Justine

m rohn · #1 (**permalink**) 05-25-2008, 07:09 PM

I read on another thread that you just use prog. supps. What kind do you use? Why did you decide to do the supps. and not PIO? Have all your cycles been on supps?

I'm only asking because with my upcoming cycle, I don't want to do any PIO shots. I would rather use only prog supps. On my last FET I used Prometrium, and I loved it. I just don't understand why they stress the PIO shots when the supps can be just as effective. I'm really skinny, and I have a hard time with the shots.

Justine · #2 (**permalink**) 05-26-2008, 04:20 AM

Melissa,

I will be using Prometrium 100mg in am and 200 mg in pm along with progeserone 300mg supps 3 x day starting the night of ER. I also will be using the vivelle patch starting the night of ER.

This is my first cycle so I don't know any different. My RE said and feels that he pills and supps do an equal if not better job than the pio so why put me and his other patients through the pain of the pio shots. He feels it's better because we stress about the shots and he doesn't want any more stress put on us, because it is not good for the cycle.

I think cost of the pills and supps are close to the same.

Best of Luck to you! I guess I'm just lucky - I really do trust my RE. I've seen the pio needle and really have never heard any nice things and I'm not upset in the least that I'm not on it.

GL!!!!

mollyjp · #3 (**permalink**) 05-26-2008, 07:15 AM

Sorry to butt in, but thought I would share that when I did my IVF cycle (fresh) I used Prometrium 200mg 3x daily as a suppository as my progesterone support after retrieval. My RE said the only benefit to doing PIO is that they can measure your progesterone levels in your blood, but with the supps. you cannot. I was not about to do PIO if there was an alternative that was just as effective---that needle scared the crap out of me! Needless to say, it worked perfectly and the result is in my siggy!
Good luck!

Tkeys · #4 (**permalink**) 05-26-2008, 07:29 AM

I'm jumping in here. . . I did progesterone suppositories for my IVF - my doctor said it didn't make any difference at all if I skipped the PIO shots (recent studies have shown better success with the suppositories). They now use either endometrin or crinone (I was on the crinone). They were worried about a collapsing corpus luteum for me, so I also had to do a few hcg booster shots, but my friend who did IVF at the same clinic only did prometrium 2x/day, no boosters.

I got my

, so clearly it worked for me!

m rohn · #5 (**permalink**) 05-26-2008, 10:28 AM

Thanks ladies, I feel so much better. I am definitely going to fight for the suppositories.

Molly- Taking the prometrium 3x daily as a suppository didn't cause you any irritation or an infection? I guess that's the only other thing that I'm worried about. Also, were you on it for 10 weeks when you were pregnant with Benjamin?

Tkeys · #6 (**permalink**) 05-26-2008, 10:52 AM

I used the prometrium during my IUI cys, and I had a ton of leakage - needed a pantiliner everyday. I also got some cervical irritation that caused minor spotting that was annoying. For IVF, my dr switched me to the crinone suppository gel - I like it SOOO much more than the prometrium. It comes in individual applicators, so it is easier to insert, and it is only 1x/day. There really isn't much leakage, and I've had spotting only 3-4 days since ER (which might have happened even without the suppositories), and today I am 9 weeks pregnant. I've had no vaginal infections either.

mollyjp · #7 (**permalink**) 05-26-2008, 06:21 PM

Molly- Taking the prometrium 3x daily as a suppository didn't cause you any irritation or an infection? I guess that's the only other thing that I'm worried about. Also, were you on it for 10 weeks when you were pregnant with Benjamin?

I did have to wear a pantyliner because of the leakage (which to me is a small price to pay for not having to do PIO!!), but I did not have any issues with irritation or infection. When I was pregnant with Ben I had my last appt with my RE at 9w2d and I was asking him when to stop the prometrium and he drew my blood and found that my progesterone was in the 90's (92 I think) so he said that indicated that the placenta had taken over and I was able to stop that day, so I guess I took it until just shy of 10 weeks pregnant. I also had no spotting whatsoever.