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I am almost 8 weeks and found out that my progesterone level is only 14.5. My doctor wants to put me on Prometrium for the next three weeks. I hear that manufactured progesterone can cause birth defects. Has anyone else heard this?

Stacey - I've heard this too. The concern is that progesterone prevents an abnormal embroyo from naturally miscarrying. This is just not true. I was on Prometrium and it helped with my spotting but invevitably I still miscarried. If your baby is healthy it will continue to grow and develop. If not, then no amount of Progesterone or Prometrium will help. Best wishes!

Stacey - I don't think 14.5 is very low. I've had a reproductive specialist monitor my pregnancy until last week and I'm now 13 weeks along. My blood was drawn weekly. At five weeks, my progesterone was 16. My doctor put me on prometrium 2 times a day and rechecked me the following week. My level only went to 19. The doctor increased me to three times a day and my level dropped to 14.5. My prescription ran out and I stopped taking the prometrium. I was curious to see if my levels would drop significantly. I was rechecked on Wednesday and my level was 15. My levels have stayed between 14.5 and 19 my whole pregnancy so far regardless if I was taking prometrium 1 time, 2 times, 3 times or none per day. I have now transferred over to my regular OB/GYN and they don't have the same belief in progesterone levels as the Reproductive Specialist. I am no longer on Prometrium.

You know that if we were all white males between the ages of 30-50 there would be answers to all our questions.

I just retested today and my progesterone level went from 7.7 to 12.6 in less than 48 hours without starting the Rx.I am 4.5 weeks pregnant My hcg levels trippled. She told me not to take the Rx. and that she felt my levels were both fine. I will get tested in another week to track the progress. Good luck everyone.

Hello. My last post was 2/15.. I was sooo excited to have found out that my progesterone levels went up w/ the suppositories and that my HCG was doubling like it should; however, I had my first u/s yesterday and they said my gestational sac was small for 6 weeks. I was somewhat rea__sured when they suggested that I may just not be as far along as they thought and then they took more blood. I began spotting lightly last evening and got my levels back this morning...and am sad to report that my levels dropped significantly(hcg 100, progesterone 3.3).. my MD told me that I should miscarry this weekend. I am sooooo very disappointed and sad. I had been trying to get pregnant for almost 2 years and was so elated that it finally happened.... Thank you for sharing your stories.. it really gave me hope in a time so confusing and scary. I will try again soon. Hopefully it will work out for me in the future. Good luck to all of you.

Amy- I am so sorry about your loss. I can't imagine how frustrating trying to get pregnant for two years and then having this happen. I have went through 2 of them myself and I know how hard it is to deal with and to understand. One thing you need to believe in is that at the very least, you know you can get pregnant and just because this one misscarried doesn't mean the next will. I will pray for you and wish you the best of luck when you try again.

Thank you so much Becky for your words of encouragement. Hope has begun to dry my tears and getting pregnant was the first battle...I am not giving up yet! Again, thank you for responding to my post. I will keep updating on this site..hopefully I will have good news in the next few months! Good luck to you during your pregnancy. I will pray that everything goes well for you too! Keep me updated!

Hello! There is a website created just for this issue. It was referenced above, but there is a new address and look and everything. This website was created specifically about this issue and the founders are pa__sionate about making the awareness of this issue well-known. Check it out! http://lowprogesteroneinpregnancy.741.com

They should put you in some supplements. Iam 4 weeks and 3 days now and I have had spotting for about a week. My hcg level doubled but my progesterone was 4.4 yesterday. So my specialist made me take a ovidrel shot to boost up the progesterone. I have had the morning sickness the last 4 days. I have miscarried about 3 years ago with a chemical pregnancy. I asked them 5 times yesterday and they said i was pregnant but concerned with my progestrone level. Has anyone ever heard of giving an ovidrel shot?

I don't so much have an answer as I have the wish to say "Thank You" to all of you who have shared your stories. I have a 2 1/2 year old and had experienced no problems except gestational diabetes. Since then I've experience 3 miscarriages in 1 1/2 years. Currently, I've been undergoing testing to find out any problems. My most recent test was for the progesterone, and I go in this afternoon for the results.

Went to the doctor today after a pos home test on Fri night. I have had 10 m/c in 9 yrs. 9 out of 10 at between 5-8 weeks. The Doctor did the bloodtests which will be back on in Wed but in the meantime I have been put on Prometrium 100mg 2x a day. Looks like that i should be about 6 weeks if I have the dates right, no spotting at all, a little pressure but no cramping. I I can get through the first 3 months I have a shot but then I also have other issues that start showing up about 4-5 months due to unicorniate uterus. I also have PCOS. Anyone else in a similar situation?

Wendy, Sandra & Others - I ended up having a D&C on Valentine's Day (not very romantic), since the doctor wanted to send the fetal tissue for testing since this was my 3rd miscarriage. I'm doing okay physically, but very up-and-down emotionally. The next thing we're going to try is Clomid which should give me healthier ovulations, since my babies don't seem to make it past 6-8 weeks gestation. Once I become pregnant, the specialist says we'll test progesterone levels and only use supplements if levels are below 12. I appreciate all your input, advice, prayers and words of wisdome. Thanks everybody!

My OB said that any progesterone level over 12 is fine during pregnancy. They only prescribe supplements when levels drop below that number. I was taking Prometrium (200 mg), which is a natural form of progesterone which you can take orally. Much easier than v____al suppositories! Hope this info helps.

I was told my a midwife and my new OB, who is a high-risk specialist, that you should only take progesterone supplements through 12 weeks of pregnancy. At that point, your progesterone levels will naturally drop because the placenta takes over at that time.

Amber-I am so sorry you had to go through another D&C. That just absolutely sucks! I am so glad though, that you are keeping us updated on how you are doing-keep writing because it really will help you. Did you see a Pregnancy Specialist yet? Did he/she give you any answeres as to what may be causing your mc's? Anyways, I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers-I know what it is like to suffer an mc so just hang in there.