Anyone Had Progesterone Issues?

I had three miscarriages before my first son and they finally put me on progeserone suppositories and that seemed to be the factor that helped. I didn't like it much but it was worth it when the pregnancy lasted. We also had the Rh factor against us too but I don't think that was a factor in the miscarriages.

My good friend was in the same boat. She lost her baby boy at 12 weeks gestation. AFter a year of trying again, she suspected progesterone. She was frustrated that this does not seem to be a well-studied issue, and that her doctor didn't seem confident in her own ability to pinpoint ovulation using the same methods you describe. She was going to wait for the ovulation level check, but then she discovered she was pregnant! She began using suppositories, but they are very expensive. Now she only uses one if she has cramping, since she has no way of knowing if her levels are okay for this stage of pregnancy. She's almost through the first trimester now. Blessings to you on your journey...!

I had low progestrone issues with all three of my pregnancies. I lost my first one before we realized I had an issue. The 2nd time I got pregnant my dr. put me on progestrone suppositories (they go into your vagina) that I took 2 times a day for the first trimester. I had two successful pregnancies doing that. I don't know if they can check your levels before you are pregnant to see if it will be a problem, but I would say as soon as you know you are pregnant, ask to be tested and put on the suppositories if it is low. It's kind of expensive (80 dollars or so a month) but totally worth it!!!
Good luck

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. I have had many friends who have been through similar experiences. It is becoming more and more prevalent due to an estrogen dominant society.
I also have had low progesterone. My chiropractor/ natropath/and close family friend has been doing hormone seminars for years. She believes that one of the only ways to acurately test your estrogen and progesterone levels is through a SALIVA test. There is one that you can order on line and send in. It's difficult to find though, I will try to get the website.
I have been using a botanically based progesterone cream for about two years now. My chiropractor has seen over twenty couples who struggle with keeping pregnancies succeed with this product. John Lee helped design it.
You can also buy it online. Feel free to email me for info on any of these or listening to a seminar. ____@____.com

Hi:

I did have a low progesterone issue since I had PCOS that made conception difficult. They measured my progresterone during the ovulation period and found it low). they recommended prometrium (oral tablets), and aslo some vaginal suppositories. None of them worked for me. Finally they had to put me on IM shots (twice a day), till my first trimester. That is what worked out for me.

Check with your Doctor about the options and see what might work out for you the best. Good luck.

--S. M

I am sorry to hear about your miscarriages. Can you tell me how you coped with them? I to had two miscarriages. Around the time that they were suppose to be born I get kind of depressed. I am not sure on why I had misscarried. The first one I do believe was related to stress and i was on the birth control pill but not sure. We had found out we were pregnant a week before our wedding (suprise) and two days before our wedding we miscarried. So then after three months of that we found out that I had gotten pregnant again and miscarried. So in January of 2005 we found out we were pregnant (planned) and at 30wks my water broke a little and was put in the hospital. They gave me steriods and things to stop the contractions. She decided to come at 33wks she was put in the nicu for about 10 days. She sure was a fighter and now she is 2 years old and is healthy as can be. If you looked at her you would never know that she was a premee. With my son we gotten pregnany and the pregnancy went well until I went back to work and then I started to have contractions at 30wks they gave me things to stop them but they would come and go so often and about 35wks my son was born. He was in the nicu for about 7days and has some breathing issues but is healthy as can be. I don't know why I have I deliever early. Good luck!

Hi,
Sorry to hear about the loss of your daughter & your miscarriage. I had a low progesterone when I was trying to get pregnant with my 2nd child (who is now 10 months old). I also had other hormone problems so if it's not your progesterone, you might want to check out other hormones. I was actually told I would not be able to conceive again because my ovaries went to ovarian failure & an ultrasound confirmed that I was out of eggs. My progesterone came back at zero & my FSH was in pre-menopause level. We turned in our adoption papers & that did it. 4 months later I was pregnant. After delivery, I had all my hormones re-checked & now everything is normal again. The doctors cannot explain what happened or how it corrected itself.

GOOD LUCK! I wish the best for you!
T.

I never had a difficult time conceiving but have had several miscarriages. With my youngest, now 3 1/2 years old, the progesterone was very low and my doc thought I was miscarrying the baby. On a friend's recommendation I went to see Dr. Hilgers and Dr. Pierson at the Pope Paul VI Institute. I went on progesterone orally and via injection a few times a week. My son was born very healthy and I don't think he'd be here had it not been for them. I'm not sure Dr. Pierson is there anymore but I know Dr. Hilgers is and I think there's another doc there now too that I've heard is wonderful. There's also a great PA there. I'll be honest, Dr. Hilgers isn't known to have the best bedside manner but if you can deal with that or maybe see the other doc in the clinic it is worth it! I wish you luck , you are in my prayers.

