Crinone gel is supposed to help provide additional hormone progesterone needed to conceive for many women. The usage is pretty straightforward, and experiencing the excess to come out is also natural. But many women still feel clogged up or experience various discomfort when the excess build-up isn’t cleaned. These discomforts include foul smell, strange discharge, itching, or pain. By simply inserting your fingers, you can get the excess gel out. There’s no set method to it, but if you’re worried about doing it by yourself, you can seek your doctor’s help. For severe discomfort and side effects, immediately see a doctor.
Crinone gel can be used to apply inside the vagina because when looking to get pregnant, the body isn’t making enough of the hormone known as progesterone.
It’s also used as a part of fertility treatment. Though not difficult to apply, one crucial thing many nurses fail to convey is the need to clean out the build-up.
Women who have used it before know how irritating it can be when using it.
This suppository is supposed to build a layer around the inside and help provide the necessary hormone.
Even though the build-up tends to come out and fall out on its own, the relevance of removing it from time to time is necessary.
If not, one can suffer from serious issues which can even affect the baby if you’re pregnant.
Importance of removing crinone build-up
Doctors recommend using crinone for fertility treatments and as part of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) for women unable to get pregnant due to a lack of natural levels of progesterone in the body.
It also helps women maintain or get pregnant by providing increasing progesterone levels.
It causes periods in women who have not yet reached menopause but aren’t having periods due to a lack of progesterone in the body.
It’s also used to prevent overgrowth in the uterus lining in postmenopausal women receiving estrogen hormone replacement therapy.
It’s to be used once or twice a day, and if you become pregnant, it’s supposed to be used for 10-12 weeks, as the doctor directs.
There are also common side effects you might experience when using this gel, such as:
- Bloating
- Cramps
- Stomach ache
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Breast swelling/pain
- Pain around vagina
- Drowsiness
- Tiredness
- Decreased interest in sex
- Joint pain
- Headache
Doctors and nurses always warn about the side effects, but one thing most people fail to convey is how the build-up of crinone might also be harmful.
It’s common to experience a different vaginal discharge when using crinone gel.
The discharge will contain the extra crinone build-up coming out whenever you use the washroom, and you might even see remains of it in your underwear.
It could be in the form of gel balls or hard gel when it comes out, and one can quickly identify the difference between crinone build-up coming out and normal vaginal discharge.
Cleaning the build-up from inside is vital because you might experience a foul smell, discharge, itching, or even pain if you fail to do so.
How to clean crinone build-up?
Leaving crinone gel for more than 3-4 days can make a person feel clogged down there. It might give you a feeling of using a tampon, and that’s usually not good.
Knowing that crinone shouldn’t be slowed to build-up, there’s no tool to actually remove it. The only way to ensure it doesn’t build up is to remove it yourself by inserting a clean finger and removing excess gel.
It might seem a bit awkward to do this and not so pleasant, but unfortunately, there’s no other way to remove the crinone from building up.
Or your doctor can help you clean it up. But if you feel too awkward going to the doctor, doing it by yourself is the only option left.
You don’t have to absolutely clean it all out, but however much you can get out can prevent it from building up.
Don’t forget to have clean fingers before attempting to clean the crinone, and you can also wear gloves.
Things to remember when using crinone gel
- However carefully you try to apply this gel, it’s bound to come out in many ways. There’s no need to worry if it does, and that doesn’t mean the medicine isn’t working properly.
- Try to relax whenever trying to insert the applicator, whichever position is comfortable for you.
- Use the applicator when and as recommended by the doctor.
- Remember to clean the extra build-up every 4 days.
- If you’re not able to get pregnant within the time frame of using crinone, you’ll start your period as soon as you stop applying this gel.
- You might experience some mild side effects. If there’re any severe side effects such as mental/mood changes, swelling of hand/feet, increased urination at night, abnormal vaginal bleeding, breast lumps, yellowing of skin or eyes, then immediately refer to a doctor.
- Store the pre-filled applicator in the refrigerator. Storing it in a cool place can help maintain and preserve the gel.
FAQs
Is it normal for progesterone to leak out?
When using any kind of vaginal progesterone gel to apply, it’s normal to leak out.
As long as you keep on applying it, the excess will leak out. This doesn’t mean the gel isn’t used correctly or isn’t being absorbed completely.
The excess comes out, and even the excess build-up should also be removed from time to time.
You can use panty liners whenever you apply a progesterone gel to ensure you don’t ruin your clothes.
How far do you insert crinone?
You should lie down or stand up in a comfortable position to you. The applicator might be filled, or you have to fill it, and applying it should be done without any stress.
You should insert the applicator as far as it can go inside, and you can hold onto the end of it comfortably.
An amount of gel will go inside and form a coating to help provide progesterone to the body, and this is the fastest way for the body to continuously get this much-needed hormone.
What is crinone used for in IVF?
Crinone gel provides your body with a hormone known as progesterone.
This hormone is much needed to get pregnant, and the gel is recommended to help treat fertility procedures when one lacks it.
It’s also used to treat infertility and help a person get pregnant. Use it until your doctor instructs using it.
How to apply crinone gel?
1. Washing your hands before starting with it is essential.
2. Depends if you have a pre-filled applicator or will have to insert the suppository.
3. You can lie down or stand up in a comfortable position to insert the applicator.
4. Insert the applicator as far as it can go without being stressed about it.
5. Press the applicator’s plunger as far as it goes. This ensures the gel reaches the deep end for better absorption.
6. Remove the applicator, and you’re done with the process.
How long does crinone stay in your system?
Crinone can stay for about a day or two in your system as the gel inside keeps on absorbing until removed or reapplied.
Usually, your doctor will give you instructions on when and how many applicators of crinone gel you’re supposed to use.
What color is progesterone discharge?
The color of the discharge you might experience can be mostly white or cloudish, and it can also be a little brownish, and there’s no need to worry as long as you’re cleaning out excess build-up every 3-4 days.
This is quite different from the normal discharge you experience, and you can easily tell which is which. The normal discharge tends to be stretchy, clear, and watery.
To summarise
This specially formulated vaginal gel is supposed to help you give additional hormone progesterone.
Whether used as a treatment for infertility or to conceive, this gel has proved useful once people start using it.
The gel in itself is supposed to work by coating the walls of the vagina to allow maximum absorption but leaking out is expected.
Even though you might experience the gel coming out, there’s a need to clean the excess build-up from time to time.
Excess build-up can make the person feel clogged up and result in discomfort in various ways. Just cleaning as much as possible is the only solution to prevent build-up.
You don’t need to clean it all out just enough so that it doesn’t become a problem.
