what level of progesterone is considered low when pregnant?

[melanie169]

Hi, hope someone can shed some light for me.  I have been trying to have a baby for 1and 1/2 years and we got a BFP and had my Progesterone tested and it came back at a 15.3.  My doctor was out of town but the doctor on call said to go on Crinone progesterone supplements.  I thought over 15 was ok, and although the nurse got snippy and told me to take it I decided not to.  Two days later my HCG doubled and my progesterone level went up to 17.5.  The nurse told me to stay on the progesterone (did not tell her I had not taken it yet).  I just feel like there is no need but now I am concerned that what if something happens and it could have been prevented.  I just do not like taking drugs that are not needed.  I was on Clomid 6 months ago and had very bad side effects.  I know the progesterone is not said to have too many side effects.  Can anyone tell whether they think my progesterone numbers are ok?  Thanks

[melanie169]

Thank you both for your posts.  I wish you both luck as well.  Just to let you know my last blood test came back and my HCG went up to 1002 and my progesterone is now a 22.  They are now happy with that progesterone number.  From all I have leared I think the the progesterone is very right for certain women who have low progesterone.  Mine is on the lower side but not so low that I felt it was needed.  I went through so much anguish deciding if I should take it or not and with much reflection decided not to. So far that decision has worked out for me and if there are any problems from here on in I do not think it will be from the progesterone level.  

Debdawn I am glad they might have found your problem and I you get pregnant soon.  and Glenda306 I hope you get pregnant soon too!  Good Luck to both of you!

[Glenda306]

Welcome.  I've been here for a month or 2 now...  I'm glad to see another woman over 35 posting.  Sometimes I feel like an old lady compared to the rest of these ladies.  I turned 40 in March and am TTC#4.  I've had low progesterone for my last 3 pg and 2 of them ended in m/c.  I'm taking progesterone from 2DPO on every month.  I don't have PCOS, but my hypothyroidism has a lot of the same symptoms/problems as PCOS.  I seem to O regularly, but have trouble getting and staying pg.  Found out I also have 2 clotting disorders (MTHFR & Factor V Leiden).

[Glenda306]

My progesterone was low for my last 3 pg and the 1st and 3rd ended in m/c.  My OB told me that taking progesterone would not save a "troubled" pg, but might help save an otherwise viable pg.  He told me that "20" or greater was where progesterone should be (at 3 1/2 weeks, anyway).  I took supplemental progesterone during all 3 pg and now I'm taking progesterone starting at 2DPO in hopes of helping to achieve and maintain a pg.  I hope all goes well for you.

[debdawn1027]

I am new to the site, 38 and TTC for over 1 1/2 yrs. I was not happy with my OB of 12 years, and went to a new dr. Said he could help, but with my age, sent me to a specialist. Within 2 months, they have done an HSG, blood panels, and an MRI of my pituitary gland. With history of PCOS, very abnormal cycles, etc... they wanted to check that. Well - that was the problem, my prolactin levels were HIGH, progesterone was low, and those were causing me not to be regular or ovulate. They found a small tumor on my pituitary gland, and are treating it with Rx... In addition to putting me on metformin, clomid & progesterone. I do not like to take meds, but they all make sense, and I am 6dpo and my prog. level was 44, it has never been that high, so I am hopeful that they found the problem and solved it quickly.

I wish you the best - just wanted to throw my 2 cents on the progesterone.

[melanie169]

Thanks for your message and I agree that I have to be careful not to jump to conclusions that someone is trying to be negative.  I also thank Imcrt for writing me and it does show strong character. I am glad that you are now on the right track and you were able to get results yourself.  Hopefuly everything works out for you soon. Tomorrow I go in for my third set of HCG and Progesterone tests.  If my progesterone has not gone up then my husband and I decided that I would take the progesterone.  I just wated to give my body a chance to do it on its own considering the placenta is supposed to maufcature it and this is such an early pregnancy.  I am of course worried, I actually posted a question about pregnancy symptoms fluctuating because I was scared.  

