oops, the progesterone is to help FORM the placenta.
the progesterone is to for the placenta
estrogen thickens
the progesterone is natural made when the corpus luteum ruptures (they think it sustains lining that is already thick) so the progesterone is supposed to be timed for when the cl would have broken (so it depends of what day tranfer when you start)
Exactly..I am currently taking both. The estrace does thicken your lining (and makes for a lot of extra CM...sorry!) and I am taking mine in shots two x per week. The progesterone is supposed to also prepare you for pregnancy. Since you won't be ovulating and are putting in an embie, you want your body to think it did all this (ovulation and making the embie) on it's own and w/ out "help". The estrace isn't bad, but to be honest, progesterone...ugh! It is double the dosage used during a regular transfer, since you aren't ovulation (even making the follicles). Also, I have to do prog supp that started the day of the FET. Then you have to continue after the transfer in great hopes of the BFP...so until you get confirmation...must keep going!!! (i will find out Sunday!)
I would think the estrogen is to help build your lining, and the progesterone to further thicken your lining and get it ready for implantation. After transfer, it's probably to make sure your body has enough of the hormones to support pregnancy. But I've never done IVF, so I'm just kinda guessing here :-)