PIO injections vs Supps.

Need4bean

I am curious as to what protocol you ladies use. And also for what procedure.

I am currently suffering through the PIO injections, and have, for both my IVF and my current FET.  First round I used P in Sesame oil, and after 4 days had a terrible reaction, covered in millions of red dots. I was switched to cottonseed oil but find them extremely painful (can be a reaction to whatever preservative they use). Right now I have dark welts and terrible pain. I am about to start tonight, a new oil from another pharmacy. 

 

Hs anyone used suppositories for an IVF or FET? Do you have a preference?

 

My apologies for typos. 

meganfauer

I've used Crinone and prefer it anyway to PIO. Good luck 

BzeetyD

At our clinic we have a choice of PIO or vag supplements. Success is equal for both choices at our clinic. I chose but haven't yet done vag supplements. I was too scared of the PIO, frankly it was one of the reasons we'd put off IVF.

4legsRbest

I have only ever done the vag inserts (for natural cycles, IUI and IVF). I am 100mg 2x a day and it isn't always super pleasant (I found some great thin pantyliners though which helps) but I am sick to death of sticking myself and am still having to do lovenox so no thank you on the PIO inj!!

AngnShaun

My RE puts you on supps (crinone) automatically.  ONly if a 7DPO or positive beta progesterone test show it to be low will they give you PIO

winofairy

My clinic only uses the crinone gel.  I am ok with a discharge vs the pain of a daily shot that seems to be painful for many.

maggie2324

I have the PIO and all this scares me. I don't want my butt to hurt that bad! My RE uses PIO with all OOP ladies because they are a lot cheaper. She said that if I can't take it, she can switch me to the supps. I suppose we will see.

tst1998

We did Crinone with IVF #1 and FET #1. It's actually the same price as PIO through our clinic. I had no problem with it whatsoever. All studies show that PIO and Crinone are equally effective for IVF. We're doing PIO this time, just because we wanted to do something different since the first two cycles didn't work. 

4legsRbest

maggie2324:

I have the PIO and all this scares me. I don't want my butt to hurt that bad! My RE uses PIO with all OOP ladies because they are a lot cheaper. She said that if I can't take it, she can switch me to the supps. I suppose we will see.

Yeah, well, I may be eating my words if my vag sups are $450 a month. This is what I get for not keeping my mouth shut

delino

My protocol calls for 4 days of PIO and then I move to supps.  I'm not quite looking forward to either of those, but if I get my BFP and sticky baby I will do what ever it takes.

Need4bean

maggie2324:

I have the PIO and all this scares me. I don't want my butt to hurt that bad! My RE uses PIO with all OOP ladies because they are a lot cheaper. She said that if I can't take it, she can switch me to the supps. I suppose we will see.

 

Noo, I don't want to worry anyone. Honestly my first round on sesame was fine. I really think I am having a reaction to whatever mixing ingredients they use to compound it, be it preservatives or something else in the oil.

 

I wish my office would give us an option but they are adamant about NOT using the suppositories. I cannot figure out why since they seem to have the same results! 

hugmonkey

For my cycle I started with PIO and then they had me switch to the suppositories.  For my next cycle, I have requested PIO only.  I would rather an injection than the mess of the suppositories.  I was told you should remain lying down for 20 minutes after inserting them.  This just seemed to take up so much time--especially in the morning before work.  And then, (TMI) it just seemed to slowly leak out all day.  I never felt clean.  Sometimes, a big piece of it would fall out and I would get nervous that enough of it wasn't being absorbed.  With the injection, I know it's in there and I don't have to worry so much.

Bethany1026

I have done both, on seperate cycles.  BUT my RE frowns upon crinone/vag supps, he said PIO has been proven to work for years...and even blamed my 1st cycle failing bc of my wanting the crinone, I was scared of the PIO also.  He is "old school" and I have differing views than he.  I have used the PIO for two cycles and they also failed.... there is always another excuse.  I guess I would prefer the crinone, I can put it in once in the morning and not have to rush out of dinner plans or any other plans for that matter because my DH needs to shoot me in the bum.

Bubs711

I was using the vag supplements (Prometrium) 3 x's per day, but when I went in for b/w 3dp5dt, my progesterone number was only 5.6.  They had me add three more orally at the same time, but the nurse said if my number didn't increase, they would have to switch me to the shots.  Fortunately, for me, my number went up to 29.7 after a week of 6 Prometrium.  The only downside is my insurance almost didn't cover a refill, but when I explained to the pharmacy that my dose had doubled, they got it put through for me.

kellyrn9956

Both my RE and the RE I went to see for a second opinion use suppositories with IVF. I was actually surprised to hear this. But very, very relieved.

A lot of women react to the oils. It will be a matter of what you are able to tolerate. Are you allergic to sesame?

jenjen930

I have always done the supps.  I really, really hate them.  But I'm not going to lie, I am scared to death of PIO shots.  Terrified.  The supps are ridiculously messy and yucky (I hate pads - but I wear them for these), but I am willing to do them over the PIO shots.  And anyway - my take home baby would be worth it, either way.

JenniferB1024

Funny, I had the same questions! I've been doing the injections for about 2 weeks. When the doctor told us about the suppositories, we were hesitant at first, because they mentioned that it can be harder for them to monitor your progesterone levels with supps than with injections. My husband and I both thought we'd just stick with the shots - they were going fine, with a little discomfort the next day. Well, now after 2 weeks, my backside is continuously sore, I have large knots in my muscle, and I'm starting to bruise. I use a heating pad, massage the spot, and it can still hurt to sit down, walk up stairs, etc. So, I've been reconsidering...not sure what the doctor will recommend, but I know it's not uncommon for her to switch people over. The only other thing we haven't tried is doing 2 shots a day, with less oil going in each time (2 shots of 1ml vs 1 shot of 2ml).

 For those who haven't done the shots, they're not horrible. I can get very light-headed/queasy with needles, and I'm doing ok with these injections (my husband does them). They don't hurt, just a little prick, and I don't feel the medicine going in like the burning I got with the stim meds. I definitely have to be doing something else while my husband gives me the shot - read a book, be working on a sodoku - something to keep my mind off.

 Keep us posted Need4Bean

Need4bean

JenniferB1024:

Funny, I had the same questions! I've been doing the injections for about 2 weeks. When the doctor told us about the suppositories, we were hesitant at first, because they mentioned that it can be harder for them to monitor your progesterone levels with supps than with injections. My husband and I both thought we'd just stick with the shots - they were going fine, with a little discomfort the next day. Well, now after 2 weeks, my backside is continuously sore, I have large knots in my muscle, and I'm starting to bruise. I use a heating pad, massage the spot, and it can still hurt to sit down, walk up stairs, etc.

 You sound like me! Pretty soon I'll be rocking a jazzy. That's very smart about splitting the dosage.. I am running out of "usable" space. Normally when I go back to the other side, it's healed enough. Now they have upped my dosage from 1cc to 1.5cc doesn't sound like much but it reacts totally different. 

 It WILL be worth it. 

JenniferB1024

How's the new dose and the new oil working out? Tonight was the first night I actually cried during an injection Granted, I was pretty emotional today...I blame it on that!! Apparently one of my friends knows someone who did it in her thighs...I might eventually call my RE and see if that's possible. I think it was just a sensitive spot tonight...some nights I can barely feel it, and others I can...who knows!?!?