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I am 6 weeks today and found out my level also is low but they didn't tell me what number. I have a 20 mo. old who is very healthy but this pregnancy scares me b/c everything was perfect with my first. I'm so scared I will have a miscarriage. Someone tell me everything will be ok.

I have been reading the postings on this website for several months now and I thought I would share my experience(s) with pregnancy and progesterone. I am 34 now, having waited several years into a great marriage to call ourselves "ready" to become parents. While pregnant last fall, I had problems with spotting. The nurse pract_tioner I'd first seen suggested I get my levels checked b/c the situation was similar to what she'd experienced with 2 m/c. I'd started receiving shots about 5 wks into my pregnancy and had blood checked every other wk. Although my levels dropped at 9 wks, I was told this is not uncommon when the placenta takes over production of prog. It was at our u/s at 11 wks that we learned the baby had not survived. We went through the D & C process after I made the decision the waiting would be too much and the natural process more traumatic. At the follow-up appt, the doctor told us we could try immediately even though he's well aware a lot of dr's recommend waiting 3-6 mos. His belief is that you try again when ready and once your cycle is established. His only suggestion was that we look into charting my cycle (using a natural family planning method) due to the fact we knew I'd had the problem with low progesterone. (He stressed that prog problems aren't always automatic from pg to pg--each one can be different. And I have several friends and acquaintances who've had to take prog in different forms, and not for every pregnancy.) We didn't do this rt away b/c it seemed like such an interference. But after my third cycle and much grief, we met with a nurse who got us going on the charting. The charting only lasted about 12 days. We determined when in my cycle I could start taking prog (an oral form-Prometrium) around the time of conception. And although we got started a few days late at that point, we learned we were pg a week or two after starting the oral. I was started on the twice weekly shots at what would have been 4 wks and continued until approx 22 wks. We had several scares including that major drop in readings (this was at about 12 wks) when the placenta takes over. I was sure we were in the same boat as last time, but at the next 2 wk check, it had shot up over 15 "points" which meant the placenta was doing it's job. I was kept on the shots for a few more wks and then the oral for a couple more to ensure the levels stayed up. Basically I was weaned off the dosages. (I do want to mention that we saw an OB/GYN early on in this 2nd pg. She said she does use prog, but the studies her clinic follows says there is no firm evidence using the supplement helps. Having heard this, I put more faith in my family dr to seems to believe in it wholeheartedly and uses it regularly from the accounts he and the nurses there were able to share with me.) I have not had any more blood cks in the last month as the dr said it's not necessary with last month's u/s and this month's heartbeat check. I know this is long, but I wanted to help out those with questions by relaying my history so far. Also, I think it's been mentioned in a past posting, but this is the chart my dr's office uses to determine proper levels--it's hard to read, but a range shown and a notation made about the high end. I was told as long as the readings are in the range of the "dotted" lines, the pg is still moving along. It's just hard to determine those readings from the chart! http://repro-med.net/papers/progest.php I hope this helps someone out there. What I have learned is every woman is different and every pregnancy is different. Have faith, do your research, and ask LOTS of questions.

Allison-I agree with Dani. Talk to your doctor about writing a letter of medical necessity-that it is to maintain a pregnancy and not infertility. I also have Hypothyroidism-specifically, Graves Disease, and your doctor can use this diagnosis to site the reason you would need to be on progesterone so that your Insurance would cover it. I have managed several health clinics and have also been a medical biller for about 7 years so I know how to get around what insurances won't pay for. I myself have had two m/c's and have been on progesterone for the other two succesfull pregnancy's that I have had. I am now 33 weeks pregnant with my third child and have been on progesterone since ovulation and I know from past experience(my two m/c's) that if I don't take progesterone, I can't maintain my pregnancy and Hypothyroidism plays a part in this. Hope this helps and be adamant! You are the patient it is your body and your pregnancy so don't let them talk you out of taking it. Good Luck!

I started reading this site back in May and wanted to share my story. In June 2003 I gave birth to a son who was conceived only one month after going off the pill. I was diagnosed with preclampsia at week 36 and put on bed rest. I was induced at week 39 and had a perfect baby. My husband and I started trying in January 2005 for another baby. I found out I was pregnant in February. I went for my first doctors visit at 7wks. and two days later I was bleeding, a miscarriage. I was devasted, I had even bought maternity clothes. My doctor suggested we wait a cycle and start trying again. When I became pregnant in April my husband and we very cautious, telling only a few people. The doctor sent me in for blood work early to monitor my levels. Results showed increasing hcg levels but low progesterone. At that time she put me on prometrium 200mg/day. Ongoing blood work showed increasing hcg but still low progesterone. At 7wks she suggested an ultrasound to confirm that everything was okay. The ultrasound revealed a sac but no heartbeat. I decided to have a d/c instead of waiting for things to happen naturally. Tests run after the d/c showed a chromosomal abnormality, meaning low progesterone or not, the pregnancy would not have lasted. My doctor again recommended waiting at least a cycle before trying again. She put me on clomid at day three of my cycle and progesterone supplements after ovulation. My period was due almost 5 days ago. I have taken two pregnancy tests and both were negative. I called my doctor and she said to continue the supplements until day 35, to make sure that I am not pregnant, she said sometimes they can delay your period. I am so frustruated. We so badly want to have another baby. I have read research on clomid and in some cases in lowers the progesterone to low. I have not had a problem getting pregnant, it is just sustaining the pregnancies. Should I not take the clomid and just do the supplements next month? Anyone with advice?

