Is anyone Taking Estradiol when pregnant after IVF

[misangels3]

Just wondering if it is protocol to put a person on estrogen tablets "to keep estrogen levels over 200" per my Dr. Has anyone else had to take estrogen pills along with progesterone injections once they found out they were pregnant after IVF??
I have read estrogen is a category X drug and should not be used any time in pregnancy. When I got pregnant with IVF I was on estrogen tablets but it made more sense that it was supporting the corpus luteum that might have been damaged from egg retrieval or something like that. BUT NOW My RE has me on estrogen and treating me like I conceived on IVF however I somehow conceived naturally,surprise. I don't think i should be on estrogen if conceived naturally? I have asked them twice the only answer I get it well we like to see it over 200 for ivf patients. My estrogen was 187 and progesterone 32 they said those were really good numbers for a traditionally conceived pregnancy and fall within the normal range to even better. But somehow they are still treating it like ivf?
any help please.

[LauraN]

I am currently on estrogen patches and PIO shots. I did conceive through ivf though. I believe my clinic will keep me on tje patches for at least another couple of weeks. I read the same thing about being on the patches while pregnant, and I asked about it....but they said it was to support the pregnancy. I just have to trust them. I can see where it is just a precautionary thing for them to put you on it. Good luck!

[misangels3]

Yes, they told me too that it was to support the lining of the uterus along with PIO. But my body is making the normal amts anyway. It does seem it is a precautionary thing they are putting me on, but category X specifically states Estradiol is contraindicated during pregnancy and there is no indication for use in pregnant women. And also states category X: the risk of the use of the drug in pregnant women clearly outweighs any possible benefit. Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities/fetal risk. I called my clinic the nurses again state Dr. is on vacation, but I wanted to see what research they had to support the use of estrogen in pregnancy. She said she was not sure where it would be but when he comes back he could see what he has. Well then i have to go another week taking it without knowing. I looked all over online and on pubmed looking for scholarly articles. Found nothing to support taking estrogen while pregnant. Nurse was pretty rude and says those studies always have confounding factors and risk of birth defects is 3-5% small chance anyway. Well I know that, but I guess hmmm I have infertility which only what 10% of couples do, and I have recurrent miscarriages which is 1% chance. So if risks outweigh benefits what am i doing taking this drug. Im stuck.
Kt

[LYD10]

Angels, I think it's ok during the early pregnancy. Also you are on a small dose - I wouldn't worry about it. And because you were on Lupron your body is probably not making as much estrogen as it would otherwise. Because your ovaries were suppressed. So they are giving you supplemental estrogen.

[misangels3]

LYD10-I was thinking that about the lupron too. As for dose my husband gets me all worked up cause he is a pharmacist and was telling me that 2mg estrogen is a lot. That birth control pills only contain like .35 or .035 or something like that and that women who take estrogen for hormone replacement therapy are on 1mg. He is not comfortable with me taking it and so it makes me uncomfortable cause he knows medications better than I do, obviously. Although he is no expert on fertility treatments. I know that LUpron gets out of the system in 1 day so lupron should be out for a week now and my body should be producing estrogen on its own. As they said my estrogen without any supplementation was normal but wanted to supplement anyway. I dunno,though.
kt

[LYD10]

Angels, it probably doesn't matter one way or another. As long as the embryo is good it will keep on going and you will see a heartbeat soon. But I woulnt stop abruptly because an abrupt hormone change can bring on bleeding or sonething.

[margi26]

Do you have a regular OB GYN doc you could consult with? I would perhaps try that. Have them page the oncall doctor. Or, have your RE paged. It is your body and your baby. Its ok to get the answers you need.

And, congratulations to you!!

[misangels3]

margi26-
I actually did call the regular OBGYN. I was only able to talk to her nurse. I asked if the Dr. has ever put anyone who is pregnant on estrogen. She said no, but they have to trust what my RE is doing. She said it is my REs protocol they are not familiar with it. She said usually they see the patients after they have been followed by the RE 1st trimester. So they see the pt.'s after 1st trimester and by then a person is not taking estrogen. They didn't answer my question really just told me to talk to my Dr. when he gets back. I am just continuing to take it but anxiously awaiting for my RE to return in 4-5 days. And thank you for the congrats, I'm just so nervous all I have had are miscarriages, so hoping it sticks and that I can do everything possible to help it stick. I feel like the endometriosis has got something to do with the miscarriages. My RE said there is no correlation (as he lets me know he did the studies on endo back in the 80s...hmmm think those must be pretty outdated studies the 80s?)

[blueeyedreamer]

My protocol always says to continue estrogen patches and PIO shots in the beginning of the pregnancy. I think my clinic says to do it for the first 10 weeks.