Progesterone

I knew that progesterone was important to keep a pregnancy viable so thought I would look it up. I guess it is just as important when TTC as well. this is one thing I will talk to the dr about when I do finally get preggers again.

info as follows...

The progesterone levels during pregnancy depend on when in the pregnancy you're referring to. Progesterone levels during early pregnancy and low levels of progesterone and early pregnancy should be understood for optimum health as well as how to raise progesterone levels.

During the monthly cycle, if ovulation occurs, the production of progesterone in the body by the ovaries is usually about 15-30 mg a day. And since progesterone production is triggered only by ovulation, that means it should be produced from around day 12 to day 26 for a 28-day cycle (day #1 is the first day of menstrual flow).

If there's a pregnancy, the progesterone levels during pregnancy continue being produced primarily in the ovaries during the first trimester. By the end of the first trimester, the placenta takes over progesterone production and affects progesterone levels in pregnancy.

Hormone levels during pregnancy are crucial, because they influence the growth and development of your baby. They send signals that change the way your own organs function while pregnant - you will experience changes in your uterus, cervix, vagina, endometrium and breasts during pregnancy. Women that are pregnant commonly experience nausea, dizziness, breast soreness and sometimes insomnia.

The progesterone levels during pregnancy is also crucial for the survival of the fetus, it keeps the uterus from contracting and promotes the growth of blood vessels that give nourishment to your baby during pregnancy. Natural progesterone aids in conception (fertility clinics use sometimes natural progesterone for treating infertility), and the progesterone levels during pregnancy help maintain a healthy pregnancy.

Frequently, doctors will treat infertility problems with strong drugs or surgery... and they will not check progesterone levels in the body first.

The progesterone levels in early pregnancy ordinarily DOUBLES or TRIPLES during the first several weeks of pregnancy. And, of course, progesterone should be produced EVERY DAY during pregnancy (in the regular menstrual period, progesterone is produced at ovulation and for about 14 more days).

To protect the fetus, the progesterone levels during pregnancy then rise to as much as 10 to 15 TIMES normal amounts by the THIRD TRIMESTER. In other words, the progesterone levels during pregnancy can be as much as 300mg to 400mg per day.

For women trying to become pregnant, an adequate amount of natural progesterone is crucial, because this hormone prepares the uterine wall for the implantation of the fertilized egg.

Without the correct levels of progesterone, low levels of progesterone and early pregnancy can result in the loss of the embryo. The progesterone levels in early pregnancy have a major role in maintaining a pregnancy during the early months. Discuss your progesterone levels during pregnancy with your doctor and if low, how to raise progesterone levels naturally.

[nunu1977]

I read up on natural progesterone and it is amazing how much our body benefits from this hormone.

more info as follows....

"Here's a list of symptoms that natural progesterone can be used for to help support women's health:

• irregular menstrual flow, • cramping, • bloating, • natural antidepressant, • irritability, • migraine headaches, • insomnia, • hot flashes, • night sweats, • vaginal dryness, • infertility, • incontinence, • endometriosis, • restores sex drive, • normalizes blood sugar levels, • natural diuretic, • normalizes blood clotting, • uses fat for energy, • protects against breast fibrocysts, • prevents migraines, • thyroid imbalance, • important for the survival and development of the embryo, • is the primary precursor for adrenal corticosteroids, estrogens (estriol, estrone and estradiol) and testosterone produced by testes in males

It's worth noting that in the third trimester of pregnancy, the female's placenta produces 300-400mg of natural progesterone PER DAY! Since progesterone is a natural anti-depressant, it comes as no surprise that new mothers suffer the "post-partum depression" when their major source of natural progesterone, the placenta, is lost when the baby is born!

But, as outlined in the "Hormone Imbalance" section of this site, natural progesterone will not be produced by the body with missed ovulations or after menopause. So natural progesterone supplementation or natural progesterone cream is a key element in a woman's health and well-being."


there is also a list of ways to get natural progesterone but I would talk to you dr before trying any of this!!!!!!!! It's bad enough that there is so much stuff we could be doing to help with TTC again, and the worry of having another m/c. I am always worried about trying things just in case i try something i didn't need and then make it worse. the only way to find out if you are low in progesterone is to have a blood test. not something you want to self diagnose!!!! I read that miscarriage is often caused by low progesterone, this is why im looking into it.

