BFP, now progesterone suppositories and estrace?

[Anonymous]

I had a cycle monitored by an RE (unmedicated) and I have gotten a BFP - yay! But they're starting me on progesterone suppositories twice a day and estrace pills. Do I have to take these (I have had a prior pregnancy, totally fine, and then a miscarriage (11 week missed miscarriage). Are there side effects? The doctor's office just says it's part of their standard protocol.

[Anonymous]

I think you should talk to your doc again and make them explain to you why they're prescribing this. These are part of the standard protocol in many IVF treatments and many women do require progesterone support, especially after a miscarriage, so I don't think this is unusual. But if you're doctor is recommending it, then I'd take them. And if you're not comfortable taking them, then keep talking to your doc until you're either comfortable with it, or making a more informed choice.

As for side effects, progesterone always made me a bit more bloated and the suppositories can get a little messy. Other than that, nothing noticeable.

[Anonymous]

Congrats. They are as the PP noted part of IVF protocol. I took both and side effect was bloating, I believe (it's hard to tell b/c the side effects are similar to being pregnant). It's nec. in IVF because the egg retrieval means your body doesn't naturally produce them. That said, placenta takes over producing these hormones at week; I took til week 10 as prescribed. Weeks 8-10 was SO quezy, probably b/c i was both naturally and artificially producing. ONce I went off felt fine.

[Anonymous]

Can I hijack this thread and ask OP what monitoring a cycle unmedicated entails? I've been considering doing this and wondering how often you go in, etc. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can I hijack this thread and ask OP what monitoring a cycle unmedicated entails? I've been considering doing this and wondering how often you go in, etc. Thanks.

Of course you can hijack.

I had a miscarriage -- D&C June 10 -- and started charting after that, and I was noticing two odd things -- my luteal phase seemed to be short and I seemed to be getting positive OPKs the day of or after my ovulation. So I went to Dominion and they basically said nothing was wrong with me BUT if I wanted to monitor a cycle they would. So I did.

I went in on Day 3 for blood work and an ultrasound and went in Day 8 for b/w and u/s until they saw my LH surge (which was day 14 for me, I think). They then said to come back if I didn't have my period but I insisted on a progesterone test a week after ovulation. Had that, then got a BFP on an HPT a few days later and I've been doing in for betas ever since.

It gave me great peace of mind and actually really helped me understand (for my body, anyway) which OPKs worked well and which didn't -- for example I consistently did not get a positive OPK on first response tests until the morning after I ovulated. Digitals were the most accurate.

[Anonymous]

To OP - different poster with a question about your natural cycle. Just curious to know how large your follicle was at trigger and what your estrogen level was. I have done natural monitoring before without success, and while everyone is different, I am curious to know what a successful natural cycle looked like for someone.

[Anonymous]

23:51 here -- thanks, OP. I can't believe I forgot the say congratulations on my first post. I hope you have a healthy pregnancy!

Just curious -- the monitoring seemed to give you peace of mind, but did you change anything because of it? I'm sure you BD on the 14th day in previous cycles -- did they give you more guidance on when to BD? It's all very intriguing to me. I'll give them a call tomorrow.

Thanks and best wishes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:23:51 here -- thanks, OP. I can't believe I forgot the say congratulations on my first post. I hope you have a healthy pregnancy!

Just curious -- the monitoring seemed to give you peace of mind, but did you change anything because of it? I'm sure you BD on the 14th day in previous cycles -- did they give you more guidance on when to BD? It's all very intriguing to me. I'll give them a call tomorrow.

Thanks and best wishes!

Thanks.

It was nice to see that my LH was rising (it was consistently 3 or 4 and then I saw it starting to rise so I knew I needed to keep BDing.

I also used OPKs like crazy (and different brands) and continued to temp in anticipation of NOT getting pregnant that cycle, so that I would better understand my body. If I had not gotten pregnant, I would do things differently for future cycles -- for me, I would use a digital OPK every day starting on day 12 after work and I would never use a First Response test again. My temperature seems to rise not immediately after ovulation, but might have a 1 day lag time, too. So that information was helpful, for what it's worth.

Dominion has a "timed intercourse" protocol where they actually tell you to have intercourse and then exactly when to have it. To be honest, as I was pretty certain my husband haas no sperm isues, we just had sex a lot (even twice in one day) and didn't actually follow the protocol.