Falling Progesterone levels

[entreat]

The clinic told me today that although my HCG & estrogen are good, my progesterone is falling & will start me on pessaries to boost me up.

The levels have done this over the last 3 tests: 50-40-34.

I googled that anywhere from 9 to 47 is 'average' of 1st trimmester. But I assume falling levels is no alright.

Can anyone give me any more info?

I haven't had a scrap of spotting at all the whole time.

Cheers!
(flying out to KL tonight... feeling a bit nervous. Don't be alarmed if I don't post - I'm just away.)

incidentally - estrogen is at 2000 & HCG is at 2850.

[nicjay]

Hi entreat,

My prog levels fell from 101 to 59 to 49 between 4 and 5 wks pg. Dont panic, although I know its hard not to I did! My FS was happy with prog levels above 30, if they had fallen below that I would have started on pessaries. The reason for the fall in mine that I was given by the clinic was the stopping of Pregnyl for LP support post transfer. I think the overall opinion is that as long as the HCG is doubling and prog is above 30 then more than likely everything will be OK - obviously your HCG levels are great and if you've had no spotting chances are everything is good with bub. After our initial hiccups, everything went fine and DD2 is now asleep on my shoulder

Good luck!

[jayejaye]

hi entreat. need to be careful if you are looking at overseas sites, as they measure it differently. i made that mistake at first. the level you have been quoted is in nmol/ml.

the range of 9 - 47 is relevant for ng/ml.

1 ng/ml = 3.18 nmol/ml.

therefore you need to convert.

so a "normal" range is 29 - 149. if that makes sense. i think 30 is where support is generally initiated, just to be safe.

i hope i am getting it right, i researched this for ages when i was having my own panic attack and finding conflicting information.

:-) jane.

[entreat]

Thanks Jane! I never thought that they might be measured in different units...

I've been on the pessaries since I posted before the trip & haven't had a scrap of problems. Next scan on Thursday. Fingers crossed!

[Ping]

Hi entreat, how are you doing?

We had a few exchanged of msgs on BB last month when I posted queries of my FET. Am blessed to get a BFP but like yourself, my P4 level has been low on my first blood test last week (44 @ wk4). This week, it had went down to 41 despite an increase in the P4 pessaries (ie, 3x/day + 1x/nite of combination dose) which I had been on since FET.

According to the nurse, I am already at a max dosage of the P4 so there's nothing that could be done for now. Am worried sick of what could a low P4 level signify in a pregnancy.

Wonder if anyone has any idea of a diet that could help increase on the P4 level.

ping

[entreat]

Hi Ping!
Congrats on the BFP. Fingers crossed your P4 stays high enough for long enough. Soon, the placenta will be big enough to build it up. Sometime the ovaries just need some propping up.

I've had no dramas at all. my last scan was great. I was a little nervous because I haven't had any MS, & was terrified of what was going to show up on the screen...

a tiny healthy little space prawn, complete with heart beat.

It seemed faster at the first scan, but the Dr was all very happy with everything. I was most displeased with him saying to have a healthy pg, I should 'remain receptive to the male & maintain marital relations'!! LOL! I swear DH paid him for that line. TMI: But I'm sure he has a point, as I'm certain it helped this transfer stick.

So at nearly 10 weeks, I'm still holding my breath, but feeling a tiny bit more confident every day. And I'm happy with no MS! as long as I feel tired & emotional everyday, I'm sure everything is fine.

How many weeks are you now Ping?

[entreat]

As for diet, I've just flicked through a few pages on the web & they talk about Protein & vit A (not carotene) rich diets, or maybe even a diet to support your thyroid function. But interestingly the strongest advice is for limiting refined carbohydrates and simple sugars, & increasing exercise.

