Is it normal for progesterone levels to drop?

[Allip77]

I had an FET on October 7th and am waiting for the u/s on Nov 4th.  In the meantime, I've had 3 progesterone level checks and I'm freaking out today because my levels yesterday went down to 22 from 35.  I'm already taking 3 progesterone suppositories (endomedium) daily.  Is this drop in progesterone an indication I'm likely to miscarry???  Or could this be normal fluctuation?  I thought progesterone was supposed to continue increasing.  Has anyone else had this big of a drop in progesterone and still had a healthy baby??

THANKS!  Am sooo upset:(

[37andpregnant]

Ladies please! please! please! stop watching over the cooking pot!!! i'm sure you have all heard the phrase "a watched pot don't cook." Well that is my point, i myself am going through a similar situation, LMP gest. age is 4wks5days and U/S shows nothing... OB told me "he wishes he could tell me different but unfortunately he cannot, but after 32 yrs of experience he is almost sure the pregnancy will not be successful." I just keep in mind that not everyone is the same and not every Dr. went to school to learn me; and most importantly that whatever the outcome is, it's Gods will.

[smoochie29]

So i got a home doppler so now i can hear the heart beat every day and feel better. i have my early screen friday

[Allip77]

Nolta- I hope you just tested early..my fingers are crossed for you.  My RE put me on prometrium just as a precaution since I did an FET.  I think the nurse said that if you get pregnant naturally, your progesterone levels will go up naturally, but if you do a FET then you have to supplement.

Smoochie29- #s weren't great :(  They were better than my age and considered "negative" for Down Syndrome and Trisomy 18, but they were close to "borderline" so I'm really bummed out.  Our next scan isn't for another 5 weeks, and results won't be back for another week or 10 days after that...I cannot believe I have to wait that long.  I'm sure your screening will go better since you are much younger!  

[smoochie29]

How were your results? My early screen is dec 24th. Hoping to hear good news from you!

[Nolta]

I did a little of research on Endometrium and Prometrium. They seem the same. I know Prometrium is for progesterone and I read Endometrium is the same thing. Med help says this for both Endometrium and Prometrium, “This medication is used to restore menstrual cycles in women whose cycles have stopped. Progesterone is a natural female hormone that is needed to keep menstrual periods regular.” So I’m guessing there is no difference. This is kind of odd to me. What were you told by your RE why you need to take Endometrium?

I’m a little bum, I took a HPT when I woke up and it came out BFN but so did my OPK so that good. I had a BFP for my OPK for 8 days in a row. So I assuming since I don’t know what day I O’d I probably just tested too early. It’s nice to see that I’m not OPKing anymore.

[Allip77]

Hi, I'm sorry but I have no idea whether you should start the prometrium or not.  I would definitely try to get your OB right away and ask.  I was on endometrium...is that the same as prometrium?  if so, I'd say you could go ahead and start that, if you can't get hold of your OB for some reason.  I've got no medical expertise whatsoever, but since my RE started me on that right after the transfer, I imagine it's safe to take, especially if you've already been prescribed it.  But I'd try to get a hold of your OB ASAP.

[Nolta]

Thanks for the questions and comments. I forget that I’m not the only one who worries about such things. Also Congrats to you both! Things are sounding wonderful!

When I was pg the past summer (ended in mc) I was always worried about my progesterone as well. I was put on Prometrium right away, well after my first blood work. Anyhow, I think finally my DH and I got the deed done. I still have to wait a few days to do a HPT. But I was wondering what you two may think if I started to take Prometrium now? I've heard of women taking it right after ovulation to up their progesterone for pg. It’s just so hard to get a hold of my OB at times (especially on my end bc I work the graveyard shift).

[Allip77]

Congratulations!!  After the first ultrasound when you didn't post right away, I was worried, but I knew this one would be a good one.  You saw the heartbeat at 10 weeks so are really looking good now!!  When I went in at 10 weeks 1 day because of a little bleeding, the nurse said my chances were much higher after seeing the heartbeat after 10 weeks.  Hooray!

I would not worry one bit about the progesterone.  The placenta is producing all the progesterone needed now.

We go in on Tuesday for our detailed ultrasound, where they're going to test for abnormalities.  They'll look at nuchal fold, etc. and give us the results of our bloodwork from 2 weeks ago.  I'm feeling okay but of course I'm not completely relaxed given the baby still have to look healthy on this u/s and there's still a looooong way to go...

Are you still going to check in with this post?

[smoochie29]

It went soo good. 10 week fetus with strong heart beat moving around and the subchorionic bleed is gone!  Im starting to feel soo much more hopeful about this being the one! 2 more weeks and im out of 1st trimester! How are you guys?  

only thing is i went on the progesterone at 7.5 weeks when my progesterone dropped now my ob says to stop it and they are not checking progesterone...im scared to stop it but i do trust my ob....

[Allip77]

How did your ultrasound go yesterday?

[Allip77]

Babywanted- Thanks for the congrats!

