Anyone Have LOW PROGESTERONE During/before Pregnancy?

Hi M.-
I didn't have the same situation as you, in the sense that I became pregnant very easily. My first pregnancy resulted in my daughter being stillborn, and even after all the tests, they dont know why. My second pregnancy I almost LOST, because of my low and LOWERING progesterone levels. My doctors put me on a prescription of straight progesterone, and I wish i could remember the name of it. i was on it, until about 11-12 weeks along, at which point, the placenta takes over, from the ovaries and everything was fine. they strange thing is, the prescription had warnings all over the bottle, "do not take if pregnant" but my doctors said it was ok and it did help my progesterone levels. i now have a healthy 17 month old boy.

My prgesterone was low when I did fertility treatments and the doctor put me on vaginal suppositories of progesterone 2x a day to sustain the pregnancy. I did these the entire 1st trimester. They were messy, but worth it. Good luck!

Hi M.,
I had low progesterone levels while trying to get pregnant. My fertility doctor (after IVF treatment) supplemented me with progesterone injections for the first 15 weeks of both of my successful pregnancies. They checked my levels periodically to ensure that I had enough. The placenta usually takes over progesterone production after the 12 week. You might want to ask your doctor. Congratulations and best of luck!

M.,
I had 3 miscarriages before Doctors figured out that I had low progesterone. I was 2 weeks pregnant with my son, when my doctor put me on a progesterone gel that was inserted in the vagina every night before bed. We stopped the progesterone at nine weeks, b/c doc said that the placenta takes over making progesterone(the ovaries make it before that and I was very low!) How many weeks along are you? You may be past that point when your ovaries stop making it and the placenta starts.
I hope this information helps you a bit. I now have a healthy, beautiful 13 month old son and I wish you good luck in this pregnancy and I will be praying for you and the baby as well!

Hey M.,

I had no problem getting pregnant, but my body was working on a miscarriage when I went to see the doctor b/c I was cramping SO severely for about 4-5 days (I was in Mexico on vacation and called the night I got home and took a test). I was just over 4 weeks prego at the time. He tested my P and I was at 7 instead of 25. I took Crinone for the whole first trimester. When I tried stopping it for 3 days, the cramping came back HORRIBLY. I hope that you have good insurance b/c it costs about $10 per day I think and you're on it for months. But, I am SO glad that I did, b/c now I have a 20 mth amazing daughter and learned that I have always had a low progesterone problem causing other health issues that have now cleared up by taking bio-identical progesterone since my daughter was born. I bet your doctor will test your P levels and probably put you on Crinone.

Congrats!!!
H.

First of all...Congratulations !!! :)I had low progesterone levels as well. My doctor perscribed Crinone a progesterone cream I took daily. I think I stayed on that for a three months. If your doctor thinks the baby is at risk he would perscribe you something to take. Try not to worry to much. If you are really worried ask your doctor about it. Good luck !!

Hi M.,
Yes, I too had a low progesterone level with my second pregnancy. My doctor put me on progesterone vaginal suppositories daily for approx. 3 months until my levels came up with in normal range. I had a healthy baby girl who just turned 6 yrs. old yesterday. The only side effect I had was a lot of nausea and some vomiting. But, well worth the outcome! Best of luck, and Congratulations!!!!

Congratulations, M.! My sister had this problem with her pregnancies. With her first baby, she was on progesterone for quite a while in the beginning of her pregnancy. With her second one, the nurse told her she thought it would be o.k. for her to go off and it was at an earlier date than with her first child. When my sister questioned this, she said "oh, no, you're fine, you can stop taking them." My sister lost the baby. She now has 3 healthy sons and she made sure that with each one, she was on the progesterone to like 15 weeks or so. Make sure you communicate with your doctor, and go with your gut, not what the nurses tell you. Good luck, I know you will have a healthy baby!

My health care doctor told me our progesterone levels drop as we're approaching 35. For some people it's earlier. In addition to pregnancy issues, low progesterone is a reason for some emotional, physical and mental symptoms and can also mimic a heart attack. That happened to me. I was put on an over-the-counter progesterone cream that is natural ~ comes from a yucca plant. It has the same makeup as our own progesterone except for a little chemical "squiggle" at the end. They cut that off, mix it with cream and it works! It costs about $37 for a large pump. With the dosage I'm on, it lasts 3 months. I get mine at the Glen Ellyn Pharmacy on Roosevelt Road just west of Main Street on the north side of the road next to a nail salon. I had breast cancer due to low progesterone and an abundance of estrogen ~ and the use of this product has been a life-saver.

I had/have this same problem. My cycles are all over the place. I already have 2 kids and just had a miscarriage this last January. They told me it most likely was because my hormones weren't high enough to hold the pregnancy. They've put me on the birth control pill to help raise everything to a level they are supposed to be at. They told me if I get pregnant again, I'll need to come in for progesterone level checks and if they aren't high enough, they give you meds to help raise them while pregnant. I would think your dr would draw blood to continuously check your progesterone levels and make sure they are raising. If not, I would request it be done.

Good Luck!!

I had low progesteone levels when I was pregnant with my daughter. As a precaution, my OB put me on an oral progesterone supplement. I have heard also of women having to do progesterone suppositories. My supplement made me more nauseous, but the pregnancy did progress without any problems. Because she is now 4 1/2, I don't know if what my doctor did is now current practice in low progesterone cases, but its worth asking about if he or she does not bring it up.
Congratulations on your pregnancy!!!
S.

