Low Progesterone

[J202]

Hi, I'm 29 years old and just found out i'm 5 weeks pregnant.  I've already had two miscarriages due to a uterine septum which I had surgically fixed in January.  My HCG numbers have been doubling well and are now up to 3700.  However, my progesterone is not.  I started out with 29, but now it has gone down to 21.  I just started supplements after pushing my doctor to do so, and i'm getting an ultrasound next week (so long to wait).  Anyone have this happen to them before, or take progesterone supplements and have a healthy baby?  Not sure if i'm just headed to yet another miscarriage. = (

[addysmom]

I was on progesterone suppositories myself....and I was instructed to take them until I hit 12 weeks...worked great for me!  I had 3 miscarriages before my DD and it was due to undiagnosed low progesterone!  I am now pregnant with #2...and definitely doing the progesterone again!

[J202]

Hi Jess, thats great!! I'm so excited for you! I had my ultrasound yesterday and they saw a heartbeat, so I feel a little better.  Still a long way to go.  But he told me some good news...he said that progesterone pulsates, meaning it goes up and down in a normal pregnancy.  And I definitley trust him because he has wrote tons of articles and textbooks on infertility. So hopefully this makes you feel a little better. Keep me updated.
Jen

[jess816]

Well I made out good today at the DR's =) My HCG level is up to 220 and my progesterone is up to 6.2...I go back on Friday for an ultrasound they said I should see my baby and the heart beat (well they said if its in my uterus.....which I think it is) so we'll see fingers crossed....Jess

[jess816]

J202 thanks for the kind words and yes after my 2nd mc I started seeing a fertility Dr and they found that I have Factor V Leiden which is a blood clotting disorder. I give myself a shot every morning in my stomach ans will do so until the day before I have a baby. I started the shots in February after my 4th MC (I demanded to take them (the shots) before I got pregnant)  so now all I can do is wish and hope this will be fine. You are in my prayers as well and I hope everything turns out good for you at the Dr's on Monday keep me posted and I have a DR apt as well to check my numbers so I will let you know how I made out. I want to thank you again for your words b/c they really made me feel better especially when you said many people only go by the HCG # and now I feel so much better thanks a million.

[J202]

Thank you everyone who replied.  Congratulations on all of your BFP's! Hopefully we'll all be talking about our babies in January. I'll let you know what happens on Monday at my ultrasound - very scared. Let's keep each other updated on all our stories, its nice to have people to talk with in this stressful time. My prayers are with you all.

[J202]

Hi Jess, I'm so sorry to hear of your losses.  i know it is SO hard.  Have you been worked up for your recurrent m/c? Sometimes you have to change doctors to get an answer. That's what I had to do, i'm in the medical profession myself and its sad to say but there are many doctors out there who act like they know what they're doing but don't.  See if maybe you can go to a reproductive endocrinologist if you're not already. I was going to a regular OB/GYN and I had my first m/c, he did an ultrasound and said everythings fine don't worry.  And of course I had another m/c, and changed doctors and they found a huge septum in the middle of my uterus which was supposedly "fine." But on a happier note, you're pregnant now.  There are many people who believe in just hcg numbers and yours are doubling! (I should take my own advice, right?) Just keep taking the progesterone supplements, i'm sure you'll be fine. Hopefully both of us will.  You're in my prayers, keep me updated.

[jess816]

I'm in the same boat with you but my progesterone levels are so much lower. I take prometrium 2x daily vaginally. I'm 4 weeks and my HCG #'s are at 70 and my Progest # is only at 3.8 (this was today). My #'s keep doubling every 48 hours on Wednesday my numbers were 26 (HCG) and 1.2 (Progest) so I'm holding on to hope b.c that's all I have at this point. I have had 4 miscarriages and I can not go through another one so I am worried sick over this but I am also holding out hope a person can only take so much you know. Well I hope my answered helped and if anyone knows about my levels and can help me that would be great b/c I don't go back to the Dr's till Monday and I cant take it off my mind

[YogaChick]

Hi -- Congrats on your BFP!!  I've just been researching progesterone... here's what I've discovered through my experience, my Dr & some medical journals...

Oral pills don't do much good since they are broken down by the digestive system.  Suppositories are much better, but the problem I've been running into is that they leak (more on that later).  The other option is progest. in oil (PIO) which is a shot in the bum daily or every few days.  

My RE/Dr. says there is little research on the difference between PIO and suppositories but if suppositories aren't doing enough they usually switch you to PIO.  

I'm did a FET from my Dec. IVF cycle and have to be on progesterone since there isn't a corpus luteum.  I started by taking 200mg 3x/day vaginally.  I had some cramping right after my BFP & it reminded me of my m/c last year so I insisted my RE test my progest. levels... they were at 39 which she said was okay, but switching to (WARNING, TMI-->) 4x/day rectally, less leaked out and I've raised my levels to 47.  

Hope that helps... stay on top of your Dr.... mine said it's not really something that is tracked so it's hard to say what the good levels are and where the danger starts.  Luteal phase defect is really common & oodles of people take progesterone so it seems very safe -- in fact there as one study I read that found babies were healthier and better developed when progest. levels were elevated, usually though medication ;)

Hang in, I can't imagine a m/c is imminent, especially with numbers in the 20's... although I totally understand how worried you are, I'm a mess!    

[nickieb85]

I personally haven't had this problem but I have read alot of other posts from women that have. As long as you are on the supplements you should be fine until the placenta takes over at 12 weeks. I hope this helps.