I’ve been struggling with deciding between oral and vaginal progesterone and wanted to hear about the experiences others have had. I’ve read conflicting opinions online, so I thought it might be helpful to hear some real-life stories.
Does one form of progesterone have more side effects than the other? Or perhaps one is more effective in managing symptoms? I’d appreciate any insights or advice from those who have tried either or both forms. Let’s share our knowledge to help each other make informed decisions.
I am currently in the middle of my FET cycle and I have just begun taking progesterone vaginally. My clinic did not offer any other options so this is my only choice. It’s a bit messy so I need to stock up on pantyliners. I have a history of UTIs so I’m a bit concerned, but I will see how it goes.
I used oral medication to induce a period for cycle change once, but it caused panic attacks. For my FETs, I now use vaginal medication and it works well. Just be prepared for the discharge.
Initially, my reproductive endocrinologist administered the medication orally during my first frozen embryo transfer (FET), but we later switched to a vaginal administration method. I have experienced fewer side effects since making the switch.
I chose to consume it orally instead because other methods led to UTIs and irritation of my cervix, and were also messy.
I believe the vaginal route has fewer side effects and greater bioavailability compared to oral administration. I personally have used it for my IUI procedures and found it to be quite effective.
I initially switched from taking it vaginally to orally as per the recommendation of the RE in hopes of reducing side effects. Despite the common belief that oral intake may worsen side effects, I was willing to try anything. Surprisingly, the capsules meant for vaginal use were also suitable for oral consumption. Although I didn’t observe any difference in side effects between the two methods, I chose to continue with oral intake due to the messy nature of the vaginal capsules.
I opted for injection, as I did not know about an oral alternative. Given my susceptibility to UTIs and yeast infections, I decided against the vaginal option to avoid creating a potentially messy environment. If given the opportunity, I would prefer taking it orally. I am curious if it is possible to switch to vaginal administration mid-cycle in case of stomach discomfort.
I wasn’t given the choice for oral progesterone, but I found the vaginal progesterone to be perfectly fine.
My wife was prescribed both vaginal and injected progesterone. I believe that the vaginal option is more effective because it directly targets the endometrium. It’s recommended to use both methods for better chances. The doctor instructed my wife to receive progesterone injections every 3 days and use the vaginal option 3 to 4 times per day.
We did a modified natural FET and the vaginal part wasn’t that bad. Just make sure to have clean hands before you begin.
During the IUI procedures, I chose to take it vaginally as advised by our RE to minimize side effects.