Progesterone supps. vs. PIO

[carrie76]

Hi! I just posted this on the IVF board as well. Anyone have any idea??

Does anyone know for sure if PIO is better than the suppositories? My progesterone is too low, and they have doubled my suppositories, but I am wondering if I shouldn't even be bothering with them and they should be putting me on PIO??? Does it really make a difference which one I use?

Thank you for any advice!!

Carrie

[DKNY]

hi carrie....

my OB was an avid fan of the suppositories over the PIO. she said the supp's are going right to the source, where you need them most. they act quicker and they're certainly less painful to use. the PIO has to cross the bloodstream before it gets to the cervix/uterus.

just a note: it's usleless to check progest levels (via b/w) if using just supp's. they do not cross the blood stream therefore they will not register in a blood test.

[Monica2]

Hi Carrie -- My clinic does not consider the use of suppositories with IVF patients -- everybody gets PIO. They have the highest success rates in our metropolitan area. My understanding was that PIO is more effective. So now you've got one vote on either side of the scale!

[AmyJay]

My RE wouldn't switch me to suppositories. He doesn't think they work as well. With a previous cycle I was put on them after about 7 weeks pg. I had no problems. With PIOs my prog level has always been high, like 190! Personally, I think it's overkill. I only have 3 more days of PIOs though.

[jenmom2myboys]

I did the Crinone vaginally, it is a cream in a tube not an actual suppository.

[tle]

My clinic used suppositories for a while, and both cycles I used them, I had bleeding before beta. Since then I've gone back to PIO. With this pregnancy, I was on PIO through 6w, then RE suggested I try switching to suppositories. Tried, had a bit of spotting, went right back to PIO. I stayed with PIO until I was just over ten weeks, and then switched to suppositories and have been there since. I'm sure that for me, PIO worked better, but again, there are women who've had excellent experiences and success with suppositories, and I've done well on them the past 2.5 weeks, too.

[misskitty]

The nurse at my RE said they prefer PIO because there have been some studies that show it's more effective. I don't know though, it seems like from what I've read a lot of it is the doctor's preference. I did PIO for like two months and then suppositories for two weeks.

Best of luck to you.

[littlecalista]

My RE has me on BOTH! Seems like overkill to me.

[DKNY]

My RE has me on BOTH! Seems like overkill to me.

it might be.....but technically, progesterone is one of those things that you can't over-do...KWIM? your body is going to take what it needs (from whichever source) and discard the rest. maybe your doc is on the fence about the effectiveness of PIO vs. supps's

but obviously, it's better to have too much than not enough.

[carrie76]

Thanks everyone! For now my OB has doubled my dose of suppositories, and has me coming back on Monday to recheck my levels. I realize that they won't be accurate b/c of suppositories, but it would be nice to see it a little higher!! we'll see what he says at that point.

ARGHHH Why can't this just be easy????? It's always something...

Carrie