Need some help: progesterone question

Lenox1975

Hi Ladies,

If you are NOT pregnant, will taking progesterone prevent you from getting your period? 

Last month I had a chemical pregnancy and I was on progesterone.  AF was 8 days late and the morning after I stopped progesterone AF came.  My RE did confirm the connection. That said, I think the progesterone kept AF away because I was actually pregnant. If you're not, does it still keep it away?

This month is my first IUI - I am 13DPO and no AF.  I usually get my period on 12DPO at the latest.  I tested this morning and BFN - I'm just wondering if the progesterone is keeping AF away.  The other two times I was pregnant (m/c and then c/p) I had a positive by 12 or 13 so I'm sure I'm out.

I guess I just want to move on.  If progesterone is keeping me from getting my period I want to stop tonight and pray for AF tomorrow. I am leaving Saturday morning for Michigan.  If I get my period tomorrow, CD3 will be Saturday and I can do monitoring that morning before I go and start another cycle.

Thanks for any insight

Mrs.McIrish

Usually yes. Once I stop progesterone, AF comes within 4 days. I did bleed through the p4 though with IVF2. It didn't keep AF away that time but it did for all my other cycles.  But in your case, try to stay on it longer. I have seen plenty of ladies not turn positive until day 14. You never know.

Lenox1975

Thanks McIrish.  I'm so torn and I'm curious to know what you would do.  If you were in my situation and you were pretty sure you weren't pregnant it was day 13 and you were leaving for a 5 days on Saturday.  Would you stay on, knowing that this would kill your chances for doing an IUI this upcoming cycle? 

I know the C/P totally messed with my body but I started bleeding the next day - so it was immediate.  Btw, my doctor did not tell me I had to take the progesterone with this IUI.  Because of the chemical, I was paranoid.  He said it wouldn't HURT to take it, so take it if it helped my piece of mind.

Thanks. I know you're not my doctor but you are pretty much an expert in my eyes

 

Mrs.McIrish

I have self medicated myself with P4 many times. It won't hurt and can only help. Don't worry about that. As for what to do now- against medical advice I did stop my crinone with IVF 2 since I was bleeding badly and tmi but I felt that the crinone would just slip out with all the blood anyway.  In your case, since it was an IUI, you don't know "exactly" when you ovulated. It could have been later than "expected" so that is an argument for staying  on the crinone. I totally get "wanting" to stop because you "know" it didn't work.  Why would you be unable to do an IUI next cycle if you don't stop p4 now?

ps: just RE-read the Michigan part. I doubt that AF would show up tomorrow if you stopped today. It usually takes a few days for your P4 to drop to a level where bleeding will start.  

ksgsmu

yes it is prevents your period in most people. I stopped progesterone Monday and still don't have my period... I expect it any day now.

Lenox1975

Thanks guys - i'm sort of kicking myself now. 

now for a question of desperation.  Must the monitoring ultrasound happen on Day 3?  If you're all correct and I don't get my period until Friday or Saturday - do you think they may make an exception and do the baseline on CD1 or 2 so I could start Clomid when I'm away?

PPL2011

I got my BFN on Monday (blood test at the REs office confirmed). I stopped endometrin on Monday...still no AF. My RE does baselines CD 2, CD 3 or CD 4...I'm in the same boat you are...hoping for AF tomorrow so I can get the u/s on Friday and start injections on Saturday.

Mrs.McIrish

Lenox1975:

Thanks guys - i'm sort of kicking myself now. 

now for a question of desperation.  Must the monitoring ultrasound happen on Day 3?  If you're all correct and I don't get my period until Friday or Saturday - do you think they may make an exception and do the baseline on CD1 or 2 so I could start Clomid when I'm away?

i have done baselines several times on day 2. What if you stay on p4 longer so that cd3 might fall after you get back from MI?  

Lenox1975

Mrs.McIrish:

Lenox1975:

Thanks guys - i'm sort of kicking myself now. 

now for a question of desperation.  Must the monitoring ultrasound happen on Day 3?  If you're all correct and I don't get my period until Friday or Saturday - do you think they may make an exception and do the baseline on CD1 or 2 so I could start Clomid when I'm away?

i have done baselines several times on day 2. What if you stay on p4 longer so that cd3 might fall after you get back from MI?  

I'm so glad you just suggested that!  I seriously just got off the phone with my husband and he suggested the same - that is a brilliant idea!  Yay!  Er, wait, didn't I get a BFN this morning?  Ha ha!  Okay, the BFN sucks but at least I feel like I can get back on the journey again.  Thanks everyone for the thoughts and ideas. Obviously I'll confirm with my RE when I go in for my Beta tomorrow but I feel a lot better than I did a few hours ago.  

HeathernSteven

Lenox1975:

Thanks guys - i'm sort of kicking myself now. 

now for a question of desperation.  Must the monitoring ultrasound happen on Day 3?  If you're all correct and I don't get my period until Friday or Saturday - do you think they may make an exception and do the baseline on CD1 or 2 so I could start Clomid when I'm away?

Oh I am so glad you are talking about this, in my call with the nurse today she asked me to come in for the baseline cause on Friday 'cause I am doing clomid ...but I don't know what that is, or what it is for? I figure all my questions will be answered on Friday - but I was driving so I didn't ask any....so what is the baseline???

Lenox1975

HeathernSteven:

Lenox1975:

Thanks guys - i'm sort of kicking myself now. 

now for a question of desperation.  Must the monitoring ultrasound happen on Day 3?  If you're all correct and I don't get my period until Friday or Saturday - do you think they may make an exception and do the baseline on CD1 or 2 so I could start Clomid when I'm away?

Oh I am so glad you are talking about this, in my call with the nurse today she asked me to come in for the baseline cause on Friday 'cause I am doing clomid ...but I don't know what that is, or what it is for? I figure all my questions will be answered on Friday - but I was driving so I didn't ask any....so what is the baseline???

When you do Clomid/IUI you need to be monitored to ensure your body is reacting properly to the drug; your lining is good, you don't develop cysts, your follicles are growing.  They do a bloodwork and ultrasound at the very beginning to create a "baseline" - a starting point to judge your future "improvements" by.  If on CD10 you go in for monitoring and they see a cyst.  Had you NOT done the baseline, they would never know if it was there before or if it is a result of clomid.  They usually require you to come in on CD3 (usually when you have your period) but seems like it could be CD2.  

HeathernSteven

Thanks! I wonder why they didn't do it last cycle when I was on clomid, perhaps it was part of my initial tests and I just didn't realize.

Thanks for answering!