto so I can move on to the next month.  This waiting in limbo for 3-4 days is the pits.  

*ETA that I stopped progesterone on Sunday, one day before the blood test, as once it comes back BFN the RE says to stop (I just don't wake one the morning before the test, reasoning I have results before noon anyway)

lisa89760

I was told to stop my progesterone after a negative test.  The first cycle I stopped and my AF came about 4 days later...this cycle is came 2 days later.  

sweetball33

I'm taking progestrone, and AF is due today. No signs, but I did take a test (negative).  The RE didn't mention anything about stopping, and the pharmecutical's website doesn't mention anything about it prolonging your cycle, rather noting it promotes menstration!  If nothing happens by Tuesday and bloodwork day is a negative, I'll call my Doctor for advice. 

 

Reguardless, in the same boat as you and would love to just move on to the next month of trying, which is a much happier/optomistic time than the close of the 2ww.

Chasity08

I was told that I had to stop taking my progesterone in order for AF to start. If you've already had a negative test I'd call the RE and verify that.

RositaRae

Chasity08 said:

I was told that I had to stop taking my progesterone in order for AF to start. If you've already had a negative test I'd call the RE and verify that.

That's what I was told too.  I just got back from the lab and they are going to confirm the negative pregnancy with a blood test before stopping the progesterone completely.  I got 3 BFN's today but all had evap lines when I checked them later so I had an ounce of doubt about my results.  I know that is pretty silly considering they all say not to check results after 10 minutes.

On the bright side, having a break from the progesterone for a while will be nice!  

Tiko99

When I took progesterone my cycle went from 25 days to 31 days. Once my negative BETA came back I stopped and it took 4 days to get my period, holy crap it was a heavy one! It is so frustrating having to wait after you get a negative BETA because all you want is to start a new cycle! GRRR progesterone. 

stace2524

Soooooo I did exactly what you want to do but never officially mentioned it to my RE. My HPT was clearly negative a few days before beta (11-12 dpiui) so I just stopped the Crinone. In my opinion, why waste expensive medication and prolong my cycle when all I wanted was AF to come so I could move on to the next step (IVF for me). That being said I'm pretty sure my RE wouldn't have agreed with my decision, I'm sure her thought would be until we know 100% you're not pg (via beta) then stick with progesterone.

Ann612

I wasn't clear - I stopped taking the progesterone once the blood work came back.  Actually, a little before since I don't take it the morning of the test.  So my last dose was Sunday morning.  Blood test was Monday (day 27)

Tiko99

Ann612 said:

I wasn't clear - I stopped taking the progesterone once the blood work came back.  Actually, a little before since I don't take it the morning of the test.  So my last dose was Sunday morning.  Blood test was Monday (day 27)

Hopefully AF will come tomorrow. I have short cycles so it was totally weird to have to wait 5 days for AF to show her nasty face. 

moto611

I had a very regular cycle before medications and yes, the progesterone definitely lengthened things for me. So far I've always gotten my period after two full days without progesterone. I'm considering staying on the progesterone for longer this cycle if I get another BFN, because if I don't, my November IUI would probably fall right on Thanksgiving. So I might try to use the medications to give me a few days leeway. I'm not sure how well that works - has anyone tried that?

BunnyBerry

Progesterone can promote menstruation in that if a woman didn't ovulate, taking progesterone and then stopping it tricks your body into thinking that the luteal phase is over and then a period can start.

Progesterone is extra support for the corpus luteum so it makes sense that it lengthens the luteal phase.

It's always a question, when do we trust that a negative is absolutely not a false negative? Because stopping progesterone could bring on a period even if it turns out there is a pregnancy, it's important to know for sure. So, I wouldn't want to stop at 12DPO just because I had a negative HPT. But if you're getting a negative test at 15DPO, that might feel more safe. Would your doctor's office let you come in for a beta a bit earlier, like at 14 or 15DPO, so you can stop the progesterone and hopefully AF will come within several days?

Ann612

BunnyBerry said:

Progesterone can promote menstruation in that if a woman didn't ovulate, taking progesterone and then stopping it tricks your body into thinking that the luteal phase is over and then a period can start.

Progesterone is extra support for the corpus luteum so it makes sense that it lengthens the luteal phase.

It's always a question, when do we trust that a negative is absolutely not a false negative? Because stopping progesterone could bring on a period even if it turns out there is a pregnancy, it's important to know for sure. So, I wouldn't want to stop at 12DPO just because I had a negative HPT. But if you're getting a negative test at 15DPO, that might feel more safe. Would your doctor's office let you come in for a beta a bit earlier, like at 14 or 15DPO, so you can stop the progesterone and hopefully AF will come within several days?

Yeah, I'm going to have to talk with them.  I am now on 5 days since the last progesterone dose and still no AF.  If it's not here by tonight, I might give them a call.