When did you stop progesterone? (RE said to stop at 6.5w?!)

LO95 · September 2014

Out of curiosity, am I the only one who was confused to be stopping progesterone at 6 1/2 weeks? I guess I assumed I'd be on it until I left the RE, but he asked today, "So you've stopped the progesterone?" and I said, "No, still going." His response was, "Okay, you're going to stop that immediately" and then he went into the ultrasound, we heard the heartbeat and I totally forgot to ask more about it.

I assume the baby is taking over the progesterone, but I just wonder how you know that for sure?

Gah, I said I wasn't going to Google or stress today, but here I am. Just looking for a little reassurance.

Edit: For whatever it's worth I'm on 200 Prometrium 2x a day

gsancho · September 2014

I think it depends on the combination of your RE's preference and you progesterone levels during betas and blood tests. I asked the question a few weeks ago on PAIF and the response varied from 6 weeks to 12 weeks on progesterone.

Glad your u/s went well!

ETA: I'm an idiot and thought I was on the May board...hence why I referenced the PAIF board. Is it time to go home and sleep, yet?

LO95 · September 2014

Thanks! I guess I could ask them to do a blood draw to check. They've never checked my progesterone since my beta because they said with the supplement they know it will be high regardless. But I guess it would make me feel better to know for sure what the level is exactly.

Do you know what the plan is for yours?

gsancho · September 2014

I wish I did...RE doesn't tell me much ahead of time, and my u/s is still 2 weeks away. So I'm just going to assume I'll be a full 12 weeks and be pleasantly suprised if I'm not.

LO95 · September 2014

And I guess that's my thought. Does progesterone do harm? With so many women going so long, why not be on it? And why did he use the words "stop it immediately"? I am SMH for not asking him after he said that.

pblge · September 2014

Yeah, it sounds early to me, especially if he's not planning to monitor you. Have you picked an obgyn yet? Might be worth a phone call to them.

It's one of those things that's **probably** fine, but maaaaaaybe not. I hate those.

LO95 · September 2014

AH! See?! This is one of those topics where I think I'm right and now I feel like I'm bracing for a fight when the nurse calls tomorrow. I don't mean to be a pain in the ass patient, but it doesn't make sense to me either. And everything I've read says the body doesn't take over until 12 weeks. Obviously that's not entirely true because how many pregnant women just get pregnant and never take supplements and are fine? But there must be some truth to the idea of just how much progesterone is being prescribed. I wish there was a way to rewind back in time and know that he was going to say that so I could be prepared with an argument about why. I do technically have two prescriptions still so I can totally go rogue and get it anyway, but gosh, I am NOT the kind of person to go against medical advice.

LO95 · September 2014

The only thing I can figure is perhaps he's concerned about birth defects?! But then isn't first-tri still "early pregnancy"?

From the ASRM website:

What are the risks of taking progesterone?

Many studies have been performed to look at the use of natural progesterone during infertility treatment cycles. These studies have shown that progesterone will pose no significant risk to you or your baby. In 1999, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did an in-depth review of progesterone. They found that using synthetic progesterone may be associated with birth defects. Synthetic progesterone is primarily derived from the male hormone testosterone. Therefore, natural progesterone agents should only be used during early pregnancy.

Revised 2011

freakyfast · September 2014

I stopped progesterone at 11 weeks. I was on just the PIO, but I had a huge drop in progesterone, so I had to start with the vag pills, and weened off of both of those by the 11th week. 11 weeks and 1 day to be exact.

ekc0630 · September 2014

week 12 but I was switched to the pill at 7.

Lillovebug79 · September 2014

I was on PIO until 10 weeks. I was nervous to stop but reassured by my OB that it was fine. I had an US 2 days after stopping and all was fine. Now I'm 8 days post PIO and no spotting and all seems to be fine. I would be nervous to stop so early too.

chucktgirl · September 2014

I stopped at 12wks. I am shocked that you said your progesterone levels haven't been tested since your beta (if I read that correctly.) I would definitely question the lack of testing and the early removal from progesterone.

kmc84 · September 2014

My fresh IVF I was on crinone until 10-11 weeks. For this FET I'll stay on until 12 weeks.

6.5 weeks with no labs seems super early and would honestly make me very uncomfortable.

weansworld09 · September 2014

Fresh IVF & we went through week 10 with PIO

AMShark · September 2014

I'm 7w0d today. I had an appointment yesterday, and my RE said he expected me to be on for another 3 weeks.

I'm currently on Endometrim suppositories. I started at 3 per day (when did I start? during stims or ER, I think....). Starting on 5w6d, my RE moved me down from 3/day to 2/day.

I thought I had read that progesterone is no longer needed when the placenta takes over. I think that happens at about week 12.

It is probably up to your RE's preference. The part that surprises me, as ppl have said, is that your RE isn't testing your levels at all.

ksgsmu · September 2014

I was on PIO shots until 13 weeks... Mine usually stops them at 10 weeks but since I am pregnant with twins I think I went a bit longer. my levels were tested weekly with my RE and I slowly dropped the dosage from 10-13 weeks

Sophistikitty · September 2014

LO95 said:

The only thing I can figure is perhaps he's concerned about birth defects?! But then isn't first-tri still "early pregnancy"?

From the ASRM website:
What are the risks of taking progesterone?
Many studies have been performed to look at the use of natural progesterone during infertility treatment cycles. These studies have shown that progesterone will pose no significant risk to you or your baby. In 1999, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did an in-depth review of progesterone. They found that using synthetic progesterone may be associated with birth defects. Synthetic progesterone is primarily derived from the male hormone testosterone. Therefore, natural progesterone agents should only be used during early pregnancy.
Revised 2011

PIO, Endometrin, Crinone and Prometrium are all to the best of my knowledge natural progesterones – they are not synthetic.

I definitely would not stop progesterone until at least 8 weeks if your levels are not being checked.

This cycle I was on PIO (2ccs, no suppositories) until 12 weeks but that was DE. All previous cycles the plan was to start weaning at 8 weeks.

[Deleted User] · September 2014

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blueberries8 · September 2014

I agree that 6 weeks sounds early to stop. I would ask if they can at least check your levels. I have stayed on progesterone until 10-12 weeks in the past.