Update on my situation-(see 6 posts up) Saw the Dr. She will be putting me on oral progesterone after this cycle's ovulation. Then, if no pregnancy occurs, I will begin clomid the beginning of my next cycle. Science may work, but I will take all the prayers I can get.

I have been taking progesterone injections for 8 weeks now.I am now 16 weeks. The doctor told me that at 18 weeks they just stop the injections and stop testing my levels. What if the levels dont stay where they are? will my body automatically produce it? Any answers will help

Tonya- I was told from several people you can go off the progesterone at 12-14 weeks because the placenta is developed enough to make it on it's own. I think maybe your doctor is being cautious because it does not hurt to have too much progesterone. Maybe they want you on it a little longer to be safe. Good luck!

Hi Tonya, I too was on Prog. supplements, v____al supposotories, I am at 14 weeks, my doc took me off last week after we heard the heartbeat on doppler. So far so good so yes it's normal to just stop taking it. The placenta has now taken over the progesterone production! :)

I need some advice...I just found out last week that I am pregnant for the 5th time - however I have only 1 child. My last m/c was May2nd of this year. I have been through the mill with every test possible and they cannot figure out why I have m/c 3 times. My Dr said yesterday that he wants to put me on prometrium 200mg 1x a day. I am scared to death to take this. I have read all the wonderful sucess stories here but I still am scared stiff! I am 4 wks 3days. What are some of the side effects? Will it hurt my baby? My HCG counts are great and doubling every 2 days. I have Hypothyriodism and it is in check and my endocrinologist says its fine and is monitoring it really close, so I'm not to worried about that. I've had 2 drs say you need to take prometrium before you even get pregnant and 3 say its better after?? What am I supposed to think?? Please - any advice is welcome, as are your prayers! Thanks!

Thank you Dani and Kelly

I was given Prometrium suppositories to take twice a day for a month. There are risks with this drug. It has been linked to fetal deformities. My son was born with a deformity and died 1 hour after birth. My husband and I are dead set about trying again. But this time if I am told my hormone level is too low...I will refuse any progesterone pills!!!!!!!

Sarah-first of all I am sorry to hear about your baby. How awful that must have been for you both. Could they definitly link progesterone to the cause of your baby's problems because you only took the medicine for 1 month-deformities usually occur due to a chronic situation or of course a genetic problem. Four weeks is not considered chronic use. I personally have taken progesterone with all three of my pregnancy's from the time I ovulated until the time I gave birth and thank god, all of them are healthy. Most studies are over cautious, as they should be, in their reporting of how progesterone "could" affect a pregnancy. It is the same thing as caffeine. They reccomend you don't take in caffeine when you are pregnant because they are being overly cautious. No matter what the reason was for what happened to your child I am just so sorry and could never imaging that pain. I just wanted to make sure that all the good things the medicine has done for millions of mothers didn't get overlooked. Take care and good luck with your family.

I was just reading the postings and wondering if anyone could offer some insight. My doc said that my progesterone level was a little low. I am 4 weeks preg and my level was 18.3(at 3 weeks preg) I am waiting to see if it went up at all. I should know today. Should I be worried? She said my level should be at 21?

I,am,sorry.my,English,is,so,poor. I,am,a5.5weeks.last,week,I,have,a,bloodtest,about,pglevel,and,hcg.hcg,is,normal.pg,is,21,this,week,hcg,is,still,normal,but,pg,is,just15,my,dr,told,me,is,a,bad,signI.Now,I,take,crinone,8%every,day.I,have,no,hope.last,year,i.had,two,miscarrages,Could,you,give,me,advice.Thank,you,so,much!!!

Melissa, I am also 4 weeks with prior 3 miscarriages due to low progesterone. This time I am on the progesterone supplement. My First blood test was tested without the pills on Tuesday and it was 73 for HCG and 9.6 for progesterone. I seen a little bleeding the day I was due for my period but my dr didn't want to take a chance due to my history so I started to take the progesterone pill Tuesday and had another blood test yesterday 1 day later . The dr called with good news the HCG went 193 and my progesterone went up too 20.7 which he said is great. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. In first trimester Progesterone levels should range 9-47 and The HCG levels should be in first trimester 4-426.

I m/c recently and now on clomid again. Doc prescribed prog. v____al suppositories, but the pharmacy gave me a tube of cream and a suringe to administer it. Is this right? I thought suppositories were capsules or something. I really am hoping to get PG again this cycle, and by taking the porgesterone hope to keep it this time. Any advice would be appreciated!