Stopping progesterone?

8 replies

Shahhhh · 04/10/2024 11:57

Hi friends. So I'm on 2x400mg of progesterone a day, started at 6 weeks pregnant due to a previous loss and bleeding. Everything is perfect this time around, I'm 15+4 and due to stop the progesterone at 16 weeks.

I will ask my midwife next time I see her (not for a couple of weeks though) and will probably ring the community midwives and see what they say but thought I'd ask around on here whilst I'm here...

It feels strange to me to just completely stop the progesterone and go cold turkey. Is this safe? The last hospital check up I had, the doctor told me stopping would be fine and obviously she is a doctor and I'm not disregarding her advice. But just stopping at 16 weeks out of the blue seems crazy!

Has anyone got any experience they can share? Thank you so much x

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Jellybelly888 · 04/10/2024 12:16

I’m following this thread because I’m in the same boat as you, OP. I was advised to come off it at 16 weeks too but I’m really nervous. I am 16 weeks tomorrow and still have a couple of boxes left over. Some people I have read, wean themselves off it? I don’t know what to do 🤷🏻‍♀️

Original poster

Shahhhh · 04/10/2024 12:18

@Jellybelly888 thanks for joining love, it's nice to know it's not just me!

I have loads left over, not including the box I've just opened, I have about 9 boxes left and I'd be 16 weeks on Monday. I've also read loads of people weaning themselves off! I'm going to call my midwife soon and ask what she thinks. Just seems mental to stop out of no where!

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SErunner · 04/10/2024 12:51

There is no need to wean off it. The advice is standard practice as recommended in evidence based trials which showed regular use up to 16 weeks is optimal, there is no benefit from using beyond then or weaning off it. If it makes you feel better I suppose there probably isn't any harm, but frankly I was glad to stop them!

Original poster

Shahhhh · 04/10/2024 12:51

@SErunner thank you for that. Don't get me wrong, I'm excited to stop them and not have to deal with the "mess" every day!

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AnnieStar12 · 04/10/2024 14:35

I weaned off it. I know it was unnecessary medically but mentally I found it easier to drop
to 1 per day for a week, and then to one every other day for a week and then stopping.
everyone else I know who had progesterone did similar and stopped gradually as it can feel scary stopping so suddenly even if you rationally know your placenta is doing the job now.

Good luck!

AllThePotatoesAreSingingJingleBells · 04/10/2024 14:48

It’s safe but after 4 miscarriages I felt the same way you did! I was supposed to come off at 12 weeks. At 12 weeks my consultant agreed I could stay on until 16 weeks. At 16 weeks I still wasn’t ready to come off. My consultant explained they had done their job but also let me choose when I came off them as theee was no harm in continuing. I can’t remember when it was I finally felt ‘safe’ but definitely past the 20 week mark. I didn’t wean off. One day I just felt like I would be safe and stopped. My bum was relieved 😂

MrsB2019x · 04/10/2024 20:29

I was told to wean myself off it. I was only ever on 1 a day anyway so I went about a week doing every other day from 16 weeks, then stopped.
You could maybe do 1 a day for a week, then every other day, then stop?

Lowkeyloopy · 06/10/2024 07:09

I had this same worry and asked my midwife at the booking appointment. She said no need to wean off but I could stay on them longer than 16 weeks I wanted to and if it made me feel better. She did say something about how 16 weeks is generally the cut off as it’s a relaxant and something about listening to baby’s heartbeat.. gotta be honest I cut her off at that point like “it’s fine, i’ll stop at 16 weeks if there’s no issue!” so didn't fully get that point - might be worth asking your midwife.

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