Visiting from 3T/IF with question

[msugirl]

Hi ladies!
I hate doing a 'drive-by' post, but I don't seem to be getting any responses on the 3T/IF board, so was hoping I could get some of your experience.
I'm on my third FET cycle and my RE gave me the option of either Crinone or PIO injections. I previously have done Crinone with no difficulty, but had one chemical pregnancy and one BFN. I have unexplained infertility and unexplained RPL, which is pretty frustrating. My RE's office says that crinone is equivalent to PIO, but if I wanted to try PIO after my two failed FET cycles, they would prescribe it.

What has been your experience with PIO vs Crinone? Which did you choose / use ? Pros / Cons?

I really appreciate all your input!

[lilyharper]

I'm sorry, crinone is the gel? I've used prometrium in the past, but my RE prefers endometrin. Has progesterone been an issue in the past? I was on both pio and endometrin for a while (super duper fun). I do know, when they got concerned about my levels they added pio, so if it's more of an issue that may be a good way to go.

Sorry I don't have any direct answers. Pio is a literal and figurative pain in the ass, but effective. Endometrin/crinone are messy, but also effective.

One other thing, pio is cheaper by a lot! I was OOP and it was 35 dollars for 10cc which is 10 days worth. Endometrin was three pills a day and $140 for a week supply (I had a $50 coupon that could be used every other week, so it was a little less), but basically $15/day for endometrin, vs. 3.50 for pio.

[ruthie]

I have never used Crinone, but opted for PIO over Endometrin in my successful cycle. I'd done a million IUIs and used Prometrium, but never spotted until I stopped meds. With Endometrin (my RE used it for IVF cycles) spotted for days and started full AF flow on beta day. I actually asked my RE to prescribe PIO for my next IVF (I never had frosties, so no FET experience) because I just felt my body wasn't absorbing suppositories as well. I really didn't have any medical knowledge to back that up, but my RE indulged me and gave me PIO. FWIW, I'd take a once a day shot over 3x/day suppositories anyday. I won't lie, PIO is a PITA, and I don't have full feeling in my left hip, but I'm still glad I went with PIO. I just felt like it was a better match for my body and I didn't miss that gross discharge. HTH!

[msugirl]

Mar 16, 2015 20:35:18 GMT -5 lilyharper said:

I'm sorry, crinone is the gel? I've used prometrium in the past, but my RE prefers endometrin. Has progesterone been an issue in the past? I was on both pio and endometrin for a while (super duper fun). I do know, when they got concerned about my levels they added pio, so if it's more of an issue that may be a good way to go.

Sorry I don't have any direct answers. Pio is a literal and figurative pain in the ass, but effective. Endometrin/crinone are messy, but also effective.

One other thing, pio is cheaper by a lot! I was OOP and it was 35 dollars for 10cc which is 10 days worth. Endometrin was three pills a day and $140 for a week supply (I had a $50 coupon that could be used every other week, so it was a little less), but basically $15/day for endometrin, vs. 3.50 for pio.

 Hi Lily, thank you so much for your input.
Crinone is the vaginal suppository gel. I don't think my clinic does prometrium at all or endometrin. Just progesterone in oil injections or Crinone.
About progesterone in the past, I never got to them measuring it. They only measure it at my clinic at 6 weeks, which I haven't made it to yet with IVF. With my MC at this time last year, my progesterone was at the low end of normal, but it was just a medicated cycle and they didn't give me any progesterone afterwards.

That's interesting that you mention the price. My clinic told me it was much more expensive with PIO. I usually pay $50 for enough crinone to last me until beta (so, three weeks worth), but they told me that it would be $170 for the same amount of PIO, which is definitely a factor for us. Do you mind letting me know which pharmacy you got pio from?

[bluefairy5]

I have no experience with Crinone, but PIO is a lot easier/less painful than I feared it would be. I may be a weirdo, but I really don't find it that uncomfortable. And it's about $4.50 a dose at 1cc. Never mind, saw your cost breakdown.  But the other benefit to PIO is it accurately measures in P4 blood draws. 

[rachaeleigh]

Hi msugirl! I don't have experience with crinone, only prometrium and now PIO.
I'm actually pretty damn sore today from shots, but still glad that I'm doing them vs suppositories. I just hated messing with those damn suppositories, not because vag stuff freaks me out, but because I felt like most didnt absorb. I was always getting up in there cleaning out out

[lilyharper]

Walgreens specialty. I them. They offer you programs to sign up for (the one with the endometrin discount I think cost $25 but then they give you a $25 gift card to be used at regular Walgreens).

And, I am sorry for your losses. Unexplained RPL is tough, you'd think with the 12+ vials they'd figure out something!

Any chance with your history that they may test it with your beta this time? I know that it's not their norm, but I've found most of the time, they generally give us RPLers a bit of leeway.

[msugirl]

lilyharper , I think I am going to ask for them to test it. We're just kind of out of options here. Doing PGD on my frosties this time around too, so hoping they survive a thaw / biopsy / re-freeze for the ones not implanting.
I think checking a progesterone with my beta would be something easy to check.

It seems like most of you ladies used pio huh? I think that's what I'm leaning towards at this point...

[lilyharper]

msugirl, I wish you the best of luck. I don't know anything about doing PGD on frosties (my RE won't) but I hope that gives you some answers. (And you know, that your FET takes, so it's not needed.)

[msugirl]

lilyharper, Thanks lady! Planning on calling Walgreens tomorrow morning...hopefully not too expensive!

[turquoisequeen]

My RE prescribed Crinone so that is what I used on my successful cycle. They measured my progesterone the days of my betas and it was plenty high so I actually went off the crinone at 4w4d even though I was scared to go off it for fear something bad would happen but I trusted my RE and their process.

[gsancho]

My RE had me try PIO and Endometrin at different times. Even though it was a pain (literally), I preferred PIO - less mess, over and done with faster. My RE said both worked well but PIO could be absorbed a little faster. And at least you don't have to worry about irritating your cervix.

[bunnybun]

I did prometrium and then switched to PIO for my IVF cycle. I would choose the PIO over the supps anyday. The supps are soooo messy and made me feel gross all day and night...the shot is just a pinch and then it's done. I heard horror stories about the shot but I really didn't find them to be that bad.

[sewfie2]

msugirl, my doctor put me on PIO from the get-go with our IVF. I used prometrium once on an IUI cycle, and of the two, I would definitely take PIO again. So much less mess, and it's not that painful. Most of my shots were nbd.

Also, I found that my insurance did cover the PIO when I needed a refill. They say they don't cover ART meds, but they covered femara during my IUI cycles and the PIO and estrogen patches after IVF. So, it can't hurt to ask the pharmacy to run your insurance if possible. My PIO was $10 after insurance.

[nutmeg8484]

I personally preferred PIO to the Crinone gel. The gel grossed me out and was always leaky and the chunkyness is cringe worthy. After doing PIO for 2 FET cycles I asked to do it with my Fresh cycle as well. My RE usually does crinone for any fresh cycles and PIO for any frozen cycles because your body isn't making any of it's own progesterone like it would for a fresh cycle.

PIO is intimidating at first but if you get the right placement down it really doesn't hurt all that much. I made DH watch this video on repeat for a while before he was allowed near me with the needle!

Good luck!

ETA: typo