Hi M.!
I had low progesterone levels with any pregnancy after my first. Did not have trouble getting pregnant had trouble staying pregnant. So after my 2nd miscarriage my dr. had me take progesterone suppositories. I now have my beautiful baby girl. I took them every night before bed for the first tri-mester from the time I found out I was pregnant. MY Dr. said there is NO harm in taking it because even if your body produced the required progesterone you can't have too much. Meaning it can only help and if not needed it is a safety net. They are not bad....there is no side effects for you.....and again I have my daughter because of it. I would definitely check with your Dr.~~if he is willing to put you on it I don't see why not!! GOOD LUCK!!!!!! and CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!! K.

Congratulations to you! After having two miscarriages, my fertility doctor put me on baby aspirin and progesterone suppositories until I was 11-12 weeks pregnant with my next two pregnancies. That worked. I now have two beautiful children, a two and a half year old son and a three month old daughter. I would definitely ask your doctor about putting you on it. It definitely does not hurt anything to be on progesterone.

I know someone who has low progesterone and she is taking progesterone via pills everyday so she wont lose the baby

I don't know if this will help, but I had low progesterone during my last pregnancy. I just turned 35 when I thought I was having a miscarriage. I found out through that blood work. They gave me a drug that is supposed to help the placenta along in the first trimester (which is what the progesterone helps with). I bled several times during the pregnancy and my baby girl is now 19 months. A perfect delivery. This is my third child, and I hadn't had complications prior to this one. Good luck

I'll mirror a few of the other responses. I get pregnant by my husband looking at me. Seriously, the FIRST time we had sex after going off the pill I was pregnant.

Unfortunately, I have/had low progesterone and it was discovered after 2 miscarriages and while I was pregnant with my son (now 3). I had to use suppositories and they worked. When I got pregnant with our second son, my doctor put me on them right away. He's now 9 1/2 months. :)

Congrats on your pregnancy.

I had extremely low levels during my first pregnancy. I started spotting & went to the ER. I had not even had my first OB/GYN visit yet. (It was scheduled for the next week.)
They gave me progesterone vaginal suppositories. Not fun, but hey, it worked. (They're VERY messy as they disolve, if your Dr prescribed these, wear a pad!)

Good luck!

M.,

First off, congratulations. During my second pregnancy, my doctor had me take progesterone suppositories for the first trimester since I had had a miscarriage the month before becoming pregnant. My sister, now 14 weeks, had to also take progesterone for the first trimester. I would simply ask your doctor about whether or not you need it.

B.

Hi M.,

First of all, CONGRATULATIONS! I understand your fears - it's funny because the moment we become pregnant we immediately become "mothers" loving our children! I also had low progesterone during my first trimester of both of my pregnancies. (I have an almost 3 year old little boy and a 7 month old baby.)I didn't have fertility treatments; mine was discovered during an early ultrasound and my doctor immediately put me on a progesterone suppository. I took the suppositories twice a day throughout the first trimester and that sustained my levels. Ask your doctor about starting on one.

Good luck and congrats!

C.

Check with your doctor to see if you can have your progesterone levels checked. If it is low then your doc can put you on meds for the first tri to help sustain the pregnancy. (Low progesterone levels can cause a viable pregnancy to miscarry)

Have you had your betas checked? Do you know if they are doubling (thats a great sign)?

Good luck! I hope you get all the answers you need!

Hi M.,

With both of my pregnancies I had to take progesterone suppositories for the first 3 months. They worked and I have 2 beautiful girls to show for it. They were expensive and pretty gross but I would do it all over again. Good Luck!

Hi M., I had to use progesterone suppositories for the first 3 months of my pregnancy for this very reason. Good luck and congratulations!!
M. H.

I had 2 miscarriages the first 2 times I got pregnant - always at 8 weeks. Age 34. I couldn't believe it. I was completely healthy all my life, non smoker, no menstrual symptoms or problems. So we saw a specialist who did many tests and discovered that my progesterone levels were 1 day behind normal production to sustain a pregnancy. So I began taking Progesterone suppositories once a day before I conceived. Two months later I got pregnant(btw, I ovulate at day 7-10. Not everyone is a 10-14 day woman.) I inserted the progesterone every day for the first trimester of each of my subsequent pregnancies. It was a simple daily task that worked! 3 easy pregnancies, 3 beautiful babies! Ask about it. Ask about your HCG levels, too. they should multiply every day in the first weeks. Good Luck, it can happen!

if they did a blood hcg level they usually do a progesterone check to at the dr
if you have only taken a home test i would go in for both
i have to take vaginal and shots of progesterone, with my daughter i took orally it depends how low it is

I found out my progesterone level was low after I was pregnant. I was told I was at risk for miscarriage. I had not used fertility drugs. My doctor put me on a medication (vaginal suppositories). I cannot recall the name of the medication as this was 11 years ago. I was on it for about 12 weeks. I had to get lab work done every other day but the level did steadily go up and I didn't lose the pregnancy. Good Luck to you!!

For me, I had no problem getting pregnant. But my low progesterone prevented me from carrying anything past 10 weeks twice. Next time i become pregnant my doctor wants me on low dose baby aspirin in case of blood clotting issues, and vaginal progesterone as soon if not before ovulation. So yes, low levels can make it difficult to sustain the pregnancy until your placenta takes over at 12-14 weeks and produces it on its own. I would talk to your doc about that immediately this week, but I would think they are aware of your levels and that concern. good luck and congrats :)