Hi there, I have just been given the news that I am now pregnant after many years of ivf. The clinic said my HCG level is 107 which indicates a certain positive result, however my progesterone levels were on the low side. They have increased my pessaries from 200mg to 400mg a day and I go back next Monday for another blood test to see if the preg is progressing.
Can anyone help me with what the implications of low prog may have???
I'm sorry you're in the situation.Please remember that when you next go for a blood test,things may all be well.
First of all,what having low or falling levels of progesterone means is that unfortunately it appears at this stage that the pregnancy cannot sustain itself.I know this sounds awful,but it may be an unstable or 'bad' pregnancy.
Having low progesterone levels is not the cause of miscarriage.That implies that a good,healthy strong pregnancy can be lost because of low progesterone.That is incorrect.The levels are low because of the pregnancy itself not being a strong one.Does that make sense? Low progesterone levels are a side effect of a 'poor' pregnancy.I hope I'm explaining this well.I know this is a dreadful thing to say to you and believe me,I know what you must be feeling.I myself have been through this twice.
Many doctors still actually tell their patients that they lost this pregnancy due to their not producing enough progesterone and that they will be okay next time so long as they take enough extra progesterone.That is simply not true.They need to find out why you have really miscarried.Unfortuntely,they usually do not look into the reasons why, until a woman has miscarried three times.Finally though,I am pregnant again so it does happen.
The type of things to look for would be -
Hormonal problems eg diabetes,thyroid,pituitary or ovarian abnormalities and the womans age.
Infection,chromosomal abnormalities,structural defects in the uterus and immune disturbances resulting in defects in the normal growth and function of the placenta.
You can look all this information up on the internet,which I would advise you to do and print it off so you can discuss it with your doctor.I am so very sorry to give you this information,as it must be heart breaking for you.However,this may not be the case.Next time you go your levels may be fine.I hope and pray this works out for you.But please,please look all this up on the net so you can read it yourself.
I had low progesterone and as long as you keep taking your daily peseries you will be fine.... I am now nearly six months pregnant with what appears (touch wood) to be a very healthy pregnancy.
Dont get yourself too worried about it, just keep focusing and keep yourself in POSITIVE situations ! !
I dont think that Wendy ment to scare you too much .... I am sure that you will hear that with such an early pregnancy result your progesterone levels arent exactly sky-high.
I am sure that when you get your second blood test that your levels would have increased.
Thanks Pip and Wendy for your advice. Being 1st time pregnant (EVER) I just dont know what to expect and not sure what they tell me if to worry or not.
At the moment I feel great, still no symptoms so maybe that is a worry. I guess I just have to take each day as it comes. My brown spotting has basically stopped so dont know if that is good or bad? God so many things going through your head.
I guess at the end of the day, what will be, will be. The prog thing is a bit of a worry though. I will just increase my dosage and hope for the best.
I had another appt with my clinic yesterday and my prog levels have gone up to 35 which they were quite happy with, however my hcg levels only went up to 190 and they said they would be happy with them at about 300... so now the tables have turned one hormone up and the other down.
Any insights or advise as I am worried I might miscarry.
First of all,please stay calm.That was better news from the clinic yesterday.I'm so pleased that the progesterone level has risen.My level was 35 on Day 21 before I found out I was pregnant on Day 26 of the treatment cycle.I don't know how far along you are though Mel?
With regards to the HcG levels,it is first detectable in the blood as early as 7-8 days after ovulation by very sensitive HCG assays (research assays). In real life, blood pregnancy tests will be positive (> 2 mIU/ml) by 10-11 days after HCG injection or LH surge.
In general, the HCG level will double every 2-3 days in early pregnancy.
85% of normal pregnancies will have the HCG level double every 72 hours.
HCG levels peak at about 8-10 weeks of pregnancy and then decline, remaining at lower levels for the rest of the pregnancy.
There is a large variation in a "normal" HCG level for any given time in pregnancy.
Pregnancies destined to miscarry or to be ectopic (tubal) pregnancies tend to show lower levels (eventually), but often have normal levels initially.
Some normal pregnancies will have quite low levels of HCG - and deliver perfect babies. Caution must be used in making too much of HCG "numbers". Ultrasound findings after 5-6 weeks of pregnancy are much more predictive of pregnancy outcome than are HCG levels.Have you had a scan yet Mel?
For women that have had an HCG injection as part of their infertility treatment, the hormone will take about 5-14 days to clear from the woman's system, depending on the dose and the individual woman. This can causes problems with interpretation of pregnancy tests done earlier than 14 days after an HCG injection.
What has the clinic advised from here? Are you to be scanned or go back for more blood testing? Let me know what's happening.
I can't leave the long message I would like as I have only just come back from my scan and have to dash out to acupuncture.
I just wanted to send you my support. Just stay as positive a possible and as calm. I think you are doing marvellously I really do. I had 3 weeks of uncertaintly before my miscarriage and it really is the most awful place to be. It was a different situation to yours so don't panic. My HCG levels kept doubling. Just shows you you never know what is happening inside there.
I am going for EC on Monday - I have 2 large follies (the third hasn't come up so well so that will be a non goer). They are a bit concerned about the lining of my womb as it isn't as thick as it should be although it looks really really clear and healthy. They think it will come up in time as ET isn't until Wed. Anyway I am going to see if my acupuncturist can help!
Katie and Jools - Thank you for your messages of support. I wish I could leave you longer message but I was so long at the scan I am chasing my tail now!
Thanks heaps for helping me out. I guess at the end of the day anything can happen so maybe I will just wait and see. I go back tomorrow for another blood test, they didnt mention anything about a scan, wish they would though but I will definately discuss with them tomorrow. I am pleased with my prog level and I guess hcg levels could be better but I wont loose all hope as yet. I dont even know how far along I am. I had my preg test exactly 1 week ago, so how far would that make me if I am still pregnant?
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