Non doubling hCG and low progesterone

[cniklew]

I'm new here and I wanted to ask a question because I couldn't find what I was looking for so far.

My hCG levels were fine at first. My LMP was on Sept 4 so I'm almost 7 weeks along LMP. Oct 10 I found out that the hCG levels were fine at 200 and something. Oct 12 I took the test again and it was 500 something. Apparently it hadn't quite doubled so they wanted to test me again. That didn't happen until Oct 17. I was almost 1000, but not quite.

So they put me on progesterone supplements to start on Oct 18 but I woke up on that day with no pregnancy symptoms. My grandmother thinks that it's mind over matter and I just forced myself to believe that I had strong pregnancy symptoms before because I knew I was pregnant and at the first sign of trouble I got very negative and made them go away. Plus one day after having nearly 1000 shouldn't have changed the level too much.

Now I have minor symptoms. My breasts are sore again, but not as sore as before. Same with the nausea. I have no bleeding and no cramping at all. I did have some very slight pink discharge on Oct 14, but it was only noticeable when I wiped and then it was gone.

Also, how can you tell if your cervix is opened or closed? I'm looking for anything to give me hope because my husband and I are so scared that we lost this child again. (I'll explain another time if anyone wants to hear.)

I'm supposed to call this Monday and schedule an u/s and I'm planning to insist on a vaginal u/s. Any advice or common stories? Thanks.

[kimmie_n_angus]

well....i have had several m/c's and none of them were from lack of symptoms. the further you get along the lesser the early symptom tend to be. progesterone is given when your levels are low and will not efffect a m/c that was due to other reasons. if you are not cramping or bleeding red blood then the likelihood that you are m/cing is slim. not all woman have a bad 1st trimester riddled with awful symptoms, nor do not completely doubling hCG levels mean you are not normal. some woman's hCG just steadily increase but doesn't double and they have normal PGs. i would call the doc on monday and explain your worry and demand a ultra sound to be sure. hope this helps.

love....kimmie

[suebee5]

Good luck with everything. Remember, you'll have good preg days and bad.....so the days you don't have symptoms don't necessarily mean that something is wrong.
I have a question myself.... can you take progesterone without being diagnosed as having low progesterone?  I was wondering if I should buy the cream and just use it as a "just in case" measure.  Any thoughts?
I've had two period come late and am wondering if I am shedding a fertilized egg ...

[Snugglebum]

Wow, I have this question also about the progesterone cream?  I recently had a saliva test done (it came back as out of range), I had heard that it helps to take progesterone cream (I currently have the brand pro-gest).  The thing is I am very regular with a text book 28 day cycle and last month AF arrived on day 24.  This has never happened before, I am wondering if low progesterone flushed any fertilized egg with a short lutael phase.  This cycle I have now ovulated 2 days ago and I have started with the cream twice a day to see how this cycle goes...??? Has anyone else taken progesterone cream?  Thanks :)

[suebee5]

hey snuggles - how did you decide which cream to use? And sorry for the stupid part but...where do you apply it? I thought I read somewhere that you start applying it after you ovulate (and not before).  Did you learn that too? And then how long do you keep applying it?
So much to learn....I always thought that "just having sex without contraceptives" would result in me being prego immediately. Sigh.

[gorilla-keeper]

There's lots of sites that sell progesterone creams online (do a yahoo search), but take note of the amount/concentration in each.  Here's a site that explains a lot (and sells it):
http://www.ahealthierworld.com/natural-progesterone-pregnancy.htm
They say to apply it to the inner thighs, tummy or arms.  (But, you're not alone... I was wondering if you put it in the "no-no" area or what!! lol!! :-))
Having just had a m/c on Tues, with no explination why (and a progesterone level of only 2.5) I too am wondering if this would be a wise investment.... the only thing I find confusing is that it said you must daily continue use up until the 3rd trimester, and only then gradually taper it off- or else you could trigger a m/c!  My doctor couldn't tell me if my low progesterone level was due to the failing pregnancy and m/c, or if it was low prior and thus the reason for the m/c.  (My general doctor didn't do a blood test, and because of my HMO, I wasn't scheduled to see the ob/gyn until after I had already had the m/c.  He did the test a few days after the m/c.)
I know what you mean... all those years of taking bc pills and waiting for the perfect moment to ttc, and never expecting all that was involved-- just thought it would happen with no complications or need for extra suppliments!!
cherie

[kimmie_n_angus]

i have a luteal phase defect and when i got PG AF came and washed the baby out. i was put on progesterone pills to take after 'o' till AF comes or 12 weeks PG. if the time you 'o' till AF is less than 10 days you have a luteal phase defect and should take progesterone to help keep your levels normal. if you chose to use the over the counter cream it needs to be 400 mg per oz to be effective. you also need to make sure that you are using OPKS or BBT to know exactly when you ovulate....if you start the cream too early it acts as bc and stops ovulation. if you use OPKs then start the cream or pills 3 days after your strongest positive test....if you use BBT than start it after your temp jumps back up and there is the ovulation indication on your chart. if you think you have a luteal phase defect see your doc because you will need to remain on the progesterone till 12-14 weeks PG when the placenta takes over proesterone production. don't stop the cream or pills if you are PG because it will cause a withdrawl bleed that can wash out the baby....make sure if you find out you are PG you go to your doc immediately and tell him/her you are on the cream so they can decide what is safest at that point.

love....kimmie

[Bunzo]

I live in the UK and from my experience (and lots of others that I've spoken to), the pessaries are the most effective form of progesterone.  OK, not exactly pleasant to use but once they're in...you know they are doing the job!
I would recommend you get an u/s done ASAP - i had similar problems to you a couple of weeks ago but they waited til i was 5weeks 4 days and then did the scan...and all looked fine. I am going back on Tuesday (2 weeks later) for another...
So many people have varying hcg levels and progesterone that you really just need to get scanned to be sure.
Good luck .....xxxx

