f/u question from stumper - peek, annie, anyone

If you read the "stumper" post from me below, that is the whole story.....

the follow up is her numbers are high but her progesterone (which I requested) is only 4.  They wont give her progesterone suppositories - not sure why since her counts are over 3000.  Is her progesterone 4 b/c she is already losing the baby or is she losing the baby b/c her progesterone is 4?


also, can someone take progesterone suppositories all the time so that you will not miscarry any month you get PG?

Thanks,
G

[peekawho]

A progesterone level that low is usually from an abnormally developing pregnancy.  

[jennyb473]

I wish I had the answer to your progesterone question - as my mom and I have the same question.  Which comes first....kinda like the chicken and the egg.  We've always thought my progesterone levels were what caused my mc until my last pg when my levels were 21 at 4 weeks.  What are the doctors saying about mc?  Do they think the bleed is from the cyst or mc?

As for can you take progesterone anytime - I would say yes.  My new RE gave me a prescription for it to start 3 days after O and take for 2 weeks once we start ttc again (hopefully in a few weeks!!).  After 2 weeks I'm supposed to test and if neg, then stop the progesterone.  If positive, continue and call him asap!  That way when I do get pg next I'll be on it from the start.  I'm not sure yet though what happens if I take it too soon - will it prevent me from O'ing if I start it too early?  I only ask that b/c I have PCOS so sometimes it is hard for me to pinpoint a surge on an OPK and my temps are all over the place.  I'm nervous to start it too soon and not O and miss the whole month!   I would tell the doctors that progesterone cannot hurt so why not give it to appease her at this point?  You can't have too much - your body will only absorb what it needs.

Good luck!  

[AnnieBrooke]

My fertility doc told me giving progesterone will not avoid a miscarriage that is going to happen.  After IVF, he gave me progesterone to avoid me having a period and blowing out the eggs in that first few weeks.  And as it was, one embryo developed and the other faded.  And I was taking progesterone.  So I don't think progesterone is a panacea or low progesterone is a cause.

[marie1210]

Taking progesterone before ovulation can prevent you from ovulating.  It will trick your body into thinking that it has already ovulated.  If I'm not mistaken, progesterone is the main hormone in many birth control pills.  You take it all month to keep from ovulating and then stop to start your period.  

In actuality, a small percentage of recurrent m/c are caused by low progesterone.  I've had 3, and I don't believe my progesterone ever started to fall until after I started to m/c.  Of course, I have other issues anyway.  I wish the best for you and your daughter. Take care.  Melinda

[luvmybabes]

I think the doctors should be answering more questions for you guys. It is so scary not to know what is going on with your body and your baby. Is the babys heart beat strong?? You had asked " is she losing the baby because her progeserone is low" is she in fact losing the baby or do they not know?? Is she still bleeding?? Our bodies are funny sometimes and maybe the progesterone will start to rise. I prayed for her and her baby last night so keep faith and DONT GIVE UP ON THAT BABY YET!! Good luck!!

[grammy64]

How sweet of you to pray for her...

Update (I guess):  I wish the doctors WERE answering more ??? but I actually think they don't know.  Just a gestational sac - no heartbeat.  She got an unexpected BFP at noon yesterday and was told to come for an OB appt at 3:00, where they saw the sac (perfectly round) and a large left ovarian cyst (possibly corpus luteum according to the nurse sonographer).  The sac was empty, but we have no clue how far along she is...hCG over 3000, progesterone 4.4.  The bleeding has stopped as of tonight.  She just picked up prog suppositories and went to bed.  She is exhausted.  Do we know she is losing the baby?  No, but the bleeding and low prog and empty sac make us think it is a strong possibility.  The large bleeding took place yesterday morning and at 3:00 in the afternoon the sac was still there.  Not sure.

Thanks for your prayers....we sure need 'em!