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Anyone taking Estradiol under RX by RE?

krayola99krayola99 member
in 1st Trimester
I was on this while on a Femara cycle during TTC with PCOS, and my RE told me to keep taking it until 10 weeks.  However, the bottle says "do not use this medicine if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant".   Google has revealed that Estradiol is a contraindicator for pregnancy, which may result in birth defects or cancer later in the child's life.  It is category X.  Any reason why the RE would keep me on this?  I have asked her several times if I should stay on it, despite the warnings, and she has said repeatedly to stay on it.
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Re: Anyone taking Estradiol under RX by RE?

  • sail123sail123 member

    My RE explained to me that femera is use "off label" for treating PCOS and that the femera company puts those warnings all over everything to avoid liability. She said that their practice (and many others) are not concerned about the risk at all. However, she then went on to say that even if there were a risk (which there is not in her opinion), it would not be relevant by the time a pregnancy occurred because it has a very short half life and she would have me stop it after ovulation.  

    I think it is completely fine but would quadruple check and speak to your RE, not the nurses.

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  • sail123sail123 member

    Disregard everything I wrote, I thought you were still taking the femera. Estradiol is commonly prescribed for IF ladies post-BFP.

    If you post this on PAIF or SAIF you will see that it is common.

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  • krayola99krayola99 member
    Hi Sail, thanks for your reply.  I know about Femara - my RE said that studies have shown that the birth defects resulting from Femara have only been linked to uses during PG, and not while trying to ovulate, so I'm ok with those risks.  However, the drug that I'm worried about is the Estradiol, which I am still taking, and am supposed to continue taking through most of 1st Tri.  I was prescribed this cause when I was gearing up to O, the u/s showed that my follies were maturing, but my lining was falling behind.  So the Estradiol sped up my lining and I guess I got PG.  However, now I'm reading all this stuff about it being in Category X, and it's freaking me out.  I'm going to ask her about it today (I go into the office in a couple of hours), but I just wanted to see if any of the other 3T girls had any experience with this.
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  • krayola99krayola99 member
    imagesail123:

    Disregard everything I wrote, I thought you were still taking the femera. Estradiol is commonly prescribed for IF ladies post-BFP.

    If you post this on PAIF or SAIF you will see that it is common.

    Oops - I replied before I saw your 2nd post. 

    Oh really??  I will post on PAIF.  Thank you so much for the tip!

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  • chimaychimay
    My RE had me on it.  He keeps his patients on it until they see a heartbeat.  I was told that day to remove.  I guess I never questioned it but I really trust him.
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  • krayola99krayola99 member

    imagechimay:
    My RE had me on it.  He keeps his patients on it until they see a heartbeat.  I was told that day to remove.  I guess I never questioned it but I really trust him.

    Thanks Chimay.  Just to be clear, do you really mean "see" a heartbeat, like on a vag u/s (like wk 6ish)?  or "hear" it on a doppler (like wk 8-9, or whenever)? I'm just asking, cause we are having our 1st vag u/s today, and hope to see the heartbeat.  Maybe I can get taken off of it sooner than 10 wks?  Thanks in advance.  

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  • doz&kozdoz&koz

    I took it through week 10.  When I asked my doctor about it, he said he uses it when women concieve with assistance.  In a "normal" pregnancy, your body would make it, but with medical help you are tricking your body the first trimester into thinking you are pregnant.  He uses it along with progesterone to sustain the pregnancy.  If you took it with a "normal" pregnancy, your body would be getting a double dose of estrogen. 

    Incidently, the nurse told me that estradiol is commonly prescribed to all pregnant women in the UK throughout their entire pregnancies. 

    My doctor is one of the leaders in his field and I decided to trust him.  Why would he want anything bad to happen to my babies?

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  • krayola99krayola99 member
    imagedoz&koz:
      

    My doctor is one of the leaders in his field and I decided to trust him.  Why would he want anything bad to happen to my babies?

    Thanks.  That makes me feel a little better to have heard of some 2nd & 3rd opinions that agree.  You are so right with this statement!!

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  • chimaychimay
    Sorry to be unclear - yes "see" a heartbeat.  We saw it on week 6 day 2 and took me off the estradiol.
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  • krayola99krayola99 member

    Thanks for your posts everyone! 

    Update after speaking with RE: Since I have PCOS and they were concerned about my lining, the RE said that I need to stay on Prometrium and Estradiol in order to ensure that my lining is stable and reduce chances of m/c.  She recommends staying on it until wk 10, so that they can feel more confident that the baby is being well supported by the placenta instead of just the lining.  She also said that the risk of birth defects and other issues comes with prolonged use of estradiol later in the pregnancy after the sexual organs have begun to develop, so taking it through the 1st tri is safe.  Phew!!  Thanks for your support ladies!  I feel much better now.  Google + wild imagination of a pregnant lady = not so good.  Hope this info helps you too :)

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