Apparently, when the blood sugar is too high or too low, your body cells find it very difficult to uptake progesterone. Yet another great reason for sensible grazing on good food.

and in support of exercise, I'm popping on the treadmill first thing tomorrow.

http://www.ehow.com/facts_5008973_fo...gesterone.html

[Ping]

Hi entreat

Glad to hear that all's well at your end. I bet I will be as nervous as you on my 7 wk scan. It will be really nerve breaking, I imagine, waiting for Dr to confirm that all is well with our bubba. OMG! I Can't wait for that day and yet the thought of it just sent my heart racing now. (on a side note, have you been 'neglecting' DH to have him bribe Dr into sending you that reminder? heee, just kidding )

I am currently only halfway through your pregnancy term (5 wks), had been feeling lethargic and tired since weekend. Was having morning and evening walk with my dog before this MS .... now I can't even do much except feeling sleepy, dizzy, mild nausea all day. MS is not a nice thing to have though sometime one wishes it much as a form of assurance on the pregnancy.

Thanks for the link on the diet to help increase P4. I too read the same page when I googled for the info yesterday. As you said, I shall stop fretting about this hormone level thing - in fact, I read somewhere that stress will also reduce one's P4 level.

How is your P4 level now? Are you still on a weekly BT monitoring? Did you go to Perth for your scan? How often do you do it after the first scan? Sorry, I seem to be asking endlessly as there are just so much questions on what to expect after this. I hope my FS will continue the monitoring till at least 10wks and not have me handover to an OB soon after the first scan. I also found out that the local OB will not do any antenatal consult until one is at least 10wks preggy. Not sure if this is the norm.

Hmmm, I better stop getting myself busy on the laptop now and go get some walk.

Cheers!

[entreat]

Hey Ping,

Not a clue on my P4 levels. Haven't had a blood test since before I went on my holiday. I've basically assumed it's all ok 'cause nothing has fallen out yet. I'm meant to be on the pessaries until 11 weeks, but I still have STACKS left... I think there was a miscalculation some where. I think I'll send them back to the clinic, but first I think I'll ask for another BT just to make sure.

My clinic said their good byes after my first scan (6 & a half weeks), which I found really scary! But then I put on my big-girl face & realised it had to happen sooner or later.

If your local ObGyn doesn't take on consults until 10wks, how do you get you 7 weeks scan? Also, my local ObGyn has me seeing him every two weeks for the moment because he takes extra special care of assisted fert babies (how sweet!).

I am intending to birth in Perth, so I have booked in with an Ob there in December but am continuing my care up here. Wasn't impressed with the GP i had to get a referral from... couldn't care less. Butt-head.

I started my pg-fitness today. I've been too tired (and paranoid i'll shake the baby out) to exercise, but this week, I'm sucking-it-up & I did an hour long swim. Great in this heat!!

[airline]

Hi entreat and ping

just jumping in here cos I'm at same stage as you ping...just over 5weeks. Our experience in last couple of weeks has been:

Got our first BT +ve on 5th nov from clinic.

Went to GP off our own back got 2nd and 3rd (his choice) on 7th and 9th nov which confirmed doubling hCG and progesterone so high it fell into 3rd trimester category ...needless to say have been absolutely shattered.

Had app. with FS on 11th nov, and he said too early to scan...gave me a referral to have scan at independant scanning company and another hCG which I'm gonna take on Mon 16th Nov.

Called the OB that I think I'll be seeing and he like yours doesn't want to see me till 10 weeks roughly. I go back to FS after my initial scan (I noticed you talked about a first scan...have you already had one since your positive?) and have to pop in and see the girls at the clinic after the first scan, but I think that's more about closure/congrats. on their part.

Other than the extreme fatigue, and really flipping sensitive nipples, have had no other symptoms other than slight change in food desires - lost sweet tooth.

Hopefully we'll be able to have HH pregnancies together

[entreat]

congrats again Airline!

[airline]

Thank you chicken! love your ticker!

[Ping]

hi entreat, I may not have been clear in my earlier mail. My 7th week scan is going to be my very first scan with my fertility clinic in Perth.

