stopping progesterone injections

[mommy2be]

I am 12 weeks pregnant today and have been doing PIO this entire time. My RE said it was okay to stop now and Im nervous! I decided to space them apart now (do an inj. every 3 days) to taper off because Im worried if I stop I could start bleeding, etc. I thought I'd maybe get a test to check my levels but dont know whether the test would still detect the inj. in my system. Does anyone know how long PIO stay in your system? Anyone else have this concern?

[annamills]

Hi, I am in week 11 and still taking them. However, they will check my levels next week. I read that after week 12 our bodies begin producing it, but I would still check the levels if I were you... Anne

[esperanza]

my doctor tested my levels up until about 5 days before I had to stop the progesterone. I can tell you that I could not wait to get off the it...it was such a relieve, I was very happy that day.

One piece of advice, trust your body, she knows what she's doing...let the placenta do its job, your baby will be just fine.
Ask your doctor to check your levels for reassurance, BUT don't self-medicate, I don't know how good it could be to have a level of progesterone one day and then another the other, and then get another rush 3 days later....that may be confusing to your body.

You're pregnant and you made it through the first trimester....enjoy it!!! CONGRATS

[Fluffypuppygal]

I hear you guys . I am still in week 10. After 10 weeks of IM injections to the backside, I showed my poor, hammered, sore, bumpy, bruised butt to the doctor the other day and she is going to put me on prometrium vanginal inserts instead.
I agree that a shot every three days may seem like a good idea, but what you are doing is surging hormones to your body that your body will find more confusing than helpful.
Keep us posted on how things go!

[SilverAngel679]

Definatly do not self medicate. We have to trust these people to know what they're doing. They don't want you to bleed either. they are the doctors and they know best. Please don't do something like that. you don't know what could happen. Express your concerns and let them break it down to you so you can understand why it's ok for you to stop.

[PMApsy]

Hi there!

I agree 100% with the others; don't self-medicate. PIO shots give you a big dose of progesterone that wears off during the following 24hrs... then your body has nothing for 48hrs and then another big shot. Your placenta is producing all the hormones your baby needs now, and it's been producing them since week 10 or so. I agree with Silver, you should call your doctor and have him/her explain why it's a good idea to stop now. But there's a reason why almost all the doctors we hear about here make us stop cold turkey style.

One thing though. My doctor warned me that minor brownish discharge is NORMAL after you stop artificial progesterone. Your baby isn't bleeding; it will most likely be your cervix. I had it some 4-5 days after I stopped the vaginal inserts. Lasted around 48 hours and it was gone. It wasn't scary because I knew it was going to happen. And believe me, when you see what your baby looks like at 12-13 weeks, you realize that a small amount of blood in your panty liner makes absolutely no difference for him/her!

Either way, trust me, you'll feel MUCH BETTER after you stop taking meds. It's worth it! Like the others said, you made it through the first trimester, your miscarriage risks are lower than 1%, enjoy your pregnancy dear, you're going to be a mommy! :D:D

Good luck,

Sophie

[sugabeanzs]

If the doc. says it is ok to come off it is ok! I was allergic to the shots so I was on the suppository kind for awhile. There were days when I forgot to take them! Your body does take over and knows what it is doing. My doc told me to stop taking them at 8 weeks preggo. So hope that makes you feel a little better! Your body will take over and you will do fine!! And you are 12 weeks, miscarriage goes WAY down now! So relax! Enjoy your pregnancy!!!

[mommy2be]

Thank you all so much for your wisdom and support. I did talk with my RE today (or his nurse at least) and she said cramping was normal and not to worry.
One of the reasons I was going to every 3 days was that I had forgotten to mention in my previous post that at 7 weeks I was doing PIO every 2 days under his recommendation and took it upon myself after he said it was safe to quit that maybe every 3 days would be better than cold turkey.
Im gonna try and trust that things are okay but it doesnt mean I still wont worry

[SilverAngel679]

Try not to take anything upon yourself right now. Especially when it comes to medication. What if something really bad happened and it was your fault? How would you feel? Talk to your doctor about it all and ask tell him that you don't feel comfortable going cold turkey, maybe he can advise you on tapering if he thinks it will help you deal with it better.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't do anything that might hurt you or the baby regardless of what your protocall was in the past.
These people are doctors that have gone to school for years to gain the knowledge that they have. We haven't and there is NO WAY that we know better than them.
Trust them and speak to them. Don't do anything you might regret.

[mommy2be]

Got it

[Heisable]

I am 10 weeks today and due to stop my progesterone shots in 2 weeks and I cant wait. My butt is sooo sore and bruised from the past 2 1/2 months of shots. Matter of fact when I go see my RE (for the last time) on Monday, I may ask him if I can change over to suppositories for the remainder till Im done with progesterone.