[mabelina01]

We are preparing to do our FET next month and I got a message from my RE's office about ordering meds. They asked if I want to do PIO or prometrium suppositories. I don't know what to tell them. I did PIO for our fresh IVF round and I did not do well with them. Maybe I was doing something wrong but they were so painful. So my first reaction was yes, I'll do the suppositories as long as I don't have to endure those awful shots. But the more I think about it the more I think the suppositories don't sound so great either. A friend of mine said they were messy and irritating and she almost preferred the painful injections. Also, are the suppositories as effective?Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks.

[missthuyn]

Hey Maribeth! I was wondering the same thing also. My new RE works with progesterone tablets (prometrium). As much as I hate PIO, I was worried because I felt that they are much more effective. However, the coordinator said they are just as effective...so I can't argue with them.

[kristyn78]

I actaually did the prometrium for my first 2 cycles and yes they can be very messy. For my 3rd cycle I was switched over to crinone. Which is more like an gel is how they describe it. I like it a lot better. It seems to stay put better and not as messy. I never had any irritation from the prometrium but everyone is different

GOOD LUCK!

[Evan]

I've never used PIO but my RE prescribed the prometrium suppositories. They're a pain because it's 3 times a day but they haven't bothered me or caused much other than some mess. I have no experience with the PIO though so I can't say whether it's any more effective.

Good luck!

[Airman'sBaby]

I did prometrium suppositories from ER until I was 12wks pg, and I really wish I had the option of PIO. However, I have a pretty high tolerance for pain. The suppositories were messy, uncomfortable (as they melted it felt like I was bleeding), and got in the way of our love life. lol

[lady_charles]

I havent done the suppositories yet, I will start them if I get a pos. preg test next friday. I am doing the shots now, and dr said they would be painful, and leave lumps at injection site and cause stiffness and what not. So heres what we do. I load the syringe, and my hubby holds it in his hand for about five minutes to warm it up. (his body temp is always higher than mine) then he rubs my back to relax those muscles right there. The initial insertion of the needle stings a bit, but when he is done, he rubs it some more, then I put heat on it for about 15 minutes and I have had no problems. The nurse at my clinic said lots of women dont like the suppositories, b/c of discharge and stuff, I absolutely hate shots so I cant wait to be done! Good Luck.

[ready2Bmommy]

I had both. The PIO shots are painful at first, then I got used to them. And it wasn't so bad. I think I had about a week's worth of shots before I switched. I heard that with the PIO shots, there is a 3 week wall where it just becomes super painful. I'm not sure if I would have hit that wall, since it didn't seem that bad.

Some advice for PIO - 1) massage the area first, helpful to do with warm washcloth (I threw washcloth in bowl with water and nuked it). 2) make sure your PIO is not cold, if you refrigerate it, take out 1 hour before administering it. i leave mine outside at room temp. i also heard rolling the syring in your hands to warm it, but didn't do this. 3) go slowly with the injection. i use 25 gauge needle and tell DH to go really slow. it hurts more when you go fast. 4) after wiping with gauze or bandaging it, massage area with warm washcloth. after 5-10 minutes, sit on heating pad. if you feel sore later on, continue massaging area - it helps for the next day. 5) alternate sides each day.

Anyways, I switched to Prometrium pill, taken vaginally. Same effectiveness. And not as messy as other progesterone suppositories (ex. one compounded by pharmacy lab). Some advice:
1) rest 15 minutes after inserting. i rest a bit more (30 minutes). 2) wear panty liner - a bit will come out. not much will Prometrium pill, but I heard it's more with the other ones 3) don't try to stick it up as far as you can go...just a little bit past the tightness (it won't fall out, trust me) b/c you might cause a urinary irritation or infection. 4) i wear gloves with the insertion (or wash hands real well and dry with paper towel) to prevent infection as much as possible.

So far so good with the Prometrium. And I am so glad to have asked my RE to switch me.

Progesterone Supplements (Oral and Vaginal) Stirrup Queens

You can try both and see what you like better. All of them have pretty much the same effectiveness (I did the research before asking my RE and asked him too what he thought of the efficacy of each type, and he agreed with my research).

Good luck.

[ready2Bmommy]

Another thing to consider...i swear you have to be a yoga master to self adminsiter the PIO shot. I tried self-injection and failed both times.

My DH travels a bit, so it's inconvenient and expensive (i guess it's a drop in the bucket compared to IVF) to go to the clinic each morning to have a nurse administer the shot.

That's the main reason why I switched.

[mabelina01]

Wow, thanks for the replies everyone. I think I'm convinced to go with the prometrium. I struggled BIG TIME with the shots. DH gave them to me and by about the 4 week mark I found them to be almost unbearable. So, I think I'll pass on them this time and try the suppositories.

[DDU]

Sounds like everyone's been giving some great advice but I just wanted to chime in with my experience. I had a very hard time with the PIO. I tried every trick in the book -- holding the syringe for several minutes to heat it up, massaging my backside, heating pad -- but I found that the shots were extremely painful. I actually got a low grade fever from them (like 99.6) and convinced my clinic to switch me to the prometrium pills plus suppositories. It seems to have worked -- my progesterone levels have been normal during my cycles. However, the suppositories are messy. Just make sure to wear panty liners (and change them often). The last time I did get another temperature spike, though. Has anyone else ever had that with either the PIO or the suppositories? I am always afraid that is what is causing my cycles to fail.

[Ghost]

The PIO injections, the suppositories, Crinone twice per day, or Endometrin three times per day all work well.

Oral progesterone by itself may not be enough.

[Angelwithhope]

My clinic does not do PIO. They say that the supps are better, get where they need to go and are more effective.

[Hopla]

Originally Posted by Ghost

The PIO injections, the suppositories, Crinone twice per day, or Endometrin three times per day all work well.

Oral progesterone by itself may not be enough.

People seem to suggest that there is no difference between the suppositories and injections - but why then does my RE insist on prescribing PIO and I don't want to challenge her? Maybe its just because they're so painful that I feel they must be doing a better job?!

[lisa_kev]

This is my 1st IVF and I've been doing the PIO shots for about 3 weeks. At first, I found them quite painful. Then I learned it was because my DH (love his heart) was doing them incorrectly. The trick is quick and to the point! Jab the mussle like it's a dart. I'm very used to them by now and will take them over the messy suppositories any day. Is my butt bruised? Yes. Is my butt a tad sore? Yes. I'd still rather it be quick and to the point then leaking all day having to insert 3 x's per day. It's a personal choice. Perhaps your RE could give you samples and you decide from there.

Good luck.

[havanajims]

Hi Ladies,
I just had my first FET on Oct 1st and I had this very issue come up. My initial protocol with my fresh IVF cycle that was successful had me on the PIO. My husband was able to give them to me and i SWEAR BY EMLA cream. Rub it in and then a little extra with saran wrap for 30 minutes prior to injections.

This go-round my RE prescribed endometrin suppositories which I found disgusting but convienient if your DH isnt able to give them to you.
We switched back to PIO 2 days prior to our FET for 2 reasons:

1-The endometrin does not give you an accurate progestrone blood level reading. (so how do you know you're getting enough if its leaking all day??)

2-The PIO worked the first time.

My DH travels quite a bit so when he has to travel again I will switch back to the endometrin. I personally just wanted to make sure that I did what worked the first go-round.

My RE also says that the main reason that the suppositories are given is bc so many DH's are too squeemish to give shots to their wives. She says that the suppositories should be just as good but the PIO has been known to always be the "gold standard" in reproduction.

Hope that helps!!! Good Luck to everyone!!!