Low progesterone... anyone experience? « Back to Group Discussions

[activebum]

Hello all,

So, I just joined the group today. I currently have a 13 month old boy and I am 8 weeks 5 days pregnant with our second. I was breastfeeding and didn't get my cycle back. So, to our surprise, Christmas day I conceived our second! We are looking forward to this new little one arriving on or around September 16th. I called my previous OBGYN and they didn't test progesterone levels my last pregnancy. For some reason, my midwife group did this time around. It may be due to my continued breastfeeding with this second pregnancy. Since finding out that my levels are at a 9 (which from what I understand is pretty low--- taken at 7.5 weeks pregnant), I stopped breastfeeding. We were weaning and he was down to one feeding a day. So my question is if anyone experienced this? How did things go if so? I've never had any miscarriages, but a progesterone level this low can lead to a m/c. I'm also concerned about losing the baby later in pregnancy... does this occur due to low progesterone early on? My midwife wants me to take progesterone meds which is a synthetic form and my husband and I don't really agree with her thinking. We feel that if God didn't mean this pregnancy to stay, then it shouldn't be. But now I'm paranoid and am looking for answers as to why it is this way. I think it's the breastfeeding but who knows. I'm going to ask for them to retake my blood next week hoping it will be higher for a peace of mind. The other thing about taking the synthetic progesterone is there are warnings of possible birth defects but they claim that the benefits outweigh the risks. One more thing my Mom said her levels are low... not sure if its due to menopause but I wonder if it could be genetic. Funny thing is we did not have any difficulty either pregnancies getting pregnant so it doesn't really make much sense to me. I'm a runner and my midwife said that runners are apparently known to have lower levels so not sure if that could be it also. Any input is much appreciated!!!

Thank you,

activebum :)

[Monkey Keeper]

For comparison, my progesterone level was 10.7 at 5w5d. I have had no spotting, no nothing and saw a baby with a heartbeat at 6w1d.  I am not sure what is going on in there right now, but so far so good. I am on no supplementation at this point. My level was only 14 with my DS at 6.5w, too, and he was a healthy, normal 41w+ pregnancy, so perhaps I just don't excrete a lot of progesterone? I also was (and am) nursing a babe (almost 17 months).

You could try a natural progesterone cream (wild yam) or just wait and see.

[norskelove]

Progesterone levels are such a mystery in some ways.   My OB told me that low progesterone is *usually* a problem in very early pregnancy (the low progesterone prevents the egg from implanting), but once a pregnancy is established the numbers can be all over the board. On the other hand, I know some women swear that progesterone is the only way they were able to carry until term.  

I personally would not start progesterone at nearly 9 weeks pregnant........your placenta is starting to take over, anyway.   I took progesterone during my last pregnancy (due to previous miscarriage) and my OB had me start weaning off of it at 9 weeks.  All was fine.  This time she prescribed it again (my levels were fine, measuring 30 at 15dpo.......she just suggested I take them for "insurance".  I declined and so far so good -- I am 9.5 weeks and had a perfect u/s last week -- baby measuring right on track with a strong HB).  

I also think that some women are more efficient than others in utilizing progesterone;  what is low for one woman is more than enough for another.  But that is just my opinion.  

Congratulations to you!

[Lauren82]

Mine was below 10 (didn't ask what it was) and my OB gave me supplements that I am supposed to take until I am 12 weeks. My friend had to take hers until she was about 16 weeks because every time she stopped the pills, she would begin bleeding and cramping. My OB seems to think they save some pregnancies and I'd rather take a supplement than go through another miscarriage. Just my 2 cents.

[cryswilkins]

I have gone both ways. My last pregnancy my progesterone was only 11 and I was not offered any supplements. We say a heartbeat at 6.5 weeks, but I continued to have spotting on and off and when we went in at 10 weeks there was no longer a heartbeat.

This pregnancy I started spotting at 4 weeks and again at 6 weeks. My Progesterone was low at 16 and my new Dr recommended supplementing. So far things have gone well and we have seen a healthy bean twice on ultrasound. For me I would rather supplement than go through another miscarriage.