[steph9803]

Thanks nunu. That's way more info than I knew about it. They checked mine last time during my 41 day cycle and it was 5 on day 39. Wouldn't it be great if we could check all of these things on our own :D

[nunu1977]

no kidding!!!! i hate having to ask a dr for tests. I know I havent had all the training and all that but some things seem frustrating when you find this information and wonder why the dr is checking this. I guess there are so many things that it could be though.
Progesterone seems to be quite important while TTC and to keep a pregnancy viable that you would think it would be a normal test to be done. I didnt have any bloods done after my first u/s. In New Zealand bloods are is routine to have done.  

[GMB08]

wow...this is interesting.....thx nunu....how do they check it? blood work?

[smr08]

Thanks for the info nunu. My Dr never even mentioned the word to me, and now i'm wondering if it had something to do with me losing my son. I had early problems with my placenta at 5wks, but by 9-10wks everything was going so well and then at around 18wks  my world crashed at my routine visit. I still sometimes regret not having test done to determine the cause, but at the time I was so consumed with grief I was not really thinking at all. Do you think I'm jumping the gun or is this possible? Thanks again.

                    Lori

[nunu1977]

GMB- yes, they check it by blood test.

smr08- I wish I hadn't rushed into my d&c. Its hard to make rash decisions when something like that happens.
18 weeks is late to loose a baby! it could be so many reasons why you lost the baby. this could just be one of those possibilities.

Its hard not having answers! I would suggest everyone asking their dr to ask for progesterone to be checked... I know I will when I finally get preggers again.

I just found this as well...

# Chromosomal abnormalities . Studies show that 50% to 60% of all miscarriages are caused by too little or too many chromosomes in the fetus. Of these cases about half are caused by Trisomy 21, also referred to as Down Syndrome.

# Low progesterone levels. The hormone progesterone is necessary for maintaining a healthy pregnancy. Insufficient levels may result in miscarriage. Early in pregnancy the progesterone is made by the small cyst in the ovary called the corpus luteum. After about nine to 10 weeks the placenta should be producing enough progesterone to support the pregnancy. Low level of progesterone that causes miscarriage is usually thought to be from inadequate production from the corpus luteum. Progesterone medication is safe and relatively inexpensive, but studies proving its effectiveness have not been conclusive. If you’ve had a miscarriage in the past, talk with your health care provider about whether progesterone is likely to help with your next pregnancy....  

[mikaleen]

I had low progesterone with my last m/c, but it was low because the pregnancy was non-viable.  My Dr. gave me progesterone supplements (which cost $300 for 3 weeks-usually taken for 10).  My insurance covered $30 of it, rest is out of pocket.  It kept me from m/c but there was no baby anyway.  There are a lot of reasons women don't produce enough progesterone even when it is a viable pregnancy, pcos, and luteal phase defects are a couple reasons.  I will never pay that much money for progesterone again unless I had the blood workup done that indicates progesterone is needed.  Then it is usually given prior to pregnancy as well.  I believe it's started the day after ovulation and continued to 13 days past O unless conception has taken place, then until 10 weeks or so when the placenta takes over.  If it's needed it's such a simple fix (but expensive).  Anyone who is concerned should talk to their Dr. about having tests.

[nunu1977]

your are correct. it starts after O and prepares the uterus for implantation. if there is no implantation then it stops. it is the cyst that forms where the egg is released from the ovary every month that produces the progesterone until the placenta takes over.

[nunu1977]

oh and that is way expensive!!!!! I wonder if over the counter stuff works just as good. I found a cream on line and dont think it was that expensive.

[mikaleen]

She gave me a cream that was inserted vaginally.  She said it was natural progesterone which has less side effects and that way of application was more effective.  I know some women are prescribed pills that are usually taken orally but can also be inserted vaginally and be more effective.  I don't know if that would be cheaper.  

[ArmyPrincess819]

I'm not sure about ttc but I was just prescribed vaginal suppositories due to vaginal bleeding. It actually helps to stop the bleeding as well as keeping the pg viable. I believe you can take it by mouth. Let me know what your dr says I'm quite curious how it works when ttc. Good luck to you....Ps what has your dr said the hold up is?

Hugs,
AP

[nunu1977]

Interesting! I am going to ask the dr for a blood test when I do get my BFP. I hate it that I saw heartbeats on the twins then next time there wasnt a heartbeat. ill make sure they cover everything just in case it isn't a chromosome abnormality that they cant do anything about.

[nunu1977]

did the dr say you were bleeding because of low progesterone? I hope it stops soon... you dont need that stress!

[Latrice414]

Thats a lot of good info nunu. I just wanted to add that the body is an amazing  piece of art work. The endocrine system plays a very big important role with ttc.  I think having a m/c work up is a good thing to do if women have recurrent m/c's.

Sometimes its a reason your progestrone levels go low after becoming preggo, the body may have detected and abnormality that soon, and the body is designed to keep a homeostasis.

