Progesterone Pessaries Bleeding - Cyclogest

[5unshine]

Has anyone had bleeding whilst taking progesterone?

I have been on it since 5 weeks due to two previous miscarriages and this morning I woke up to orangey red blood when I wiped.

The nurse did say that bleeding can be a symptom of taking the progesterone, however after my previous experiences I am obviously a wreck now 😬

Any experiences to share?

Hi I’ve had this both pregnancies it’s been used and everything has been absolutely fine :) my cervix reacts to the hormones and bleeds basically!

Thank you for your your comment, that makes me feel better :)
I did call the early pregnancy unit and they said they wouldn’t offer me a reassurance scan at the moment and I’m to just monitor it. So hopefully it stops and I am in the same boat as you :) Xx

Just an update for anyone who may come across this post looking for some answers.

I went for a scan today and saw baby and heartbeat, so I guess the bleeding was caused by the progesterone. Currently around 8 and a half weeks.

Hopefully it carries on :) xxx

@5unshine great news!! 👍🏻🙏🏻

I had brown spotting on/off from week 8-16 (stopped cyclogest at the end of week 12) and was told that cyclogest can make you bleed/spot.

Sorry to jump on this oldish thread but I’m going through the same and desperate for some support.

I use cyclogest rectally as it irritates my cervix @Sar72 . Maybe try that if you don't already do it that way.

@seven201 thanks so much for responding. I will ask epu tomorrow if I can switch. I did have similar bleeding after my internal scan Friday but it stopped pretty quickly. It’s a fine line being hopeful but realistic

Anyone else able to offer some support?

Hey @Sar72 how long have you been taking cyclogest for and how far into your pregnancy are you? Xx

I was given progesterone to take until week 16, however there was a shortage of cyclogest whilst I was on it so they swapped me over to utrogestan half way through which seemed to be less irritating for my cervix and was much nicer to insert. I had a lot of feedback on other threads on different platforms saying that cyclogest caused them to bleed x

Hope you are doing okay, I know how nerve wrecking those early days can be so please feel free to comment/ask as much as you like for support xxx

Hi @5unshine thanks for messaging.
I am about 6 weeks. I’ve had three miscarriages over the past 3 years, loads of tests and other than lacking vit D and iron (which I was treated for) no known medical reason for the miscarriages. The EPU advised they couldn’t start me on progesterone until they knew the pregnancy was in the right place, which was confirmed Friday. I have two weeks worth and then a rescan. If all ok then I will be given more.
it’s so tough as I want to think rationally but it just seems to coincidental that I started these and now I’m bleeding. It is not enough to fill a pad, no clots and no obvious pain aside from the usual cramps. With all my miscarriages I never bled, the pregnancies all failed before I found out on all occasions.
I guess I’m just looking for a little glimmer of hope/ positive outcome. It’s nice not to feel alone, so I really do appreciate your message xx

Hey, I’ve just found these posts as desperately searching the internet for some reassurance, I’m 9 weeks 5 days and started taking progesterone last Friday because I wanted to eliminate the risk of miscarriage as I’ve had two previously and really don’t want to go through that again. Within days of using it vaginally i started to spot brown blood/discharge and I’ve woken up this morning and it’s gotten thicker/heavier so thinking the worst, it’s still brown blood which suggests it’s not new so clinging on to that hope :( I’ve already called the EPU and have a scan booked in for tomorrow morning, really hope it’s not bad news, I’ll be heartbroken.

Hoping that it’s just the progesterone making me bleed, but also confused as to why it would because it’s supposed to keep your womb secure and help stop bleeding, but I’m no expert…..it does say it can cause bleeding, but you just don’t know do you! I bled for my first one, barely on my second and only found out over a scan, I’m going to be so nervous for the scan tomorrow.

Any help or reassurance would be very much appreciated, thank you! Xx

Hey - I was on cyclogest (now 39 weeks). It caused me to bleed three times - 7, 9, 10 weeks. The 7 week one was brown-ish while last one was horrific, big clots and lots and lots of blood. On every occasion I was scanned and it was all fine, they couldn’t even see the cause of the bleeding (my guess is that it was on the cervix). I think the bleeds got worse and worse as it became more irritated. I switched to taking it rectally… and no more bleeding after that.

I hope this is reassuring - I was convinced three times it was all over, but the pesseries really do cause bleeding. I hope all goes well with your scan!