J.

I went to a Health and Wellness training and one woman spoke about a book called Hormone Balance A Matter of Life and Health by Kristine Klitzke, R.N, B.S.N 1-800-494-4659 or www.soundconcepts.com to find out more. Dr. John Lee, MD is another good source. He wrote Natural Progesterone: The Multiple Roles of a Remarkable Hormone. I have read and heard many testimonies about couples who could not have children until after they started using PhytoProlief Natural Balancing Cream from Arbonne. Go to www.arbonne.com and read the many testimonies. I use the cream to help so my moods are not so awful. Those women in memopause use this cream to help with hot flashes. Use the pre-metered cream morning and night and rotate each time to a different part on your body: ex. neck, inside arms, stomach, inside thighs, behind knees. The cream bottle explains all of this. It's worth a try! You can get this product from at 35-50% off through me (or most other Arbonne consultants). Please let me know if you are interested at ____@____.com. I so hope this information was helpful. I am so sorry for your loss and I keep you and other moms in my prayers.
Take care,
J. H.

HI E.:

Having low progesterone can make conceiving more difficult along with causing early miscarriages. I have had this issue with my first pregnancy and applied a progesterone cream after I ovulated and during my first trimester. I had great success.

Yep. It stinks. I've had 9 miscarriages now and have never used birth control in the 10 years we've been married. They told me before I married that I would have a hard time conceiving, so we didn't wait long. I finally got my first 3 1/2 yrs later, and now have 4 healthy boys. I contribute my successes to homeopathy (and MAJOR blessings). Every time I got some really nasty news about some procedure that HAD to be done, I did major research to find other options. The thing I understand about Homeopathy is that they fi the underlying problem and it trickles. It was always funny to see what else was "broke". I know lots of women who have had success with P cream, but be careful. It can also backfire. You're messing with hormones there. The Birth Control pill as a teenager (to regulate) is what they say caused my major imbalance. The other thing they had me do is go OFF commercial meats, cheeses and milk. My hormones are sensitive enough that the hormones they heed the animals affect me. I'm fairly new to here and have found some suppliers of organic or field fed animals, if you're interested. I foiund it actually tastes WAY better and is sometimes cheaper. (If you have room for it, it's cheaper to buy and have butchered a whole cow) Good luck!

I have had a low progesterone level for most of my life. I've been married almost 13 years, and in that time had 1 pregnancy that ended in miscarriage (1995) and 1 pregnancy that is going to full term (due the end of this month).

In the past 12 years I've never used birth control and yet never got pregnant except that one time, and my progesterone has always been low.

We did try fertility treatments (Clomid, hCG shots, etc...) but nothing worked.

My progesterone levels with this pregnancy were "a bit on the low end" and I was actually put on progesterone suppositories for the first trimester of the pregnancy, just in case.

Not sure if this helps you at all, but there it is.

Good luck!

I got pregnant the first time with no problems at all. When we started trying for the second time, a year passed and nothing. I started using the ovulation tests and never got a positive. I talked with my ob/gyn and she recommended clomid, a fertility drug because she did not think I was ovulating. My first blood tests came back, my progesterone was very low and therefore, I was not ovulating. It ended up taking 6 months of clomid to get our wonderful 2yr old twins. Oh yeah, that is another effect of the clomid, but very low possibility. I guess we are blessed. Good luck.

God be with you and your babies! you are a special person to be able to move forward, and keep trying. i wish you the best of luck, and may god be with you and your family every step of the way.
i do not have any suggestions for your situation, being that i have had 4 healthy babies, but i recently have lost a little nephew to miscarriage, and i found this website VERY enlightening www.labelledame.com
they have jewelry that you can wear, that may help you to concieve, and to wear during pregnancy, have you heard of them? i am curious as to wether this works, but there are testimonials as well that you can read.
Good luck and god be with you!

Tell your Dr's office you want a prescription for progesterone suppositories. I had a luteal phase defect (low progesterone) and although it is a little messy to use, they can give you progesterone suppositories to help maintain a healthy pregnancy until the placenta is fully functional. We has 6 years of M/c and infertility and we now have 2 beautiful children.
Also, even if your progeterone is just barely low, the progeterone suppositories won't harm anything either even if your level goes back up to normal while you are on it.
Good luck and feel free to email me if you want some good links to closed infertilty/conception support groups.
C.

