Anxious to stop IVF meds after loss, 16 weeks!

[cbear1989]

Hello!

I'm really having a battle to get hold of anyone within the NHS to help so im wondering if anyone here perhaps has had the conversation themselves with their midwife or nurse previously, in a similar situation?

I've been told by my Fertility clinic to take my progesterone and estrogen meds upto 16 weeks following a previous pregnancy loss. I'm now 15 weeks, 16 weeks on Saturday and feeling my anxiety levels building with the thought of stopping!

I went to my 12 week scan, asked the nurse about it who told me to ring my clinic... rang the fertility nurses there who essentially fobbed me off a bit and said that really they deal with the earlier part of the process for conception,so even though they're the ones that gave me the advice to go to week 16 im better off contacting my midwife as they have the latest research and can tell me how long I should take meds til... I've left various messages with the midwife team and have been waiting since last Monday so a promised call back which so far hasn't materialised! very frustrating!

I guess I know I have to stop, but having the trust in your body is so hard. Obviously the reason you have to have IVF in the first place is because there is some kind of hormone deficiency which is stopping you from conceiving naturally, so I just wanted to talk through with a midwife or nurse to understand the risks, and science behind it when you stop the meds? I'm so attached to my little bubs already and I am just terrified of stopping and something awful happening.

On all of my scans everything has been absolutely fine so far, I'm due to see my midwife (finally!) next Tuesday but I'll have stopped everything by then.

If anyone has had a similar conversation or anything I defo appreciate any kind of reassurance 😅😘

First of all, congratulations on your pregnancy!

I am currently 35 weeks following IVF (frozen transfer) and was on oestrogen and progesterone up until 12 weeks. I remember feeling anxious about stopping the medication, especially the progesterone.

I was told that from 10 weeks your placenta takes over and therefore do not need the additional medication. I was on 8 oestrogen tablets and 2 progesterone suppositories daily.
I stopped the oestrogen cold turkey at 12 weeks 5 days, as that's when my dating scan was - baby was measuring 4 days ahead. But still struggled with anxiety with the progesterone. I decided to reduce down to 1 suppository for a week and then stopped. Everything was fine, no bleeding etc.

If you have some progesterone left, taper down and see how you go. At 16 weeks your placenta is definitely doing all the work!
Wishing you all the best! X

I was in the same position. Your placenta will now be producing loads of hormones to support the pregnancy. However, my obstetrician said I could keep going with the progesterone if I wanted, and I did, until about 32 weeks. I'm sure it didn't make any difference except to make me feel better

I know it's hard, but there really is no need to keep taking them. The medical teams you're dealing with know what they're doing so trust their recommendations. You have way oversimplified the reasons for IVF (and are not correct, there are many others reasons). And once pregnant a whole load of other hormonal mechanisms which kick in and will work automatically. The reason you might not be getting much engagement/response is possibly because there isn't anything else to tell you - it's fine to stop the meds in line with clinical recommendations from best practice guidelines which have a wealth of evidence behind them. There isn't much more for them to say really. Try and see it as a huge positive and speak with your midwife if your anxiety is having an impact on you.

@cbear1989 I understand the anxiety, I have an IVF baby following previous losses but just to add reassurance as other PPs, the placenta will have taken over several weeks ago so you will be fine. My clinic told me to stop everything before 12 weeks although I do admit I tapered the progesterone. Congratulations on your pregnancy!

Thank you so much for all of these, such an anxious time and the rational part of me knows all of this but it's hard to ignore that part of your brain after the turmoil of getting here!

Feel better already though, always good to hear of others that have been in the same situation and everything was fine - thank you ❤️

24 weeks here with an IVF baby, I couldn't wait to stop the progesterone suppositories! I was prescribed enough to take me to 12 weeks, but after my scan at 8 weeks I was advised I could stop taking them or continue to 12 weeks.

I think I went down to one a day and stopped at week 9.

I guess I was the opposite to you, my clinical team didn't give me a compelling reason to keep taking the suppositories so I stopped.

@Goldpanther don't get me wrong I won't miss those little pessaries for sure haha although have got weirdly used to them after taking them for so long 😅😅 I think I'm just a bit anxious as I've had a loss before, but so far everything is progressing so well I guess I need to start trusting the process and enjoying it! Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy, they'll be here before you know it! xx

I'm so sorry for your previous loss. The anxiety following loss can be so hard to manage. I don't have any personal experience with IVF but as a midwife myself and new mum I wanted to weigh in if that's ok. Your placenta should be taking over and producing all the right hormones now. However, I wouldn't be happy with the lack of answers from your fertility clinic. While I would trust their plan and if that's the advice I would follow it, I would also think they should be on hand to answer any questions or concerns you have. They are your IVF team and the ones who put this plan in place after all. To be perfectly honest as a midwife this would not fall under my expertise at all! If I had this phonecall I'm sorry my advice would be to contact the IVF clinic unless I had further training or experience in fertility care. It's not something I feel would be under the midwife's scope to get involved in. I would definitely contact your clinic again and don't take no for an answer if you have concerns. I wish you all the luck in the world for a healthy and enjoyable pregnancy💐

I also took my progesterone for a lot longer than was originally told. I think maybe 27 weeks?

OP there's no harm in staying on it until you're ready to stop :)

Hi, OP. Firstly I've also been through a lot of IVF, so I know how you feel.

It is so precious to be pregnant after such a long and gruelling process, and especially as you've suffered a loss before, you must be so anxious.

I agree with the post from the midwife above saying that your clinic really should be more forthcoming with advice!

I assume your current midwife wasn't involved in your IVF treatment and doesn't know all of the details of it, so they are really not the best people to advise on your medication. I would go back to the fertility clinic and insist that they let you talk to someone.

It's also kind of ridiculous for them to say that the midwife should have the 'latest research', when they are a fertility clinic! They, out of everyone, should be up to date on the latest research regarding something as relatively straightforward as progesterone supplementation after IVF.

The consultant who oversaw your IVF treatment should have the most comprehensive/ up to date knowledge, and all you actually want is some reassurance.

So I do think you've been fobbed off by your clinic there, but also, you are most likely absolutely fine to stop the progesterone when you have been told to - as pp have said, the placenta takes over, so try not to worry!