Low Progesterone in First Trimester

[Diana3]

Hi Ladies, I am currently pregnant with baby #2, probably around 9 weeks, but it's hard to tell for sure because I ovulated late and the implantation might have occurred late too. I had my first scan 2 weeks ago and the fetal pole and yolk sac could be seen but were very small and no heartbeat yet. The doctor had me come back two weeks later, which was 3 days ago. There was definitely growth with a visible fetal pole measuring 4.2 mm which they estimated to be 6.1 weeks fetal age. However, no heart beat could still be seen via the transvaginal ultrasound. The dr. seems to think the pregnancy might not be healthy. They didn't even offer to test my hormone levels or anything. After I insisted, they did draw blood and my progesterone level was 10. The dr. said that was low and that I'm probably going to miscarry. But from what I read in various articles online, the normal progesterone level in the first trimester can range from 9-47 ng/ml, so 10, while on the lower end, doesn't seem that critically low. I feel like they might be writing off my pregnancy too soon. I'm going back for one more scan next week. Has anyone else had a successful pregnancy with a lowish progesterone in the first trimester and detectable heartbeat after 8 weeks? I am feeling really anxious and sad.

 

[forevermore16]

My progesterone was wonky in the beginning with this pregnancy.
4 weeks = 7
4+4 weeks=10
4+6 weeks=9
5 weeks=8.7
6 weeks=6.7
7 weeks=9.9
8 weeks=12

They had also been doing HCG (which was rising appropriately) and ultrasounds (which were normal) during this time so they didn't really express any concern about my progesterone level. They had me on suppositories that I stopped at 8 weeks because the doctor said everything looked good. I'm not sure about the late detection of the heartbeat. With my wonky progesterone, they still saw a heartbeat on my 6 week ultrasound. I've heard that sometimes it takes longer to detect it, especially if the baby is under a certain measurement.

With my 4 year old, they originally thought I was almost 9 weeks and I turned out to only be 6 + a few days because I ovulated late. Maybe that is what happened here?

 

[Diana3]

My progesterone was wonky in the beginning with this pregnancy.
4 weeks = 7
4+4 weeks=10
4+6 weeks=9
5 weeks=8.7
6 weeks=6.7
7 weeks=9.9
8 weeks=12

They had also been doing HCG (which was rising appropriately) and ultrasounds (which were normal) during this time so they didn't really express any concern about my progesterone level. They had me on suppositories that I stopped at 8 weeks because the doctor said everything looked good. I'm not sure about the late detection of the heartbeat. With my wonky progesterone, they still saw a heartbeat on my 6 week ultrasound. I've heard that sometimes it takes longer to detect it, especially if the baby is under a certain measurement.

With my 4 year old, they originally thought I was almost 9 weeks and I turned out to only be 6 + a few days because I ovulated late. Maybe that is what happened here?

Thank you for the quick response! I didn't know progesterone can fluctuate like this. My HCG levels were pretty good at 26K but I just had blood drawn again to see if they are increasing. Have to wait till Monday or Tuesday for the results agggh. Yes, I definitely ovulated late because I literally got pregnant 3-4 days before my expected period. So that gives me some hope that maybe it was still early to detect the heartbeat..I have no cramps, bleeding, spotting, or any signs that anything may be wrong, so I' m still somewhat hopeful.. The wait is the worst.

By the way, did they start you on the progesterone supplements after detecting the heartbeat or before? I wonder if it would be helpful if I took them now.

 

[forevermore16]

My progesterone was wonky in the beginning with this pregnancy.
4 weeks = 7
4+4 weeks=10
4+6 weeks=9
5 weeks=8.7
6 weeks=6.7
7 weeks=9.9
8 weeks=12

They had also been doing HCG (which was rising appropriately) and ultrasounds (which were normal) during this time so they didn't really express any concern about my progesterone level. They had me on suppositories that I stopped at 8 weeks because the doctor said everything looked good. I'm not sure about the late detection of the heartbeat. With my wonky progesterone, they still saw a heartbeat on my 6 week ultrasound. I've heard that sometimes it takes longer to detect it, especially if the baby is under a certain measurement.

With my 4 year old, they originally thought I was almost 9 weeks and I turned out to only be 6 + a few days because I ovulated late. Maybe that is what happened here?