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. Praise God that your 4-month old IS with Him!
About the progesterone issues, I would DEFINATELY reccoment getting your levels checked. I was having other problems and got mine checked. My levels weren't drastically low, but my estrogen to progesterone ratio was skewed. Since then I have been on a bio-identical progesterone cream that has helped with some of my symptoms. I would suggest using caution when choosing a progesterone supplement--some of the stuff that a doctor will prescribe isn't bio-identical and can cause more problems. The doctor I go to is an MD and has a family practice, but also addresses the need for some natural medicines. He's a Christian and has a lot of info on his website. I'll copy a link to the page about hormones. Sorry if this is discombobulated! I'll pray for you to find the answer.
L.
http://www.doctordrewmd.com/BHRT.htm
P.S.
Dr. Drew does the saliva test and the progesterone cream goes on your wrists and fatty tissue (tummy, thighs, etc.)

Yes, I had low progestrone in all four pregnancies. The first two ended in miscarriages. The second two pregnancies I had to take progest. supplements and had my blood levels tested weekly for the first 14 weeks. My levels would go up and down like crazy. I was so lucky to find a preventive doctor who was willing to check me so often. She had me start taking progest. suppositories after I ovulated and then after taking a pregnancy test I would go off of it if the test was negative. If you do need progest. you should be taking it right away and not wait until they test you for being too low. If you have any questions about it please email me and we can talk. Its kind of complicated to write all of the details.

Hi,
I have polycystic ovarian syndrome and I ended up miscarrying before being diagnosed with that disorder. After almost a year and half years of trying and after being on a rx called meteformin for only 6 months, we finally conceived last May and when I went to the doctor they tested my progesterone and I was very low. The doctors have since determined that my low levels of progesterone is what made me miscarry in the first place.

I'm happy to say that my pregnancy progressed normally, they prescribed progesterone for me to take twice daily until after I was 12 weeks along and I'm due to deliver my first child in the next couple of weeks.

You may want to be checked out by an endocrinologist or a reproductive endocrinolgist. Polycystic ovarian syndrome causes infertility and most women don't even know they have the disorder until it's discovered by blood tests.

Good luck and don't give up!

I have poly cystic ovarian syndrome which gives all sorts of hormone related issues. I have had 4 miscarrages and 1 happy somewhat healthy boy. I tried several treatments with progesterone and other fertility drugs, but when I concieved and carried him to 36 weeks I was on nothing but glucophage. This drug is typically used to control diabetes, but has been found to regulate hormones also, due to what insulin and sugar spike do to your body. You may want to discuss this treatment with your doctor. I was on 1500mg per day untill my 7th month of pregnancy then they dropped it to 1000mg, because sometimes it can cause low birth weight, he was nearly a month early and still weighed 6 pounds 6 ounces so he was fine. Though it is a very good idea to have all your levels checked you may also have an underlying condition they haven't caught yet. other then just low progesterone. Let me know if this helps. My heart goes out to you...

I had issue with all my pregnancies. I miscarried at 10 weeks due to low progesterone. My next pregnancy I started on progesterone suppositories right after ovulation and stayed on them until 13 weeks into my pregnancy. I did this again with my other one and luckily have 2 beautiful little girls.

E., YES! Definately low progesterone here. With my 3.5 year old, I had to take prometrium until week 12 of gestation. And then when he was 14 months old, we got pregnant again, and miscarried 8 weeks later. Where it took 5 years for us to conceive Owen, it has taken over 2 years so far trying to conceive after the miscarriage. I take a natural progesterone cream as soon as I can tell I Ovulated. Usually that's about 3 days past ovulation. I'm on Fertility Friend, where we plot our temps and cf, etc. Now I have to inset here that after the miscarriage, they found my thyroid to be out of wack. I need to be on meds now daily for the rest of my life to help with this. That also can cause low temps in the cycle, and can make a baby miscarry or not get pregnant in the first place. I'd have your doctor check out your thyroid along with all the other hormones. Good luck getting pregnant again. Hopefully your youth will give you a little hope. It's a little harder to hope when you are in your 40's. Work closely with your doctor. Ask questions, and if you don't like the response time on trying to determine the problem, find another doctor you can feel comfortable with. Hugs and prayers for you.
J.