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Wow! I'm so glad I asked! My doctor told me to start taking it on CD 15 when I ovulate, so I wouldn't even know if I was pregnant. This is probably because I lost two of my babies very early on, about CD 32. I knew I was pregnant because my cycles are always 28 days and I tested to find a weak positive with them. That leads me to yet another question (sorry), but say I started taking it when I ovulated and then continue. If I'm not pregnant, I wouldn't know because I wouldn't menstrate? Is that right? Then once I found out I wasn't pregnant and stopped taking them, how long does it take to clear out of your system so that you can start ovulating again? Maybe I should ask a doc these questions, but in case you knew, I thought I would ask. :)

Niki- I am a__suming you put my name in the prior post meaning that it was to me. Not that you were meaning to be me. lol... Anyhow, I can't believe your doctor would have you take progesterone supplements 15cd.. that seems too early. I think that if you have a 28 day cycle every month that you should take the supplements if you past that 28 day mark, or if you get a BFP before it. But yes, taking the supplements when your not pregnant can prolong your cycle. Also, if you have normal cycles every 28 days then that doesn't even sound like you have a progesterone problem. Usually if you have luteal phase defect (like me).. which is the lack of progesterone production, then you never have regular periods... I mean, that is why they are abnormal, is because your hormone levels aren't to par. But, it seems that your hormone levels are good seeing that you have a normal cycle. Just something else to think about. Maybe you have MTHFR homotype... where you basically only need baby aspirin to save the pregnancy. If I were you I would ask for extensive testing... like, 3 days after your period to see what you levels are at, then day 8 and then day 16 to make sure that you ovulated that cycle. If everything shows clear, then you probably have no hormonal problem and it could be something else. I sure hope that whatever it is, they figure it out and you go on to have a wonderful healthy next pregnancy. :)

So sorry, Danielle! You're right, I wasn't thinking clearly. :) Thank you for the info, but now I am more confused than ever... sigh... I just don't want to lose another baby! I think it would be awful if they started pumping me with stuff I don't need, especially if it's going to throw my cycles off and confuse me so I won't even know that I'm pregnant. And the baby asprin thing, I'm wondering about that too... The doctor mentioned something in pa__sing about it, but she said she thought this was a progesterone problem. Will you test positive on a pregnancy test if you're not, but on progesterone supplements already??? Isn't it progesterone that stimulates the positive mark in most HPTs? Oh... I think I have a headache! Thank you for your help! By the way, are you nurse? You sure know a lot about all of this!

I think it's the pregnancy hormone (HCG) that causes the results in HPTs. Anyway, I just wanted to post a follow-up to my experience with progesterone. I started taking it as soon as I found out I was pregnant (at 5 weeks). I had a miscarriage previously and a friend who has had multiple miscarriages got on it (per the suggestion of her doctor), which prompted me to request it from my doctor when I found out I was pregnant. Just wanted to let you know, Daniella, that all was well at my last appointment. The heartbeat was detected with the doppler machine, but I insisted on an ultrasound just to make sure everything looked okay. Everything is great. It was so amazing to see our baby. You could see all of his/her limbs moving around. You could see his/her face. It was very cool and definitely makes it feel more real now. I feel very relieved. I will still be anxious, but each doctor's visit that goes well will just keep making me feel more and more at ease. Thanks for your input, Daniella. This board has been a good place to go to see other women's experiences with taking progesterone.

Janet- that is so great to hear!! My next apt. is in 3 days to find out if its a boy or girl. So excited also!! Niki- what worries me is that your dr. is just a__suming you have a progesterone problem. Yes, I have a medical degree for I am a military base psychiatrist... but, even though I am not in the OB field I do know quite a bit about it mainly from personal experience. If you were my patient I would test your progesterone levels thru out your cycle to see if you even have a problem before telling you to take them cd15. Usually if you have regular periods then its usually NOT a hormone problem. I never had regular periods and would only get them like every 3 months because I lacked progesterone. But, after 3 miscarriages they tested and it sure enough was the case. I would get my levels up just high enough to ovulate (only a few times a year).. but not high enough to sustain a pregnancy. I started mine on this one 13 days after conception and I am now going on 17 weeks with a healthy pregnancy. If I were you, I would ask your doctor to test your levels post AF. To see if they are rising accordingly, etc. Also, progesterone supplements will NOT give you a false positive pregnancy test. My dr. put me on "provera" to induce my period and day 5 of 7 of the pill I had a BFP... I called the dr. thinking that it was from the provera and they said NO and to come in. Sure enough it was a new pregnancy. So, if you have a positive test, don't think its negative hehe. Has your doctor done anykind of other testing with you and your hubby?? like chromosome test, sperm test, and testing different hormone levels at different times of your cycle?? If not, maybe you need to get an answer or go talk to a fertility clinic. I know exactly how you feel for I lost 3 in the past. Luckily mine was a progesterone problem but took me 3 loses to get that answer. Yet, its not always the case. YOu may have MTFHR. Just something to look into. Good luck!! Keep posted on what you find out