I agree that you have to take things into your own hands at times.  I know there are so many great doctors out there but often the patient gets lost in the mix.  Thanks for all your advice.  

[melanie169]

Wanting4#1 is right do not take a break from this site.  I totaly understand what you said, and like I said to wanting4#1 I am perhaps over senstitive.  Please, please, believe me that it is all water under the bridge and I understand where you are coming from.  Like I said, I so appreciate your advice and now that you fleshed that out I understand why you feel so strongly.  I wish you luck and like I said DON"T TAKE A BREAK!! Take care.

[wanting4#1]

lmcrt - I hope that you don't take a break!  This site is wonderful at supporting people; however, it is still two-dimensional and therefore the words that are typed are not necessarily the words that are read - if that makes sense.   I think you showed a great deal of character to take the time to reply and clarify your message and I think that it was able to be put into context fairly quickly.

Melanie - I think Rene is correct in the chicken and the egg theory.  Have they done any additional testing? I know that there are some blood, chromosomal tests, etc. that are typically done after multiple miscarriages.  Although I am still stymied as to why these aren't routine and women are forced to endure the emotional heartbreak of multiple miscarriages, but I'll save that for another conversation! :)  Do you take baby aspirin?  Supplements of any kind?

It's frustrating that doctors don't allow the team approach to this sensitive subject. I know my body better than anyone and when someone tries to dismiss my concerns or fears, it really pushes me over the edge.  I, too, faced doctors who dismissed my BBT concerns and I finally put enough pieces together to (self) diagnose that I had sub-clinical hypothyroidism and convinced my OB to give me the medication for it.  I felt better within a few days and when they finally put me on DHEA, I felt better the very day I took it.  I think that I am finally getting on the right track to be able to conceive naturally, but I am a bit angry that I had to 'waste' two years with conceited egos before I could get to this point and I have still had to do most of it on my own!

Good luck and never be afraid to stand up for yourself!

[lmcrt]

I'm very sorry if my message came across harsh, I sometimes could be to blunt my mom has told me that. I just wanted to really let you know how important the progesterone is to maintain a pregnancy. A couple of my girlfriends miscarried because of low prog. so I just was worried when you said you ignored your doctors order for progesterone. I meant no disrespect. I have a progesterone problem so I'm very sensitive on the subject and would never want to see you feeling bad about not taking the progesterone and then to miscarry. Your pregnancy will go wonderful. I hope the best to you. I am a nurse and have done massive research on infertilty so maybe I just know to much for my own good and I'm paranoid. Trying to concieve myself on all these hormones is making me crazy. I think I will take a break from this site for a little while.

[melanie169]

Thank you for the information.  That is how I understand it as well and why I did not want to take the progesterone and it helps so much to hear someone else say it (although I know that you also suggest perhaps taking it).  My Gynecologist had only done one progesterone level check about 7 months ago and it was low (2) but I knew it was going to be low that month because it was one the few months my BBtemps were all over the place.  I told her that, but it would seem that they put no stock in the BBT's and told be to take the Clomid.  I went to a specialist and based on that one test they are making the decision that my levels are always low and I am at risk.  I feel strongly that I do not need it but at this point after trying for so long fear creeps in and you question yourself. When I spoke with my Gynecologist she said that she gets concerened under 15 but reproductive specialist tend to be much more prone to give a lot of progesterone.  

I wish you all the luck.  My friend also had several miscarriages and she now has 2 girls! Thanks and I hope your time is soon!!!      

[rene67]

My understanding is that the low progesterone diagnosis is somewhat controversial in the medical field.  When a miscarriage occurs or is destined to occur, progesterone drops. Low progesterone may not be in fact what causes a miscarriage, it may simply be the result of an inevitable miscarriage.  Do you get what I mean?  Sort of like the chicken and the egg argument...