Also, DO NOT put more up there while you’re bleeding. I did this and it caused the bleeding to get ten times worse. Insert rectally until any bleeding has stopped (and I would consider just switching to this method anyway)

@Bottleopener88 Oh my god thank you so much for a quick reply, this has really reassured me that what I’m going through is normal, let’s hope it’s just the progesterone and the baby is ok 🤞🏼the GP didn’t mention bleeding as a common side affect which they really ought too and also to recommend putting it up your bum instead 🙈 I’m going to be so nervous for the scan but I do feel a bit more confident after reading all these posts that it’s a common side affect. Today the bleeding is worse so will definitely stop putting it front ways and will give put it round the back next time, hopefully that’ll stop things. Thanks again for your post, I’ll report back after my scan tomorrow….hopefully with some good news! Xx

Hi @Cazerbella how did your scan go? Xx

@5unshine unfortunately not well, it was confirmed that I'd had a 3rd miscarriage :( I should have been 10 weeks but it seems the baby stopped growing at 8, so shortly after the scan when we saw the heartbeat which is really sad. My body has naturally removed the miscarriage this week end so I've been in a lot pain to top it all off! But think the worst is over. That's now my 3rd one in a row so I'm at least going to be referred to a specialist now so they'll be able to find the route cause if there is one....just hope it doesn't take long. I'm not giving up hope and will continue trying xx

@Cazerbella I'm so sorry to hear it :( But you’re right to think positively in regards to them referring you to a specialist now. I mean, It would be nice if they would do that after 2 miscarriages to avoid women having to go through this trauma three times, but now at least you can hopefully get to the bottom of it and move forward with a solution.
Never ever give up hope ❤️ You will get your rainbow 🌈❤️xxx

@5unshine the regulations have literally just been approved via parliament I believe to have them changed to specialist referral at 2 miscarriages, but that'll take time....shame it didn't happen sooner. But forever hopeful, not going to give up as know we can give our child such a loving home! Hopefully be able to see the specialist soon and have any route cause found, if any or were just really unlucky :( thank you for checking in with me and your support, it's not easy.....never expected to go through this in my life but keeping the faith as we all should!! We shall have our rainbows 🌈🌈🌈 xx

I am currently 6 weeks + 4 after FET. I am on three cyclogest a day. Last Friday I had a frightening bleed, was filling pads for around two hours. I went to my clinic and was scanned they could see no reason for the bleed. Baby was measuring exactly as it should, 5 weeks and 6 days and a heart beat detected. Fast forward to today and I have woken up and I am bleeding again. It’s not as heavy but here we are again. I’ve paid for a private scan tomorrow but want to see if anyone has had this type of experience with cyclogest? I’m beside myself. I had a miscarriage last August and I’m not sure I can cope if it happens again.

Hey @Cazmcg - this was my experience (see above). You’re taking a lot of cyclogest as I was and they couldn’t see any reason for the bleeds. In my case I am pretty sure it irritated my cervix and after I had bled once, it just kept getting worse. I switched to taking rectally and it stopped - it’s well worth seeing if this is an option for you. It’s horrific when it happens Fingers crossed all is well! It was in my case and hopefully will be for you too.

@Cazerbella Can I ask how did it go with your scan please?

To all can you still have spotting (brown) even if done rectally? Thank you.

I’m so sorry to hear of your losses and experiences. I’m in a similar boat. 5w4d Pretty sure Im having a MC. I’m on progesterone (rectally), steroids (high nk cells), inhixa and oestrogen tablets having had a FET (PGS tested) as a result of 5 previous MCs (all early - set of identical twins tested normal). My MCs were all natural conception pregnancies - I was very lucky that I had my DD who is now 2 via IVF (PGS tested) - only embryo that was ok from the round. This current one again, was the only embryo that tested ok in a second round but sadly, and despite high HCg levels tested last week, I started with brown spotting that’s now turned bright red and have period like pains.

I know I’m incredibly lucky to have my DD 🌈 but I still feel so gutted as this is our once and final chance of a second (my DH had cancer - yes we’ve been though the mill! And now infertile). I know there’s nothing that can be done, just feeling very alone and numb.

Nurse is calling me this morning for a blood test. I’m hoping they’ll also scan me - I just want some answers… was it in the right place? Had it stopped growing since HCg? Not that it will change anything.

I am sorry @Lindyloolou . I hope you find your answers. You are so strong to go through all that. Did you have NK cells before you had your DH sorry I don't know much about it. So it's possible to carry a child to full term with it or did you have steroids then too? What could be the reason you might have MC when embryo was pgs tested and you're on meds....

Wish you all the best.

Thanks @mrsmb03 what a week! So… I was scanned and there are two sacs with yolk sacs so the blast split into two. One is smaller but as I’m only 6wks tomorrow, no way of seeing a heartbeat. nurse couldn’t see where the bleed was coming from - no sign. I think she thought I was exaggerating until I showed her the pic I took. Had a Hcg which was in line with where it should be. Got a scan on Thursday to see what’s going on.

Bleeding is now spotting again.

I had steroids for 12wks in my previous IVF with DD after my MCs they threw everything at it inc blood thinners.

Things can still go wrong with PGS tested - so much has to develop… placenta etc. and I guess given it has split into two, there’s more possible complications there.

Im sorry to hear of your news @Cazerbella I have everything crossed for your future pg journey. Xx