Low progesterone

[momo3]

Hello,

I have had normal uneventful pregnancies prior to this one.  I was having brown spotting at 4 weeks with this pregnancy, and bloodtest revealed a  hcg 7333 at 16 dpo and low progesterone 7.9.  Because of this they did 2 ultra sounds and placed me on progesterone 200 mg once per day.  I had a severe reaction to the progesterone-severe morning sickness(no vomiting but unable to get out of bed for several days and also some depression)  all of which  I later found out are side effects of the progesterone.  So I gradually discontinued the progesterone, and my symptoms have decreased.  However at a follow up visit, the nurse practitioner says that if I don't continue to take the progesterone, my levels will fall back down and I will be in danger of miscarriage.  She prescribed the progesterone cream instead of the oral progesterone and says that the side effects should be lower with the cream.  However, I do not want to take it at all because of my terrible reaction to it.  Also, I have not been spotting at all anymore and the 2 ultra sounds I have had showed normal development and even a heartbeat.  What is your opinion on progesterone preventing miscarriage and its side effects-or do you know of any severe reactions to progesterone?  Thanks.

[Emma1]

I'm not sure of the side effects, but I do know that if your progesterone drops you can loose the baby. Maybe the cream won't be as bad on you as the pills. I have heard that there are suppositories that you can take for that. That could be an option for you as well. Good luck!!!! When are you due?

[diggy]

I have had 3 miscarriages.  One of them I was taking progestrone.  Progestrone is supposed to decrease your changes of a miscarriage by creating (sorry for the lack of medical terminology)a better environment for the fertilized egg.  The only side affects I was having is that I was extremely sleepy.  I was only taking 50 mg of Prometrium.  But taking it at night right before bed is the way to go.  I also tried the cream... was a little less tired... but perfer taking a pill.  
If the doctor is recommending for you to take it to prevent a miscarriage... I would definitly take his/her advice.  Assuming that the doctor is aware of your side effects!!
Good luck!

[babygirl22]

I'm going to see a specialist in June whose specialty is dealing with people who have miscarriages - he automatically puts people on baby aspirin and progesterone, even if the cause of the miscarriages is unknown - because I guess a lack of progesterone, and blood clots, are two of the common reasons people miscarry.  Good luck - if it were me, I would take the cream.

[babygirl22]

I posted to Emma instead of you, sorry.  I'm not right today!

[Kassimom]

I did the suppositories and inserted them before bedtime. Emma is right, if your progesterone drops, you could lose the baby. Ask your OB about trying those or try the cream. Best of luck and let us know what you decide!

[ripdip]

I'm with the others, I had 3 miscarriage b/c of low progesterone, you really need to endure it or risk losing the baby.  They will probably take you off it after 10-12 weeks so there will be an end to the misery.

[Niki73]

I agree with everyone else you have to take the progesterone to help support your pregnancy..I had three miscarriages before they figured out my HCG level was dropping so on my fourth pregnancy they start injecting me with a shot twice a week of 500mg of progesterone....I finally delievered a beautiful baby girl. I took the progesterone until I was 13 weeks along. I am a true believer that without the prgesterone you will be risking a possible miscarriage. I'm sorry you have such terrible side effects. I too got morning sickness real bad with the injections and was real emotional but the doctor told me he was glad I was getting sick because it meant I was progressing in the pregnancy. Good Luck and try to get through the next 6 weeks.

[NJ Auntie]

MY SISTER'S OB JUST FOUND OUT THAT MY SISTER HAS VERY LOW PROGESTERONE LEVELS AS A NORM AND DUE TO THAT SHE JUST MISCARRIED RECENTLY.  SHE LOST 2 BABIES IN 1991 AND NEVER GOT PREGNANT AGAIN UNTIL JUST LAST MONTH.  SHE ALSO WAS SPOTTING (BROWN) BUT SINCE THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON HE WASN'T ABLE TO CATCH THE PROBLEM WITHIN A REASONABLE TIMEFRAME.

I HAVE READ THAT WOMEN THAT TAKE PROGESTERONE MEDICATION GO ON TO HAVE HEALTHY BABIES. I WOULDN'T RISK IT IF I WERE YOU.

THAT'S JUST MY 2 CENTS. :)

[JustME9]

Just wanted to say my OB told me that progesterone won't help a pregnancy that isn't viable or already doomed to fail..but it can't hurt either.  There are varying views.  I know with me the progesterone only prolonged the inevitable..I heard that if you take it before implantation it can help but after that it's disputable.  That's just what i've been told and my humble experience.

[Niki73]

You are right the progesterone won't help if the pregnancy isn't a viable one(meaning a chromosome issue or other) but in some cases the reason the pregnancy becomes one that isn't viable is because the progesterone level is too low and it's not producing enough to nourish the growing fetus...the placenta doesn't take over nourshing the fetus until after 12 weeks thats  why a lot of times the doctor will stop the medication after that point the placenta is doing the nourshing for you so your body doesn't need to produce the prgesterone. In my case we did testing and the doctor found that my pregnancies were ending in miscarriage because my body wasn't producing enough progesterone to support the fetus....I hope this helps a little....Again you are right before I'm even given the progesterone injections the doctor checks for a heart beat to make sure it is a viable pregnancy...thanks....

[JustME9]

Thanks for explaining that in understandable terms...it totally makes sense.  I know with mine it was ectopic so the progesterone only prolonged things more and my tube ended up rupturing...<sigh> sooo before I officially ttc again i'm going to talk to my OB and make sure i'm clear on every detail to TRY to avoid having to go through that again! =) THANKS! =) Kellie

[nurse12hr]

Progesterone should be taken before conception.

Progesterone levels can vary wildly even from hour to hour.  Don't put too much stock in one single low number.

A doctor who puts EVERYONE on progesterone is not following current standards of practice.

[azjen]

I had a m/c in Aug 2003 and another in Oct 2003 (requiring a d&c). Since then my RE has put me on progesterone suppositories twice a day, 2 days after my IUI.  I have no side effects.  The suppositories are a little annoying, but I wake up an hour before I want to get up, put it in, and go back to sleep and then put one in right before bed.  Technically you only need to lie down for 20 minutes after insertion, but I'd rather get a little more sleep :).  It really isn't so bad.  I'm still TTC again, so it frustrates me to use them and then get a BFN.  But if it has any chance of helping, it's worth it.  Ask your MD about trying the suppositories.

[windy2424]

Has anyone every had a normal progesterone level that dropped and gone on to have a normal pregnancy?  I m/c in Feb. 04 so I"m a bit fearful of it happening again.  With this pregnancy, I went in for my 1st blood test on 5/3, HCG was 30 and Progesterone was 17; 2nd blood test was done on 5/6, HCG was 154 and Progesterone was 24.3.  My dr. had me wait 2 wks to come back.  I had a U/S and another blood test on 5/20, and the ulstrasound measured my gestational sac to be 5 wks 5 days pregnant, and according to my LMP, I am 6 wks 5 days pregnant.  My dr. didn't seem concerned about the one week difference and said I probably was on a 35 day cycle that month instead of 28.  The blood results had my Progesterone at 10 and my HCG at 10,000.  My dr. put me on Prometrium 200mg at bedtime.  She said it was hopeful b/c my HCG was so high and I have to go back in a week for another U/S and blood test.  Has this happened to anyone where your Progesterone levels had dropped but yet went on to have a healhty pregnancy?  You can reach me at ***@**** if you wish to respond.  Thanks for your help.
Wendy