[activebum]

Thank you everyone for your reply! I ended up getting it retested and my levels went up to a 12 and hcg doubled. So, between that and seeing a heartbeat, my midwife said everything should be okay. I did try to take the prometrium pill they prescribed and it made me feel awful! Not sure if anyone felt very sick from it. I took it at bedtime as prescribed but the next day I felt badly and decided not to take it again.

[Lauren82]

Originally Posted by activebum 

Thank you everyone for your reply! I ended up getting it retested and my levels went up to a 12 and hcg doubled. So, between that and seeing a heartbeat, my midwife said everything should be okay. I did try to take the prometrium pill they prescribed and it made me feel awful! Not sure if anyone felt very sick from it. I took it at bedtime as prescribed but the next day I felt badly and decided not to take it again.

Mine only made me feel bad if I took it orally. Taking it vaginally does not seem to cause any side effects that I notice and I take a large dose.

[mymaya]

I am taking it vaginally, a gel-applicator I use every night. It gives me no side effects. sometimes I have a little clumpy discharge, but it doesn't itch and isn't messy. and I can tell it's helping me. I highly recommend the Crinone gel.

mymama.

[cryswilkins]

Originally Posted by activebum 

Thank you everyone for your reply! I ended up getting it retested and my levels went up to a 12 and hcg doubled. So, between that and seeing a heartbeat, my midwife said everything should be okay. I did try to take the prometrium pill they prescribed and it made me feel awful! Not sure if anyone felt very sick from it. I took it at bedtime as prescribed but the next day I felt badly and decided not to take it again.

The Prometrium does make me feel pretty terrible.

[MacKinnon]

I've had three healthy full term pregnancies, and three losses. This is my seventh pregnancy. I did not take progesterone in my first two full term pregnancies, or losses. My progesterone was checked with DS (my second full term pregnancy) and it was low, I think around 14, but they did not supplement. His pregnancy was fine. My next pregnancy was a loss, and that made three, so I transferred to an OB. The OB I saw did supplement with my DD2, and I don't remember what my progesterone was. I was on prometrium and I was VERY sick. This time around, they did progesterone (I'm also on the Crinone gel) but they didn't check it until I asked during the last draw, it was 18, which they said was fine, they use 16 to 22 as the normal range. The gel is WAY better, I am not sick. The midwives told me I could go off of it, as they don't consider 18 low. I plan on staying on it, but when my box of suppositories is gone, I'll be around 9 weeks, they probably won't give me more, since they don't seem to think I need it. The OB I was seeing then said there is no clinical proof progesterone supplements work, but there is no reason NOT to use them, and it helps women feel like they are doing everything they can. It makes *me* feel better, I think my sustained pregnancy is probably more about discovering I have MTHFR and supplementing with B6/B12/Folic Acid and a baby aspirin a day to help ward off blood clots.

[Sarah Temkin]

My first pregnancy, I didnt even have anything checked and had no problems with DS.  I MC back in September and they werent going to check my progesterone and my cousin suggested that I push for it.  She is one that has to be on progesterone all throughout her pregnancy to keep a baby.  My MC experience was one that was a lot like her issues, so she said to insist on the progesterone test.  My nurse didnt feel the need for the test because she said usually if you have one full term pregnancy, the progesterone shouldnt be an issue, but after telling her my cousin's story and saying it would make me feel better, she went ahead and did it.  My level came back at 8.8, so it was a little low in their books and was put on the supplements.  I feel better about my chances and as someone else stated, for me, it helps me feel like I did everything in my power to keep this baby.  I am 9 weeks and have seen a good heart beat and growing right on schedule, so it makes me feel better that I am taking it.  With that said, I take the Prometrium 200mg twice a day, and I have to say that I am so much sicker this time the my last two pregnancies.  I have just recently started taking them vaginally, instead of orally, and I have to say that it seems to be working better that way and I am not feeling as bad.  My doctor wants me to continue on them until 12 weeks and then I can stop taking them.