Progesterone - Needle v. Oral - Covid Question

[Brooklyn2020]

Hey all,

I'm set to do my embryo implantation in September, and I have to do the Progesterone. I live alone, and am not seeing people too much due to COVID, and I'm extremely hesitant about doing the Progesterone shots on myself. I'm afraid of the pain, afraid of doing it incorrectly, and scared of the length of the needle.

My doctor recommended it above the oral/vaginal option at first, but when I said I was nervous said, 'Yeah, that should be fine.' This does not inspire confidence.

A friend said, 'Just do it - you don't want to have any regrets.' but I'm really nervous about it. Any feedback on what you've heard back about this, and how hard doing it yourself really is?

Thank you,
Brooklyn

@Brooklyn2020 I'd get them to do a blood test to check your progesterone levels the day before transfer. Pessaries alone are enough for some but others do need the shots.

MabelThank you for the response. The only problem is that I need to order the meds this week so I have them already. I didn't even think about having them do my progesterone levels. Are the shots definitely much better?

@Brooklyn2020 my own experience was that my body does not absorb the progesterone from the pessaries very well which was verified by blood test. Having the injections resolved the problem for me. There have been some other recent threads on this topic if you look down the board. I do understand the anxiety about the needles though!

Thank you again for your response. I'm trying to find the messages you're talking about, and can't seem to find them - when I search 'progesterone' it doesn't come up. Are there any specific posts you're talking about?

But more importantly - did the shots hurt a lot? Were you able to do them by yourself? Apologies for asking so directly, but I need to decide today or tomorrow and the fertility clinic I'm working with is so blase about it all.

I can't find them either but others on those threads have had a similar experience to me with levels being low on pessaries!

There are 2 different types of injections that can be used and you will be prescribed one or the other - one type goes into the muscle and the other is into the skin (usually stomach). I got someone else to do the muscle type because it went in the buttock and I couldn't reach at the right angle (although I believe it can also be done in the thigh). The needle is really big but truthfully doesn't hurt very much at all; you just have to make sure you inject in a different place each time otherwise the area can become painful. The needle is about the length of your littlest finger.

The other type has a slightly smaller needle and goes in the stomach. It stings a little but isn't really that bad.

I'd have to do the butt ones by myself, that's why I'm a bit nervous. But good to know that you don't think it hurts. Just super nervous about doing it alone, and fucking it up! Gah! I have to make the decision today or tomorrow - and the clinic I'm going to is a real 'fertility factory', so I'm not confidence in their casual shrug of 'yeah - oral/vaginal is fine.'

Sigh.

Anyway - thank you SO much for taking the time to respond. I don't know anyone else going through this, and am single, so it's all a bit much - especially with COVID. If you have any other tips, please let me know - but again, thank you for your responses and time!
xoxo

Wishing you lots of luck!

Thank you! If anyone else wants to chime in - please do. Thank you for this forum. xoxo

Hi, I’ve had both the progesterone in oil (bum ones) and the lubion (tummy ones). Same problem as MabelG where progesterone levels were too low with pessaries alone. Our clinic has now changed protocol for everyone to use both pessaries and lubion. If I’m totally honest I couldn’t tolerate the bum ones at all. I was unable to walk due to pain after just three injections so they swapped me to lubion which does sting a bit but was loads better. You can get a tender lump at the injection site with either but I found the lubion became less uncomfortable as time went on. I can easily do the lubion myself but would struggle with the bum ones. For balance, I don’t think most other people had quite a extreme reaction as I did to the progesterone in oil! Only thing with the lubion is that it is pretty expensive.

Like Lemongrass I have had both types of injections. I think you may struggle to inject yourself in the bum (I used Prontogest) the needle has to go quite deep into the upper quarter of the muscle (it’s an intramuscular injection). Something like Lubion is much easier as can be injected into your stomach. Might be worth asking them, but if they are recommending the butt ones I’m sure it’s possible to do it yourself.

I have never had my progesterone levels tested, but my clinic started me on pesseries and then after failed treatment I was moved into injections. Good luck!!

Thank you so much! I know it's the butt ones they want to do - didn't know there was was a stomach option. Good to know that moving you to a shot was their way of sort of saying, 'Ok - let's bring in the big guns'. I'm sorry you had a failed treatment. Was it just a failed extraction of eggs or failed implantation. Apologies if this is too personal to ask, but thankful for your help and guidance. xoxo

No worries. We are unexplained infertility. My first round was successful 5 years ago, and I was lucky enough to have my son, but since then had 4 miscarriages. The embryos always started to implant but then I would miscarry around 6 weeks. We did one final round and I’m now gratefully 24 weeks pregnant. We threw everything at the final round, on a recurrent miscarriage protocol, so cant say that going to injectable progesterone was the only thing that helped but it certainly didn’t do any harm!

Thank you for your honest response. That's so hard. I'm so excited for you, though - and will keep my fingers crossed and send love your way. Go YOU!