I was told to book an OB when a BFP was confirmed and I had done so both in Perth and Karratha. Like yourself, I too intend to birth in Perth. For logistic and cost reason, I do not think I could be travelling to Perth for the regular OB consult so will be too getting my GP to give me a referral for a local OB .... wonder how would the Perth OB thinks of the arrangment of mine seeing a local OB till later when it is time for her to take over.

My first appointment with the Perth OB will be in my 9th week so will find out more then. As for the local OB, was told visit will not start till I am in my 10th week - by which time I will be away in SIN for a short holiday which was prebooked before this treatment.

So you too were away in your first trimester? Was your FS agreeable to that? I'll have to speak to my FS about this when I see him next week though we are unlikely to change our mind on the trip despite some fear associated with flying. I reckoned a lot will depend on the first scan. that my scan next week will be normal with no problem detected. The FN actually persuaded me otherwise when I told her that I'll be flying during the time she first delivered me the good news. How did you feel with the flying? I guess it should be uneventful since you were not bothered by MS.

I guess your being fit and having regular exercise does help greatly in your pregnancy and putting the MS at bay. What a shame, I can't swim cause swimming will be such a good exercise when preggy. I could only do walks but the high humidity coupled with the hot and stagnant air in Karratha is making even walking hard for me. I feel breathless the minute I am out in the open. Wish I am in Perth now.

Going for my blood test this morning, that all will be well. In particular the P4, hope it does not go any further down the previous level.

hi airline, CONGRATS to you on your BFP and thank you for your well wishes. that all your levels in today's blood test will be good. A very H&H pregnancy to you too.

Cheers!

[entreat]

Heya Ping,
My FN nearly lept down the phone to strangle me about going OS so close to the first scan. She was spinning out saying that I have to have a scan to make sure the pg isn't ectopic, etc. I had plenty of time for a BT, although because my P4 dropped, she was freaking out about pessaries, etc (all discussed above).

I wasn't too worried about it, especially after the first scan showing that everything was in the right place - and with a heart beat.

I got food poisoning from the plane food, and was a teeny bit worried that would have some effect, but all was good. I'm far from fit, btw!! I'm almost 20kg overweight! But I do stay active (i just eat too much high-cal food!), and am trying to get more active. I've had a crick in my neck for two days, so have done almost nothing. But I can almost turn my head left again now...

Fingers crossed for your BT today!! like kalgoorlie, I bet yuo have to wait a day for results too, huh? Man, that sucks. But good luck all the same.

[Ping]

hi entreat

What a scare re the food poisoning incident on plane. Preggy does need to be very cautious in her food intake - read somewhere that there were 2 preg women who had contacted some condition which is a threat to the fetus after having consumed some sandwiches on the plane. Thank God you and bub are ok.

Just got a call from FN and am relieved to hear that my P4 had gone up to 69. that my body's absorption will get better over the weeks. I read too that sometime one's body has this 'E2 dominance' thus resulting in an imbalance of the E2 and P4 level. Whatever is my case, will see if FS could give a better explanation when I see him next week.

Karratha is unusually nice and breezy today so got to have my walk which made me feeling alive again.

Take care

[airline]

got my call today to say my hCG was 8000 which FS said is good, so 'sigh' and 'smile'!

[Ping]

hi airline, cheers to your rising hCG

that our first and/or follow-up scan will be normal and spot-on. Have you had your first scan? Mine is next week.

[airline]

Hey Ping,
no scan yet...now that I've had this BT result I'm really looking forward to first scan. It's also next week...Mon 23rd first thing in the morning we see healthy heartbeat. My progesterone was up in the 300s but i've noticed a difference in last 2 days, slightly less fatigue...but still knackered!

private qst. have you dtd yet since the ET?? We haven't...I know it's not supposed to make a difference...just don't want to risk it.