I have heard of women taking progestrone supplements and having babies that did have abnormalities, and women who took them and had healthy babies.

I guess the thing with recurrent m/c's is to find out why your having them and to have the fetus tested if you have a m/c.

Being i did not have a m/c workup, im not big on numbers and levels bcuz low numbers dont always mean danger, thats why i decided not to get hcg levels, no need to add stress to the thoughts that a m/c could happen again.

[nunu1977]

how are you feeling? morning sickness set in yet?

I wish I had of thought of asking them to test the twins because when i went back to the dr for a check up he said that they only looked at the sack. he said if i keep on having m/c that they will then test it. i think its  a shame that they presume it was a chromosome abnormality when it may not have been. i think they say that because it is the easiest reason for them to say we lost our baby, unless there is something obvious wrong.

your are right... the body is crazy amazing!!!!! after reading up about some of these hormones that take care of our monthly cycle i told my husband about it. i even said to him a woman's body is so intricate that its not surprising that if one thing is off and not producing the correct amount of hormone or none at all then it disrupts everything else.

It really is fluke that we can get pregnant and stay pregnant because of this fact that our bodies USUALY know if there is is something wrong and wants to fix it.

[melo1224]

My doctor said that if progesterone is used improperly it can act has a contraceptive. I'm supposed to start using it day 20 of my cycle and no ealier.. if I do not get preggo that cycle then I'm supposed to stop the progestrone until day 20 of the next cycle.

[nunu1977]

that is good to know! i figured it was something that you shouldn't use unless you have talked to a dr first. there is too much info on the net and too much stuff available that they say can help but you never know for sure what its going to do!
I hope that using it this cycle helps give you a BFP!!!!!

[mikaleen]

When i was nursing my daughter I was taking the mini pill as contraceptive.  It is a progesterone only pill, so yes it can absolutely act as a contraceptive.  As a BC pill it can (doesn't have to) stop ovulation, but it generally works by making a hostile environment for conception.  If taken before ovulation it thins the uterine lining, and creates hostile cervical mucous.  If you do ovulate on that pill, conception and implantation have a very difficult time taking place.  It has a higher failure rate than the double hormone pill, but not much.

[mapes10]

I had to take Prometrium to start my periods after BC when I got pregnant with my son (second month of taking it).  My dr is very proactive.  I think I would interrogate your dr about the pros and cons because it's just too hard not knowing and most won't tell you unless you ask.  Otherwise, how are you doing nunu?

[nunu1977]

**** ok. still got pain. its frustrating. its non stop and worse of and on during the day.

I will be asking my dr A LOT of questions when I do get my BFP!!!!! this is something ill ask my dr to check and hope that its not a problem i have!

[Latrice414]

Nunu: im just tired and hungry a lot, some things make me feel nauseated, but ive been eating saltine crackers or toast when i get up just in case, mourning sickness is a terrible feeling, i dont want that feeling.  My dr wants me to have an u/s next week to make sure things are growing as they are suppose to, then i see her for my first initial appt on the 30th, then im thinking i will have another u/s 3 weeks after that.

[nunu1977]

i hate morning sickness! I have allergies to the two main meds that they give for it so I have to take a medication that is $10 a tablet... and  that is for the generic. for twenty tablets its $200. at least I only pay $20 of that!!!!!

I hope the next u/s I have is to look at a baby, not a cyst! I cant wait to hear about your next visit to the dr!

[g1p1]

Yesterday afternoon I was involved in a minor car accident on my way to work (physically I am okay) but couple of hours later I started having mild cramps -have not passed any tissues nor any spotting but did go to the hospital to have an ultrasound done -which they were not able to detect a fetal pulse - however the hcg level, fetal pole, yok sac was present and size appropriate according to the gestation age. I was told my option is to terminate as it is no longer viable.

Since the pregnancy I've been fighting a cold and HSV2 reoccurance, and today I have also noticed a patch of hair loss on my scalp - I've read that adrenal exhaustion can lead to poor progesterone level -which I am wondering if it can contributed to the no heart beat? -if I should have it checked asap if there's a chance to boost it up to keep the pregnancy viable still?

I was told that I can wait until the end of next week (Friday) to repeat the ultrasound as they may suspect my gestional age may be 1-2weeks ealier....and I've also read for some pregnancies heartrate may not be detectable until 8-9th weeks.
I'm really holding on a glimps of hope- but am also realistic that miscarriages can and is more than likely to occur in the next few weeks as the morning sickness have almost completely subsided or absent today (only started today) also makes it more realistic as well.  

[nunu1977]

I responded to your other post about this this. I truly hope everything is ok!