Low Progesterone levels? So worried.

[LadyRose]

Hello, I'm having a rough time with this pregnancy... my HCG levels have been low (193 to 280 to 508 to 980) Last one yesterday, each taken every 2-3 days. The Dr told me on Tuesday that the 280 level indicated this was not a "viable" pregnancy and that it was not progressing. Going by LMP dates I should have been 6w1d, and for that she said this was too low nd not doubling. She said I would need a D&C, but she'd do another BT to see the confirm the levels. She said had miscarried and that if I didn't have the D&C, it would eventually pass anyway. We were heartbroken and tried to make peace with it over the next 48 hours.

Dh and I return to the dr yesterday morning and she tells us the level has increased to 508, she is shocked, consults with an obstetrician about what to do. Meanwhile I am struggling with my emotions having thought my baby was gone for the past two days. She said that its a positive sign that the HCG level has increased and I could possibly be much earlier on than expected which is likely as I have PCOS and don't know when I ovulated. She says we need to check my Progesterone levels.

I get that result today, and I know very little about this apart from what I've just googled... Basically mine was "22" but the Dr said to sustain the baby it should be over "40". So my feelings of relief quickly turn to panic again. She gives me a script for progesterone pessaries, twice a day and 2 more BT forms to keep checking the HCG. I went to fill the script for the progesterone pessaries and I'm told this needs to be done at a compound pharmacy, by the time I get to that one they tell me it won't be ready until Monday! I started to cry and tried to explain what I've been through this week and that I was worried it'll be too late by then.

As I'd asked my Dr what else I could do apart from the pessaries to save my baby and she said "cross your fingers"... this isn't my usual Dr and unfortunately i didn't know if she has a dry sense of humour or is completely desensitised. Either way, not the gentle reassurance I so desperately need . So the pharmacist tells me that he knows i "want" it now but that there are other orders in front of mine and that it takes 12-24 hours just to "set". I asked if he knew anything about how this works and he said no one could tell me this but that its up to the baby whether it sticks or not, he said he doesn't know how far along I am and it depends how quickly the pessaries even work! I left the chemist crying and feeling very hopeless.

I feel like I've gone up and down all week, and now I'm down again... From what I've read on google it seems debatable whether progesterone supplements even prevent miscarriage, only that low progesterone is a factor in some miscarriages. So I don't feel very good about this... I'm upset the chemist wasn't more sensitive and I feel very alone because I hadn't told anyone about the pregnancy yet and don't know how to now.

Has anyone else had any experience with low progesterone? Could you point me in the direction of any info that might help me? I guess if its likely this baby won't make it then I'd rather start accepting that now and be pleasantly surprised rather than thinking it will and being heartbroken again. Why is something that seems so important not readily available when it seems like a thing you take in an urgent situation? Or am I just being over demanding and emotional about it? The chemist certainly made me feel rude for asking why I had to wait for it. And most importantly, has anyone had low progesterone levels yet gone on to have a healthy baby? < This one would really help.

[Mrs P]

LadyRose just wondering if you're in Perth by any chance?


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[LadyRose]

I am actually, thats amazing! I can't figure out how to PM you though?

[Lily Dust]

seems your Dr isnt using much understanding to your situation.From what i remember, low progesterone can cause a miscarriage BUT it can also be a sign of a miscarriage that is inevitably going to occur KWIM? So if you are having an inevitable miscarriage a progesterone boost wont help but if the miscarriage is due to low progesterone then the pessaries may help that until everything kicks in and starts producing the 'good stuff'

Is it possible you can request a scan before they make any further decisions?

If a miscarriage does occur it wont necessarily come away on its own. We did the wait and see approach and waited 5 weeks and still nothing.

Crossing everything you have a sticky bub in there.

[Maruschke]

With DD1 my P4 was 26 at your stage, and she is 3.5 now . I hope you also have good news.

[Phteven]

I am actually, thats amazing! I can't figure out how to PM you though?

Because you only have 6 posts your PM function doesn't work. If it's ok with you we can pass the email addy you registered with to MrsP.

[vic261]

Can you have an injection of Pregnyl? Or try the crinone gel?

[Ree*Ree]

I'm in Perth too, I get my pessaries from the Wembley pharmacy, they have them in stock as they deal frequently with the fertility clinic down the road from them. I think they are open until 10pm tonight. Good luck!