Thank you for the quick response! I didn't know progesterone can fluctuate like this. My HCG levels were pretty good at 26K but I just had blood drawn again to see if they are increasing. Have to wait till Monday or Tuesday for the results agggh. Yes, I definitely ovulated late because I literally got pregnant 3-4 days before my expected period. So that gives me some hope that maybe it was still early to detect the heartbeat..I have no cramps, bleeding, spotting, or any signs that anything may be wrong, so I' m still somewhat hopeful.. The wait is the worst.

By the way, did they start you on the progesterone supplements after detecting the heartbeat or before? I wonder if it would be helpful if I took them now.

The nurse explained to me that progesterone is released in pulses so it can vary from day to day or even hour to hour. They kept telling me not to worry about it. They started me on progesterone after my first blood draw at 4 weeks. I was seeing a specialist so I called as soon as I got my BFP and they brought me in for blood work the next morning and I got the results that afternoon. I have PCOS so they may have just been extra cautious. There is conflicting evidence on the usefulness of progesterone supplementation. Some say it doesn't do anything and will only prolong a pregnancy destined to fail and others say that it will help support a pregnancy. The only instance I've heard that evidence supports using progesterone is with assisted conception and luteal phase defects.

I've had two losses and I did have problems with progesterone with those; however, the low progesterone appeared to be the result of a failing pregnancy not the cause. With my first loss, my HCG was low for how far I was and my progesterone was "a little low". At my next blood draw 48 hours later, my HCG and progesterone had dropped. That ended in an early miscarriage. My second loss, my HCG and progesterone were abysmally low. My HCG was a 33 and progesterone was 2.5. The next blood draw, my HCG only went to a 41 so it was quite obvious something was wrong. That ended up being ectopic. They put me on progesterone for both of these pregnancies immediately after my BFP and obviously, it didn't do any good.

 

[Scout]

With your cycles like they are, you may be a bit early for a heartbeat. The progesterone, from what I've been told, probably won't help once this far along, but I do know some doctors who prescribe it. I've been on it in 3 pregnancies, 2 I miscarried so the low progesterone was most likely due to a failing pregnancy and not the other way around. My OB thinks if you lose pregnancies because of low progesterone, then it needs to be started right after ovulation for it to be effective, but, like i said, others obviously disagree bc I've seen it on here.

I wish you luck. The waiting is awful.

 

[Diana3]

Thank you both so much and I'm so sorry for your losses. I also had one loss with my first pregnancy, but was feeling very bad physically since the beginning of that pregnancy and the embryo never grew beyond 5 weeks measurement. This time I feel just fine, with occasional nausea and tiredness plus frequent urination. That's pretty much how I felt with my successful pregnancy so I have no indication anything is wrong and there was growth since the first u/s. Oh well, I guess there's nothing I can do at this point but wait for my next appointment at the end of this week. Thanks again ladies for your advice and support!

 

[Diana3]

Well, they said my HCG levels dropped from 26K to 22K and I'll probably have a miscarriage. I guess there's no hope then

 

[pinkpassion]

I'm so sorry!! With dropping hcg that's never a good sign!! Huge hugs hun, I've had multiple miscarriages and 2 healthy daughter's and currently pregnant again!!

 

[Mrs B.]

So sorry, Diana

 

[TTC First]

I am sorry for your loss Diana3 but I hope that my story can help you out.

I have a long history of fertility issues and it's been trial an error for me. After years of trying naturally we went to a clinic. I did my first IUI without progesterone and didn't get pregnant. All the following IUIs were done with progesterone and I was able to get my BFP. Most BFPs turned into losses because I hadn't figured out that I had a clotting issue and needed Aspirin. Once I figured that out I had DD.

When we started again for baby 2 I had my first IUI and used progesterone. I was reading the doses other people were using and thought that maybe my doctor was giving me too much so I took less. Well, that turned into a loss.

My next IUI the doctor forgot to give me progesterone and I didn't get a BFP. I asked them to test my level at 4 weeks and I believe it was a 9.

This cycle we decided after medication only gave 1 good follie we would not do an IUI. We tried natural after years and years and years of not getting a BFP without an IUI. This time I took progesterone when I Oed. I got a BFP this cycle.

I firmly believe that progesterone can help get and maintain a pregnancy.

Maybe this will help for your next cycle.

 

[babifever]

I'm sorry for you loss hunni