[trikendi]

Hi Kimmie..
I didnt want to waste a thread asking this im sorry to add to someone else but i am now showing as bfn on hpt should that bring on af straight away or start a new cycle i am now 5wks and 1day since d/c and nearly 6 since mc

sorry again to jump on a thread but the sunday forum hasnt been started yet (dont know if i can start it so sorry)

sam

[kimmie_n_angus]

sounds like AF is right around the corner and you will be back to normal soon. that is so good to hear. i know how hard it is. it has been over a month now since we lost our bean and it still hurts from time to time. i so hope we get our babies soon and they stay cozy in us for a happy healthy 9 mos!!!

love, hugs, and baby dust ....kimmie

[trikendi]

i know how ya feel i have had a downer today cause i should be 3months gone around today and instead im 5wk1day past m/c how **** is that took last neg preg test on friday so how long should it be to af.. or can a cycle just start again .. is it possible to o between now and getting af

sam

im so sorry for yor losses kimmie and for the bfn last cycle on to july babies sweetheart...

sam

xxx

[kimmie_n_angus]

the day after i got my BFN i started to spot.....my blood hCG was 7. so she should be coming soon...any day now. whats strange about the first AF is that it is sad and releiving all at the same time. it is almost like closure. i still have those days where i think i should be leaving the 1st trimester and i am not....i am still TTCing. then i have other days of loving DH and enjoying this time with him and wanting our child together. at least now with AF impending you can start TTCing the minute she is over. you probably won't 'o' before she comes but you should after she leaves!!!!

here's to july babies!!!!....love....kimmie

[Snugglebum]

suebee, having had hormone issues going on in the last 2 years (before I even attempted at trying to conceive for a baby), my GP wanted to put me on synthetic hormones.  I personally do not believe in synthetics, but went down the natural route.  Having used the progesterone cream I found it really did help to balance me out. :) Anyway to cut a long story short, I also know a number of other women that have gone down the natural route with the creams, although they are not trying to conceive.  I have also heard that the suppos...pills prometrium are more effective.  I'm giving the natural progesterone cream a try for the next couple of months and if nothing happens, I will then go to my GP (I don't particularly respect her..that's my problem, she managed to mis-diagnose me with breast lumps, screwed up pap smears) I'm in the process of changing doctors.  I read somewhere that only pro-gest natural progesterone cream has been supported by valid studies and has shown to increase progesterone levels.  I really can't comment on other brands, but there are a lot out there and you have to be careful and make sure they have USP natural progesterone in them, not wild yam.  I know the pro-gest cream works for a fact.  I had really low levels of progesterone before I took it, and then I had a blood serum test done after taking it for 2 months and it came back very healthy range and also showed that I ovulated.  Everyone is different though and you should still talk to your OB/GYN or GP.  Good luck :)

[Snugglebum]

Oh I forgot to answer your question :)

I ovulated on CD12 this cycle and I started the cream on CD15 twice a day morning and night.  Inner thights, neck, inner arms, rotating daily.  I have already explained why I started to take it in the other post, purely because I already new it had worked for me with tests that had come back (before I started to try to conceive for a baby).

[Snugglebum]

It is so sad to here about past m/c from you ladies, I truly hope and pray all goes well soon.

To all the wonderful ladies on this site, I wish baby dust to all of you and a happy and healthy July Baby :)  xxx

[Casey'sMom]

I had a miscarriage about 2 1/2 weeks ago.....I was 6 weeks along.  My Progesterone levels were ridiculously low (1).  One day after the blood test, my doctor's nurse put me on Prometrium (100 mg 2 times a day).  By then it was too late and I began to bleed and completed the miscarriage within a few days.  The sad thing for me was that during the same cycle in which I got pregnant, my doctor had a 21 day progesterone test done to see why I wasn't getting pregnant (been trying 8 months - have a 2 year old boy - healthy/normal pregnancy).  The test came back in the low 7s, which meant that I was ovulating (anything over 5 is ovulating), but wasn't producing enough progesterone to "sustain a pregnancy" (that's how my doctor put it - needs to be over 10.)  Then I ended up getting pregnant that same week and losing the pregnancy......I believe that the low progesterone levels probably contributed - so does my doctor.  

Because my miscarriage was so early and did not require a D&C, my doctor said we could start trying again this cycle.  I ovulated 2 days ago and  my doctor instructed me to start taking the prometrium 2 days following ovulation.  The prometrium can prevent you from ovulating, that's why you take it after ovulation has taken place.  I have read other places on the internet that it takes 3-4 days to effect your hormone levels.  In theory, by the time the baby implants in the uterus, the progesterone levels will be high enough to increase the quality of the lining.  Keep your fingers crossed!

I am fortunate, in that I knew preconception that my progesterone levels were low - without a pregnancy.  I am infortunate in that I got pregnant and wasn't on any supplements.  So this time, I am hoping that the pregnancy sticks!

Tiffany Adams
Utah

[suebee5]

thanks so much for all of your information.  I am going to call my GYN tomorrow and ask for a cream recommendation.  I am using the clearblue easy fertility monitor, so I am hoping to have a better grasp of when my fertile/O days are.
I know my GYN will probably not like me "self-diagnosing", but it seems like this is a 'better safe than sorry' route to take.  No harm done if I take it(after I "O" and through the first 12 weeks...)
any other thoughts on the pros v cons?

[cniklew]

Well I started bleeding today so I'm thinking that I'm beginning to m/c. Thanks for all the advice and I'm definitely thinking of taking the progesterone suppositories after I ovulate next time.

You can't have too much, can you?