12 weeks pregnant and nervous about coming off progesterone - advice?

[pippabg]

Hello,

The title says it all, really. I started on progesterone at 6 weeks due to some bleeding. I really think it's helped as I measured low on progesterone before I was pregnant and had a chemical pregnancy earlier in the year too.

EPU said to take until 12 weeks, and this is what most advice seems to be online. Tommy's, however, seems to suggest 16 weeks, but I've seen other studies suggests it's not helpful after 12 week.

I'm very nervous about stopping and thinking of first going down from two to one a day for a week and then one every other day for a week.

I'd be really grateful for any advice or reassurance from any others who have been on progesterone. Did you have any problems or spotting once you discontinued?

If you have enough then there is no problem in continuing if it puts your mind at ease. I had them for my IVF pregnancy so a bit different but when I was told I could stop I was reluctant to. I discussed it with my Dr and he said there were no risks in continuing or weaning slowly instead of just stopping. I ended up dropping from three a day, to two, then one and then spaced them out a bit longer until I’d used all mine up.

I started progesterone pessaries at 8 weeks and continued till the end of my pregnancy as this is what my private gynaecologist suggested. NHS said no need to take it at all, but a private dr had a different opinion.

I had 2 bleeds 6 weeks and 7 week, the consultant told me that you make your own from 8 weeks so to take it until 10 as a cross over then stop as too much can also cause bleeds.
I stopped at 10 weeks and am now 22- thankfully no issues so far x

Hiya, I'm just coming up to 11 weeks pregnant after ivf and was on 2 of the progesterone pessaries a day + 1 injection. My clinic told me I could stop at 8 weeks as that's when the placenta starts to take over production. I did worry that was a bit early as most people seem to go to 12 weeks and they told me they'd recommend 12 weeks if you've had previous losses (it's my first pregnancy). They also said it doesn't matter if you stop taking it all at once but can cut down slowly if it helps you feel less anxious. I started cutting down at 9 weeks and took my last one at 10 weeks in the end and touch wood its been OK so far. I was quite anxious too about stopping but I think you should be fine to stop at 12 weeks.

Hi @pippabg
IVF pregnancy here. I was also advised by my clinic to start progesterone suppositories from the day of egg collection till week 12. Like you I was very nervous about stopping them and even had a long conversation with my GP about it who said that the placenta takes over around week 8.. He said the “body know what it should do etc and will produce progesterone”. I stopped at week 12 but before that I started having brown spotting at week 8 till week 16, then saw a consultant at the hospital who said spotting is very normal when you’re on progesterone.
Baby is now 6 months old. 🙏🏻