[Mrs P]

Sorry Onyx just realized my initial post was against the rules! Pregnant brain!!

Happy to get LadyRose's email by PM if she agrees.


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[Mrs P]

Yep, Emslies pharmacy in Wembley is where I get mine. Worth a try to call them for sure!!


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[Loula]

I went to a local GP to get my levels checked inbetween my IVF check and the GP told me taking the pessaries would not help. He made me feel so much worse.

I'm now 37 weeks pg and due to give both next week! (unless baby turns from breech!!!)

I think my level was 22 or 24?

Sending you best wishes


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[LadyRose]

Yes please pass my email on to MrsP, thank you!

My GP went away on Thursday right after I got the news the hcg rose but needed to test the progesterone, so she said her collegue at the clinic would deal with me until she comes back. I am booked in to see the Ob I want to use in late September as she doesn't see patients until they 10 weeks. I can go to an after hours dr this weekend, do you think that is a good idea? would they suggest anything else apart from the progesterone pessaries? What are the other options suggested?

I didn't know about the chemist in wembley, I asked if there was anywhere else I could get it from and was told Huntingdale but that I'd have the same issue with it needing to be made up. That is about 45 mins from me at least. Though I would have gone to Wembley straight away if they told me, this is so frustrating. I don't know how people can be so blaze.

Thank you for all the posts, it seems this isn't something I can control but I don't know how to "just wait and see". Has anyone else had an early pregnancy they were told may not make it? How did you cope with that? I'm relieved (that the HCG is rising, but anxious its not doing it at the "normal" rate, I'm angry I don't feel supported by any practitioner during this, I know if my own GP were still here I would as she's fantastic, but she's not so I'm stuck. I'm obviously upset and I go from hopeful to fearful. It's exhausting, I just don't know where to focus my energy.

edited to add: I do have a scan booked next Wednesday, that's the soonest they would see me as they said they can't see anything until HCG levels are over 1500. I could ring back and try to make it sooner, would this help? or would it be better to wait?

[Emma09]

My prog was borderline low, but my HCG didnt double.
It's a positive thing that your HCG is going up.
Try the pharmacist near the IVF clinic- the one near mine always has some ready.
My prog was 25.5, but went up immediately after I used the pessaries for 2 days.
Pity you are not in Melbourne, I have some here that are not needed for now.
Good luck hun

[AndiE]

My progesterone with this pg was below normal (though I forget the actual numbers) and at the start my hcg levels were on the low side too, though within the range. I clearly recall my dr saying when I was approx 4-5 weeks not to get too hopeful. Anyway, my hcg continued to rise, but my progesterone went up and down. I ended up having progesterone pessaries from about 6 weeks to 14 weeks. I do believe the progesterone pessaries saved my pregnancy - I had a lot of bleeding in the first 8-9 weeks, and it only stopped after I regularly started using the progesterone. The only "catch" is the expense - the more pessaries you can buy at any one time, the cheaper it is. I do know the compounding chemist needed 24-48 hours notice to get the progesterone in stock, but on one occasion they were able to give me several pessaries they had in stock, and I picked the rest up a couple of days later.

Has your dr recommended you have a scan? I had a scan at 5w6d to check what was happening. I had another around 8 weeks. The scans were comforting from the perspective of seeing a good heartbeat and bub's development.

Wishing you all the best, xx

[LadyRose]

I've just called the chemist to check and they r ready! Dh has gone to get them, from memory the script was for 15 of them so twice a day would be a weeks worth. If i need them after that i'll go straight to wembly instead. Thanks fir answering my questiojs, i feel optimistic today.

[LadyRose]

Me again, I don't know how to use these... They didn't come with any instructions. Its a "strip" of white plastic segmented bullet shaped (capsules??) but if I break one off they are sharp along the edges. I assumed it would be like the canestan things you insert? Does anyone know how to use these?!

[Emma09]

When ready to use-
Take it out of the plastic and insert.
You'll get it, once it's out of the plastic.
I was a bit miffed too!
You might want to wear a panty liner


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[nothing2lose]

Push it up inside you as far as it will go using the tip of your finger to push. Lie down for 30 mins or so after insertion.

You will find you get very waxy very quickly! Also, dont worry if you feel something running out when you stand up. It will only be the wax residue. The actual progesterone will have been absorbed by that stage.

Good luck!

PS Keep them refrigerated and dont handle before inserting. They melt very quickly.