FET Cycle - Progesterone injection or suppository??

[LuciaSpain]

Hi there

About to start a frozen embryo transfer cycle. I've been prescribed a progesterone intra muscular injection or I can have a suppository (Cyclogest). The clinic don't have a preference. I've researched it myself and some clinics think the injection is better as they are sure all the progesterone is getting absorbed but my clinic are happy with either.

I'd appreciate any feedback on either types of progesterone if anyone has any experience of them.

Thank you..

I had both Cyclogest pessaries and lubion injections, both are fine but the injection site is sore for days with lubion. Are you paying for the drugs yourself? There's a huge price difference, lubion is very expensive ( I don't know of other progesterone injections).

From my experience, the progesterone in oil injections are not much fun - it's very difficult to do them on yourself, as you have to inject it into a particular section of your buttock, and it's not easy stuff to inject as it's so thick. It can also leave painful lumps and make sitting and walking painful! If your clinic are really not fussed then cyclogest is a million times easier (and inserting it rectally instead of vaginally also cuts out the mess).

Some clinics are also using lubion, which is a subcutaneous injectible form of progesterone. I haven't used it and it's meant to be a bit stingy, but because it's into tummy fat not your bum it's a heck of a lot easier to do! Might be worth asking them why they're not suggesting that? Having said all that, the vast majority of clinics just use cyclogest and it works really well. Good luck!

I had the option of injections or suppositories too. I didn’t fancy the suppositories because I have digestive issues and didn’t want to add that to the mix / worry about losing it too quickly. I was also told the injections are slightly more effective.
I’m 8 weeks now so have 2 weeks of Lubion left to go and my tummy is quite tender from injections twice a day.

Good luck with whatever you choose but remember you’ll have to keep it up for quite a while.

Sorry, I’ve just seen that they’ve offered you an intra muscular one, not the subcutaneous. I have the one in the backside too but that’s not too bad as it’s only 3 times a week. Have they said how often you need to have it?

I only have experience of cyclogest. I used them rectally and they were fine. No mess and not that gross once you get used to it.

Hi ladies, many thanks for all your replies.

I luckily don't have to pay for the full cost of the drugs so the cost is not a factor thankfully.

I have done a bit of research and Lubion might be an option as that is injected sub cut and I didn't find those injections too bad for the IVF I've had. I will speak to the clinic.

Just on the Cyclogest, does it cause constipation very badly? I would be prone to constipation at times so this worries me. I thought they were vaginal as opposed to rectal?

Thanks again. x

@LuciaSpain you can use Cyclogest vaginally or rectally. Rectally is a bit gross at first but a lot less messy than vaginally and you don’t have to stay still for 20 mins you just insert and go! They haven’t caused me to be constipated at all.

@LuciaSpain I had intra muscular and it was daily - the needle is big but I didn't find it too painful. You just need to not inject the exact same place every day - I alternated sides and moved an inch either way each time. DH had to do it as it was in the upper outer buttock and impossible to do by myself! It held AF at bay though as I'd previously bled on pessaries

What have you decided to go for? I had the exact same decision to make this morning.

For our first round I had terrible problems with cyclogest pessaries. TMI ALERT...went for the front but they gave me thrush, went for the back but started bleeding from entrance that shouldn't be bleeding so had to go for a painful alternating process.

Little waxy bullets of hell!!

Having said that.... I'm going for the pessaries again. Partly because I'm self funding, partly because the clinic didn't seem keen for me to try anything different. Keeping my fingers crossed they're better this time.