Still, I know many people take them when they have very low levels, its a precaution many doctors want to take particularly with recurrent miscarriage patients who are found to have low progesterone.  I have had 3 miscarriages and not once did my doc recommend progesterone, although my pre-preg level was normal.  This is definitely a personal decision, but you may want to just take it to be on the safe side, particularly if your doctor said so.  

This link has some information on side effects
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a604017.html

I'm hoping all goes well for you!

[melanie169]

Thank you so much for your reply.  You are very kind to take the time to truly make me feel better.  The comment has been sitting with me and you are right that this is not indicative of the wonderful advice I see flying around this site.  Perhaps she did not mean it to come out that way and perhaps I was little over sensitive.  I wish the best for you as well, and you are going to get there!!  I take notice of your positive energy and the encouragment you give to other women so it did not surprise to me that you took the time to reply.  You just keep on with all of your positive energy and you cannot go wrong.  Also I think you hit the nail on the head, my progesterone level may be sufficient but not ideal.  Thanks, Thanks and Thanks!!!  

[wanting4#1]

Melanie - first and foremost, let me state that most people on this site would not tolerate a comment such as lmcrt's but I want to thoroughly applaud you for your articulate and rational reply!  It's so nice to see someone be able to say something so effectively!

Let me also say that I hope that she meant to state it as a way of letting you know that you wouldn't want that to happen and have that guilt on you, not as an insult. (I hope!)

I, too, am always questioning doctors and get a great deal of information from this site; however, it needs to be stressed that this isn't a medical forum (although there is one, I haven't had much luck in ever getting a doctor to reply to my questions on it!). I would probably recommend getting a second opinion instead of just not taking the progesterone.  While numbers above 15 are sufficient, I don't think many doctors would say that they are ideal and I do believe that most doctors would prescribe a supplement.  Also, I am not sure if a 2 point rise is significant or not, but I think that you are probably in need of either more answers from your current doctor or new ones from a new doctor!

Good luck and wishing you a happy and HEALTHY nine months! :)

[melanie169]

I think your advice was very good and I thank you for it, but I think the last sentence was not very kind and not needed.  I of course I would not want to do anything that might harm my chances of having a successful preganacy, but questioning whether a certain drug is neccessary is not a bad thing and I am new to this.  I had one doctor tell me that numbers over 15 were ok and the other tell me to take Crinone.  I have been consulting everyone I know for information on this matter as well as the kind women on this website.  There are potential serious side effects, and before I take the drug I wanted to get a better idea if it is needed or if I am just making a contribution to the pharmaceutical companies bank accounts at risk to myself and my baby.  Like I said reading your message was very informative and I thank you for the time you took to help me out but the end was a bit much and left me angry and feeling bad.  I am sure that is not the intended purpose of this forum, your message was loud and clear with out the guilt.    

[lmcrt]

Melanie you really should start taking the crinone low progesterone is a very common reason for miscarriage at 6-8 weeks. The progesterone is vital and even if your #'s go up on there own the prrogesterone can't hurt. If your prog gets to high they will discontinue the crinone. I strongly encourge you to start the crinone. If you don't and miscarry then that will be all on you.

[melanie169]

Thanks for the website  There is some good information there.  That helps. I just keep hearing different numbers from all over.  Thanks again.

[melanie169]

Thanks so much for getting back to me.  It is good to hear you used it and it did not have many side effects.  Also that my current level is not too far off the 20. If when I get retested it has not gone up I will start taking the progesterone. I really appreciate the info.

[fifi blue]

check this out.  scroll down to the middle of the page where they have progesterone levels in pregnancy.

(http://www.pinelandpress.com/faq/hormonelevels.html#female)

good luck

[bny807]

Congrats on your BFP! : )    I was told from my RE that during pregnancy they like to see the number above 20...   its defintely a personal decision.. we used it, it doesn't have many side effects and anything is worth not loosing the pregnancy!   GOOD LUCK and CoNGRATS!