whoops... MTHFR homotype. or Factor V Leiden

Thanks again! I really appreciate the info. I did call my midwife's office today and spoke with a nurse. Actually, she told me that having regular cycles doesn't mean anything regarding progesterone. She also said that taking progesterone wouldn't make my cycles any longer or postpone menstration at all. Maybe you heard differently? Any way, I'm relieved because I was feeling very confused and frustrated. She said, they believe it is a progesterone problem because most of my miscarriages occurred just a few days after I would normally get my period. I'll try it and see what happens. Can't hurt right? Hopefully... any how, it certainly will be better than losing another one without anything to try to stop it. Also, yes, they took several tests a week ago, chromosomal, and two others which they are testing levels of various things (don't ask me). Any how, hopefully I'll hear back about those in less than a month. New question, does anyone here use the sympto-thermal method to try to conceive? I had just two days with low temp and fertile fluids and then my temp jumped up again. Is it possible to ovulate with only two days of a low temp? I'm just wondering if this was the beginning of my first cycle or not. Thanks much everyone!

Hey Niki- actually it is very known that if you having abnormal periods is a sign of lack of progesterone. Almost all the woman I've ever know to have had tested, for a fac,t that they have "luteal phase defect" never had regular periods. So, I have no idea why she would tell you that. Look online about luteal phase defect. Trust me, I am not telling you to stop taking it at all for it saved my pregnancy. I just don't want you to take it thinking that was the only problem and you having to go thru another miscarriage if it was something else. No woman should ever have to go thru that, especially more than once. Also, having a miscarriage more than once right around the time your period is due, also doesnt mean it *has* to be a progesterone problem. Anyhow, I do have luteal phase defect so I know all about it. I sure hope that you find out exactly the information you need. I will say, that taking progesterone before you ovuate WILL supress your ovulation. So, you may want to take it day 16 or 17, just to make sure you did indeed ovulate. And yes, it can help!! But ONLY after you fure sure ovulated. Niki I wish you the best of luck... post after you get your results back. If you read Erins post... she also was told to take progesterone and after they ran test on her, they found out she never even had a progesterone problem. Do you know what any of your progesterone labs have came back at? on any of your pregnancies or in the middle of your cycle?

Taking progesterone after you ovulate is ok, just like your doctor said. If you have a luteal phase defect it can help to straighten out your cycles. They are probably not putting you on the strong stuff, but if you do have a fertilized egg, it will give it a chance to stick. If your levels are low you shed your lining to early. It sounds to me like your medical team know what they are talking about. HCG causes a positive pregnancy test, not progesterone. We have progesterone in our systems even when we are not pregnant, just some of us have less than others, which is what causes problems like the luteal phase defect. I hope this turns out to be your month!

Thank you so much ladies! I just appreciate the support and the info. :) Daniella, I didn't mean to say anything against what you said, just that I think that if you have a regular cycle it doesn't necessarily mean that you don't have a problem with progesterone. That's all. :) My obgyn (head of the midwife office I go to) has been one for about 30 years and she is very well respected in the region. (Not saying anything against what you said, just that she probably has her reasons which we may not understand.) I bet no one knows for sure what the problem is, but I'm just hoping that it will be resolved soon. I don't even care to know WHAT it is, just as long as I can hopefully have many more healthy babies! :) Thank you so much for your help. I haven't gotten any results back yet, but will post them when I do.

Niki- I just hope that you find out exactly what you need. Its just so hard if you miscarry so early so they can't run test. Like on my last one, I had a D&C so they were able to run test. And yes, if your levels are just lower than normal taking the supplements can only help!! :) Just make sure you for sure ovulated first. :) Good luck!! I sure hope you are blessed soon!!!

Thank you, I think I will do that, wait until I'm sure I have ovulated, like the day after the day that my temperature rises (basal temp). I certainly don't want to suppress ovulation! :)

I wish you the best of luck Niki!!! Keep posted. Hopefully we here some great news soon. like a BFP!!! :-)

I wish you the best of luck Niki!!! Keep posted. Hopefully we hear some great news soon. like a BFP!!! :-)

any info please? this is my 3rd pregnancy this year. monday (17dpo) hcg - 16 ,progesterone - 40. then today - Today: hcg 27. progesterone - 13.4. I am 5 weeks today also. Does anyone have a similar story. Am I going to loose this one as well?

No it doesn't mean you will lose it necessarily. Knowing your levels, I would hope your dr will put you on a progesterone cream supplement to help sustain the pregnancy. Ask him and voice your concerns now before something happens. Good luck to you!