Help, please?! Worried about low progesterone levels.

[huggingmama]

I'm 7 weeks, 1 day and just got bloodwork done yesterday. My hcg level is around 83,000, but my progesterone is only 13.6 so the midwife is putting me on a supplement (I've never taken one before). I've been looking up "normal" numbers online and am terrified. I don't even remember thinking about progesterone levels in my last pregnancy.

So I'll take the supplements, but is there any other reason for the low number? Could it be because I'm a vegetarian (BTW I have been craving meat the last few weeks!)?

I'm so upset. I'll get another test on Saturday but my ultrasound won't happen until 9 weeks.

Is the hcg level enough to have some kind of confidence that this baby will stick?

[MaerynPearl]

13 is not a dangerously low progesterone level... they only want to see it above 15 so its really just barely low...

and because progesterone comes in spurts throughout the day, its possible and LIKELY that you were tested at a low... and that your levels are actually perfectly fine, however taking the supplements is good.

I wouldn't worry with that level... at all... but I would follow through with more blood work and taking the progesterone just to be on the safe side.

[tngirl11]

Try not to worry. I know tons of women who have had low progesterone and taken the supplements, including me this pregnancy. I think my level was at 12 when I started supplementing. I'm at 26 weeks now, stopped taking the supplements at about 13 weeks, and all is well.

[theoldmommers]

Ok, I can't remember what my progesterone level number was, but at 7 wks and 4 days it was .1 above the lowest threshold and my HCG was 46,000. I was not put on any medications and now I'm nearly 30 wks and feeling great!

I was worried too, but since my HCG was high and I had a heartbeat on the 7w4d ultrasound my ob was confident (and with good reason )

Good luck!

[huggingmama]

Thanks all for the replies. I'm feeling a bit better, but horribly nauseous from the supplement I took (and general morning sickness)... waiting is awful!

[Lilcrunchie]

My oldest child was born after injectables/IUI and at that time my reproductive endo used progesterone prophylactically in IUI patients. So I never had low p4 but have no idea what my number would have been unmedicated (I used crinone, fwiw).

When I got pg with #2 (on my own, no intervention), I requested a p4 check. It was only a 9. I was *very* worried. I have PCOS and it is not uncommon in women w/ PCOS and wonky cycles to have low p4. I know many docs don't believe p4 supplementation helps, but I know of too many women w/ PCOS who were helped and I quickly started making phone calls to get on progesterone supplements (had recently moved and didn't have an established OB/GYN or midwife to talk to). They prescribed prometrium to be taken orally, but I took it vaginally as from what I've read that's far more effective. I started w/ the prometrium and asked for crinone again (crinone had to be ordered at my pharmacy so the prometrium was to cover me until I could get the crinone). My DD is now a little over 3. Whether the p4 supplementation helped her stick around, I don't know, but I'm glad I had it.

I'm pregnant w/ #3 and this time around (almost at my EDD). When I was ttc this time I talked w/ the nurse practitioner at my midwives' office and she was all for p4 supplementation...saying the evidence is mixed but she could understand why I wanted it. I started vaginal prometrium as soon as I got a positive test and my level was over 30 when checked. I just kept up the vaginal prometrium until 10+ weeks (or maybe a little longer?).

eta: fwiw when I was first reading about p4 levels when I was freaking out over my level w/ DD, there were major concerns about levels under 10 IIRC. We fell into that group. But DD is still here (and singing noisily next to me as I type).

[MaerynPearl]

Originally Posted by huggingmama

Thanks all for the replies. I'm feeling a bit better, but horribly nauseous from the supplement I took (and general morning sickness)... waiting is awful!

well the progesterone is the cause of the morning sickness in the first place (when mine tested nearly low my doctor said since I had severe morning sickness we wouldn't worry, if it went away I was supposed to call them and get tested again) so being sick is a GREAT sign, embrace that

[huggingmama]

Well, I am definitely nauseous all day, so I guess I should be happy! They had me go in this AM for another blood test to see if the numbers go up. Of course, I won't know until Monday, so I'll just wait until then.

I saw that I can take them vaginally, though I've been taking them orally? Would most of you recommend I do that?

[MaerynPearl]

Originally Posted by huggingmama

I saw that I can take them vaginally, though I've been taking them orally? Would most of you recommend I do that?

I would call the doctor to see, some brands/types can be taken both ways... some cannot... but if they are able to be suppositories (vaginally) I suggest that way.