Cyclogest - anyone taken it until 32+ weeks?

[EssiesInvisibleLlama]

I've been on cyclogest since about 20 weeks following scans showing my cervix was shortening. They told me they'd take me off it at 32 weeks, and I have an appointment next week when I'll be 32 weeks to discuss it.

I was having lots of contractions and back pain until I started taking it, and that went overnight and I've had almost 12 calm, problem free weeks. I'm really anxious about stopping it, largely because we are supposed to be going away for 5 days with the inlaws a week after I finish it! (crap planning I know - we're not going far, only Cornwall)

I have read reports of other women being on cyclogest until 34-35 weeks, or until the end of their pregnancies. Had anyone else an experience of this? Or any experience of coming off it and immediately going into labour as I think that's what I'm most afraid of given how I was feeling before I started taking it!

I know what will be will be and I'll just deal with it, but if I can hang on til 37 weeks that really would be awesome and I'm a bit worried I need these drugs to be able to do that!

Thanks, sorry for the waffle, any thoughts or experience of cyclogest during later on in pregnancy would be great!

[BabsUnited]

I am currently on cyclogest but only 13 weeks. I had a cervical stitch this week due to my previous premature delivery at 30 weeks. My consultant has said that from 28/32 weeks there is no evidence that it actually does anything. But I have the feeling she'd let me have it if I get that far and still wanted it. BUT as I have discovered from my own experience and with chatting to others on here, every consultant seems to have their own 'rules' on when to prescribe it as (as far as I understand) there's not been a proper widespread study to determine its effects, so some are more reluctant than others.

Best thing to do is talk to your consultant about it. I'm sure if you explained your anxiety they'd prescribe. Best of luck

[EssiesInvisibleLlama]

Thanks for your reply.

I've got plenty to last me til after our hols so I'm tempted to just keep on it regardless of what they say next week, but if there is some very real reason why I should not use it post 32 weeks then of course I'll stop. Also if they scan me again next week and say my cervix is dilating and they don't want me to go on hols then I won't go, though my MIL won't be amused! Sigh. She had straightforward pregnancies and has made me feel as though I'm being dramatic about it all.

I don't know if its the reason I've got this far but at 22 weeks my cervix was down to 2cm from 4cm at about 16 weeks, and I'm almost 32 weeks now and still hanging in there.

Hope it helps you get a bit further along this time too. Thanks for replying.

[willnotbetamed]

Hi there, I took progesterone (am abroad so different name here) from about 20 weeks until 34 weeks. I didn't actually have major cervix shortening in this pregnancy, but I did in my other two - DC1 was born at 32+3 and DC2 was born at 36+4 after months and months of bed rest. The progesterone this time seemed to really do the trick for me to. I think the cut-off date is probably just balanced against the risks of premature delivery - babies born after 32 weeks are generally fine, after 34 weeks they're almost always fine and their lungs are considered to be mature enough not to need steroids. I would maybe carry on until 34 weeks too, as that (to me) seems like a better cut-off date. When I did bed rest with DC2, they also told me to keep it up until 34 weeks, so in my mind that is the golden moment when I can start to relax. For what it'S worth, it took two and a half weeks after I stopped bed rest before I went into labour - and I would assume that stopping progesterone won't have any immediate effect, but that after a few days or a week, your cervix might start to shorten again. Even if it does, it still doesn't mean instantaneous labour. So whether you stop at 32 weeks or at 34 (or even 36), I would try and take it easy for a few days after, but I wouldn't assume that labour is going to happen imminently.

[EssiesInvisibleLlama]

Thank you tamed, thats reassuring too. I'll see what the consultant says next week, but I know if they give me the green light to go away for a few days I'll feel much more comfortable about it if I can keep taking the cyclogest while I'm away. I've then got another 2 weeks at work after that all being well, but I'll have to see how that goes.
Thanks folks.

[daluze]

I've been told to take it until 34 weeks. At 32 weeks now, so still taking, but I don't think the effect of stopping is immediate. However, there is probably no harm to take it till 34 weeks. See what your consultant says. Good luck!

[applecore0317]

My consultant kept me on it until 36 weeks. Within a week my cervix thinned to 1cm from 3cm at 34 weeks and was 1cm dilated. I then went five days overdue , I don't know if the shortening was just coincidence/normal for that stage of pregnancy or from coming off the cyclogest.

[EssiesInvisibleLlama]

Thanks ladies, consultant appointment is Thurs so shall see what he says. I'm happy to keep taking it til 34 weeks though as long as he is in agreement. Hoping they don't scan my cervix again as quite frankly ignorance is bliss at the moment!