Cyclogest Pessaries

[TTC79]

Hi there, I'm due to start on these from tomorrow and am dreading it. I've been told that you can use them vaginally or rectally. I will probably use them vaginally as I had a small hermarroid a few months ago and I don't want that to reappear (sorry for the tmi!). I was wondering, do you use lube to ease it in?! Can you exercise after a certain time? I'm supposed to be taking 4 a day. Thanks for your advice!

Hiya. I’m on cyclogest too - twice a day. Nothing to dread, they’re dead easy. I use them vaginally and no need for lube or anything. They’re kinda waxy in texture, so go in by themselves.

I prefer to put a panty liner in my underwear afterwards and you can get a lot of “fall out” (not sure what else to call it!). Once you’ve popped it in, just lie down for 20mins or so.

can’t see why it would impact exercise, but I’m no doctor! X

Thank you! Sorry to probe further (excuse the pun) but how far do you insert them? Is it better to lie down?

I used rectally as it is way less messy. You need to lie down for about 30 minutes after.

But I used them after a loss and change in discharge was pretty triggering fome.e so rectally was better for me.

I actually couldn’t really find this info out. So I pop them up so I can’t feel it. Seems to do the job 😂

I use them rectally, much less mess!

I also use them rectally but didn't realise you're meant to lie down after? I thought because it's up there and not coming out you can just go about your day 😬

@TTC79 I started using mine vaginally but I'm very sensitive down there (sometimes get thrush) so the constant discharge from them was making me itchy and uncomfortable. I do find rectally much easier because once they are up there it's much easier to forget about them.

Progesterone pessaries can make you a bit bloated and gassy but I didn't have any other symptoms.

Did anyone get constipation?

I started using them vaginally but they irritated me so I switched to rectally I had no discomfort and it was much less messy.

Hi OP. I've used these after fertility treatments lots of times. I find it better to take them rectally. Vaginal was quite messy as they result in a lot of discharge. I didn't get any discharge at all using them rectally. So if you can, that's what I'd recommend. You shouldn't need lube. I found it easier to lie down but some people prefer to stand up - I recommend trying both and see what works for you.

I've no idea what the poster saying you need to lie down for 30 minutes is talking about. It takes me about a minute to insert it and then back to my normal activities, including exercise etc., it's no big deal. But everyone is different.

I never got constipation but I did have some hormonal side effects (bad skin, increased appetite, mood swings) - so I didn't really enjoy taking them. Watch out for these things because you might wonder where they come from. It took me a while to join the dots that it was the cyclogest causing it!

Thanks everyone, and sorry but TMI, it doesn't cause hemorrhoids does it? I had one earlier this year and don't want it to come back again. I am thinking inserting rectally might be better as I am quite sensitive vaginally and can see thrush, irritation etc happening

@TTC79 I have never had a problem with haemorrhoids but as you are just recovering from one it might be worth just checking with your clinic if there's any chance it might aggravate things.

You could always just try it vaginally and see how you get on. I know that some people prefer it.

Try not to worry lovely, you'll be OK :) They're really not so bad xx

Why don't you try alternating. Then you can see what you feel most comfortable with.

I've used them lots of time (10 rounds of fertility treatment). In terms of inserting them vaginally inserting them as you would a tampon is fine. The higher up you get them the less discharge although there is quite a bit regardless. Like a previous poster said, laying down for 20-30mins post insertion is recommended. The discharge is largely wax which is a carrier for the progesterone and laying down gives it time for the progesterone to be absorbed rather than being expelled with the wax. I did find a tendency towards irritation though especially after I'd been using them a couple of weeks. After a little lay down life goes on as normal though including exercise.

When using rectally ther is way less mess and the wax is often expelled with the next bowel movement. The need to lay down is less when inserting rectally as it generally retained in the body longer although my clinic did recommend a lay down as a 'rest' as possibly being beneficial in conception/early pregnancy so I tended to try to anyway. The only essential thing when using them rectally was not to use the loo within half an hour of inserting it and ideally longer.

Good luck with your journey

I've used these. I used them vaginally. No lube needed vaginally or rectally. This is probably going to be TMI, but whatever, we're all women:

1. Insert it as far up as it'll go. Make sure you've pooped beforehand, because otherwise you'll lose most of it after insertion, rendering the dose useless.

2. You might want to wear a panty liner because the fallout can be a little much at times. The pessaries are soluble fat with the medicine impregnated within them, the fat is a transportation medium.

3. Seeing as they are progesterone, they can cause mild irritation, which is one reason why there is the option of inserting them rectally if the erm.... front door.... gets a bit sore. I'm a poet and I didn't know it.

Anyway, good luck!