Smoochie- Yet another pregnancy symptom! :)  Good luck tomorrow...let me know how it goes.

[babywanted556]

Congratulations....
When I was pg, I have no symptom at all even sore nipples.  We're so lucky, so enjoy your pg.  My son will be 5 months old this Xmas.

[smoochie29]

Thanks! Second ultrasound is tomorrow. Im 1. praying for healthy heart beat and dates to still be correct and 2. subchorionic bleed to be gone... I started out pretty small and im petite and have already gained 6lb so im just counting it as a positive pregnancy symptom :)

[Allip77]

You are saying exactly what I said when I was pregnant with my dd:  "my ONLY symptom is sore nipples" except you've got nausea, too.   Those are symptoms!! :)  Now that I'm pregnant for the second time, all I've got is sore nipples and a bigger stomach which is probably just leftover pudge from my first pregnancy (;)  but I'm not at all worried about "lack" of symptoms because I definitely remember that from my first pregnancy - only having sore nipples.  I was always so worried then, calling my dr, etc., but now I'm just glad that I don't suffer from all the other terrible symptoms I could be having.  Enjoy and try to relax..I know it's hard!

[trying43]

Pregnancy symptoms come and go.  I had that a lot with this pregnancy and they always came back with a vengence.  Good luck friday.

[smoochie29]

I need reasurance, no symptoms for 2 days except sore nipples and very little nausea over last week, us is on Friday

[smoochie29]

Im not sure if i should, at 30 im lower risk, my husband is adopted so we dont know anything about his side, but part of me thinks if i get some 1 in something odds of having something i might just worry more, im undecided. Im looking forward to dec 10th, next us i hope everything still looks good, im 9 weeks tomorrow. Im on pelvic rest till the subchorionic bleed decreased, its internal and they hope it resolves.

[Allip77]

Long story but my egg is actually from when I was 38 (we did a frozen embryo transfer) so at least that's better than 42...

[Allip77]

I'm so glad to hear that!!  I was getting worried when you didn't update on Wednesday.  Phew!  I didn't know you had a subchorionic bleed...I don't know much about those but does that mean you've seen blood or it's internal?  I have heard those are pretty common and in fact I think I had one with my dd.

I had a bit of a scare last night.  I had a tiny bit of bleeding which freaked me out at first and then it went away so I felt a little better.  Today I had an emergency u/s and everything is fine.  We saw the baby, measuring right on track at 10 weeks 1 day.  

We decided to do bloodwork and then do a follow-up u/s at 12 weeks...we may still decide to do diagnostic testing, either a CVS or amnio.  I'm 42 so there's no doubt we were going to do some type of testing.  Are you going to do any?  

[smoochie29]

Good! 8w4d with good heart beat. Still have subchorionic bleed so recheck US next week. Hope that doest turn into anything. Taking progesterone but not rechecking level . How r u?did you do early screen? I'm 30 yrs old

[Allip77]

How did the ultrasound go today?  I've been sending good thoughts your way.

[smoochie29]

Sounds good! thanks for the encouraging words. I will be in touch hopefully with good news on wed. Its wierd, yesterday i had severe nausea so i thoughts its from the progesterone since i just started it but today nothing! so maybe its pregnancy. I just hope the nausea returns :)  talk to you soon!

[Allip77]

Sorry I couldn't check in until today (was away from computer while with relatives for holiday).  But I was thinking about you.  I'm glad your doctor didn't seem worried.  I read somewhere that someone's OB told them how they hate that REs check progesterone because it does nothing but freak patients out for no reason.  It's totally normal for you to worry, especially since you've had two m/c, but try to relax...sounds ok.  Actually, sounds GOOD (!) - you have sore bbs and gas.  My nausea didn't kick in until 8 weeks with my dd.  I have a friend who never had any m/s.  

My update- my progesterone went up to 19.3 on Thursday (altho estradiol went down a little since I went off suppositories after last check) and my RE said all looks great and she's turning me over to my OB..no more bloodwork, anything for RE.  Whew...

BTW, another nurse I spoke with over the holiday told me that they check progesterone levels way more than other clinics and that it's really overkill.  She said plenty of other clinics do no checking and their patients are fine.  

I will be looking for your update after your u/s on Wednesday!

[smoochie29]

So they called and told me the results and gave me the option of starting progesterone suppositories or wait and recheck progesterone friday. I chose to start suppositories but they say they will not recheck my progesterone anymore.  I have ultrasound on wednesday and with the trending down progesterone Im concerned the baby is in trouble. They didnt seem as concerned as I am but they were not positive or reassuring. They said they normally dont check progesterone every week this long and are not always sure what the trend of the progesterone is. Ofcourse a falling progesterone can always mean pending miscarriage...I have been pregnant twice and lost both before 7 weeks. First time I had a heart beat.  I am 7 weeks 4 days today but I dont know if things are ok till wednesday. I dont have nausea, just sore breasts and im gassy.  It makes me feel better you think im over reacting. i hope so. Im also on a very low dose of only 50mg of progesterone once per night.... what were your results ?