Progesterone query

[RedFaerieBoots]

Hi,

So I had my first round of IVF in March/April and sadly it didn't work. I had a lot of issues with Cyclogest and clinic have offered me 2 different options for my next round (mid June/July).

Utrogestan 3x a day or Lubion injections 2x a day.

There is a massive difference in cost so it is something we need to consider.

Has anyone taken either or both? Just looking for reviews to hopefully help us figure out what is best.

This might well be our last cycle (unless we get lucky or have frosties) so want to do everything we can.

Thanks

So I've taken all three!

A specialist I'm under said he finds a combination of lubion and cyclogest works best.

My current regime is:
Lubion once a day and 400mg cyclogest which I use anally twice a day.

I didn't like utrogestan because of the discharge it causes. I was changing my underwear multiple times a day.

What trouble did you have with cyclogest?

I understand about the cost because utrogestan was fairly cheap and my current regime is more expensive. I get a private prescription and get it from Asda and it works out half the cost for my FET meds compared to going through Stork.

Thank you

The cyclogest gave me the worst thrush, caused spotting which caused a fair bit of anxiety and gave me the worst headaches outside of migraines. Felt I was really sore as well down there.

I tried anally but really didn't like that and found it really uncomfortable.

Don't have option of cyclogest anymore as apparently I wasn't the only patient who had issues so they now recommend utrogestan instead.

So my choices are utrogestan or lubion.

I found cyclogest waxy goop nasty even with using liners. How much nastier is the utrogestan goo?

And how are the injections?

Personally prefer injections but cost wise the utrogestan sounds better...just wondering how different they are to cyclogest. Don't want the same issue this cycle.

@RedFaerieBoots I had cyclogest 2 times a day on my fresh transfer, and just used it up the bum the whole time. I bled very early though, so for my FET I'm having Lubion injections twice a day for 6 days around the ET. I was meant to be combining with cyclogest but due to shortages I'll be on utrogestan 3 times a day instead as well which unfortunately has to be taken up the front from what I understand, so not looking forward to that gloop particularly! The Lubion is expensive, and from what I've heard not a particularly nice injection (apparently its quite solid stuff to inject) but i've not got to that stage yet so don't have personal experience.

@2mumlife I've found the lubion injections ok, there are some intramuscular progesterone injections that come in oil and I've heard those are horrendous though.

@RedFaerieBoots I think taking everything you've said into consideration I'd go for the lubion, it is more expensive. However you won't have any gunk. I suspect that if cyclogest gave you thrush then this might too. Get a private prescription and get it from Asda it works out much cheaper, you'll need to source needles and syringes, I get them from Medisave. If this is your last shot then it sounds like the best option for you.

I’ve had utrogestan alone and utrogestan with lubion. Progesterone levels were low without the lubion but it didn’t stop getting an initial BFP. Ive used both cyclogest and utrogestan in the past and have found them both messy but the applicator with the utrogestan meant it was less likely to fall out for me. Our clinic have started adding lubion in for all cycles in the last 1y or so. Have always had good progesterone levels with the addition of lubion. I haven’t taken lubion by itself though. Appreciate it is eye wateringly expensive!

On my last cycle I used urogestan x3 per day and lubion x1 per day. I've also had prontogest which are intramuscular in the bum on previous cycles. Pessaries alone were not enough for me and my levels were half what they should have been even on maximum dose. Some people just don't absorb them well.

Urogestan is messy but just use a pad!

I wonder if a mix of the two is maybe better?

They have no answers as to why I spotted literally from day after ET until test date. I suspect levels weren't high enough?

Update:

So I went with the Lubion twice daily injections. No thrush however still spotted.

This time from day 4 post transfer - to halfway through day 10 then light bleeding (needed only a liner) for a day then spotting resumed for another 4dys. Was sporadic so sometimes looked like it stopped then started and so on.

Pretty much like last time except started spotting day 2. Had the light bleed for 2 days (again liner only) then spotted for 2days.

Also had 6weeks before period which looks like its happening again. Spot/bleed was pink or red but super watery. When I did get period it was the worst I've had to date.

Clinic are being super quick to call it implantation bleeding, no issues to see here.

I have a fairly hefty history of thyroid issues (gran, great aunt, mum and aunt) and they checked only TSH levels 4.5mths before starting.

Thankfully my GP was horrified that I'm not annually being tested for not just TSH but T3 & T4 plus antibodies. She said just because my TSH levels are in normal range doesn't mean with my family history it's normal for me. Have a couple of other things that might be linked to thyroid but equally might not. Had bloods today so fingers crossed!

Have my post consultation with clinic in a couple of weeks. Is there anything else I should be pushing for (if the thyroid stuff is normal).

Not impressed by the treatment (especially since private) post transfer. Before is fantastic. So we will likely move clinic if we decide to do a 3rd attempt. We just want heard and I feel we might need to "yell".

Both GP and Counsellor via clinic think there is may be a pattern and that we aren't to quote Counsellor asking for the moon on a stick.

If we can't find anything or tests are inconclusive we will consider adoption (was always our next option). I can't do this again with nothing changing

Lubion is so expensive! I took prontogest. I was also on thyroxine even though my gp said my levels were fine my clinic weren’t happy with them 🤷‍♀️

It really is! The med company messed up the needle packs as well so we had to go to a needle exchange to get a few to last until we could call and sort it out. The ones they gave were huge . No way was DP stabbing me with those!!

I'm in Scotland and we only have one private clinic. With Covid they were getting busier because NHS had backlogs. Its the only reason I can think of as to why they were accepting of a TSH so far apart from start date.

Like I had TSH at end Sept/early Oct and started first cycle (prostap) on 28th Feb.

Not sure if its linked but I can't take combined pill due to a number of side effects. My mum and aunt (who have thyroid issues) also had same issue. My aunts 3 daughters couldn't either. It actually made me feel like I wasn't crazy when they were like no we had this as well.

So I was prescribed mini pill for over 2yrs with no breakthrough bleed.

Due bloods back this week. If its not early thyroid issues I don't know where else to suggest

What about oral progesterone tablets? Utrogestan 100mg or 200mg is available and pretty cheap. The only problem I can think of is systemic effect, but if you can tolerate it then not as messy as vaginal pessaries and not as expensive/painful as Lubion injections.

What progesterone levels were you advised before embryo transfer?

I wasn't given any levels at all either cycle by clinic. They kept up the implantation bleeding whenever we spoke to them. Had to fight to change from the pessaries to something else and they reluctantly suggested lubion injections. We figured at time if it stopped the spotting issues it was worth it for my mental health during round 2. But it happened again.

Turned out bloods were no help - need to pay privately for full thyroid panels as labs check TSH levels and if they are in the normal range don't check anything else even if requested by GP. So still suspected there.

We are actually looking at European clinics for round three. Some we have spoken to have been horrified at the lack of any tests/levels so least we know not just us.

I've had all and I changed from utrogestan to cyclogest half way through this time as utrogestan was irritating my cervix for some reason and giving me spotting after a bfp which was terrifying!

I have one lubion shot daily too, a huge cost! But I pushed for this as I bled only 7 days after my first transfer and wanted to give the first frozen transfer a fighting chance. Its been very expensive but successful as I'm 11 weeks pregnant today with that frosty, and all scans so far baby measuring 2 days ahead with a good heartbeat so fingers crossed it continues. 12 weeks of lubion is about £1200 though! I just don't think I absorb the pessaries well.

Congratulations very happy for you.
Sid you inject Lubion once a day? What time?

Did you buy Lubion via Stork or Boots with private prescription?

Have you considered continung with oral progesterone Utrogestan 100mg or 200mg now?