Progesterone Levels

Pregnancy would not be possible without progesterone!

Progesterone Levels

Progesterone is a hormone that the ovary produces during pregnancy. The placenta will maintain progesterone levels throughout the pregnancy. Progesterone is important and plays a crucial role in conception and the development of a fetus. Without progesterone, pregnancy would be impossible.

During pregnancy, progesterone serves many purposes. Progesterone allows the endometrium to develop, remain thick and secrete fluids. The placenta functions and fights off unwanted cells near the uterus because of progesterone. Progesterone stimulates the growth of breat tissue and encourages lactation after birth. The hormone is responsible for strengthening the mucus plug, which covers the cervix to fight infection. Progesterone also keeps the uterus from contracting to ensure that the baby stays in the uterus for optimal growth. However as your pregnancy comes to an end, progesterone levels will drop and this will stimulate contractions of the uterus. The contractions will then lead to the birth of your baby!

Normal progesterone levels during a woman's menstrual cycle and during pregnancy are different. From day 1-14 of a menstrual cycle, the levels should be 1 to 1.5 ng/ml. From day 15 to 28, the levels vary from 2-28 ng/ml. During the first trimester of pregnancy, normal levels can range from 9-47 ng/ml. Second trimester levels will range from 17-147 ng/ml and third trimester levels should be between 55 and 200 ng/ml.

Low progesterone levels can be detected with a blood test. In the early weeks of pregnancy, low levels may indicate a threatened miscarriage. Because adequate levels of progesterone are needed to carry a pregnancy to term, it is important that doctors check a woman's level of progesterone if a problem is suspected.

If progesterone levels are too high during pregnancy, a woman may experience constipation, heartburn, a runny nose, blurry eyes and an increased chance of kidney infections.

Comments: Progesterone Levels

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redheadmama - 42 days ago.
KROGERS- yes, low progesterone can be fixed. I take two progesterone capsules a day (one at night, one in the morning). They can be taken orally but apparently are not as effective, so I take them as vaginal suppositories. I start taking them on CD14 (or when you know you've ovulated) and keep taking them until you get a bfp (and then stay on them until about 14 weeks) or until your cycle is late and you get two bfns. Some people don't get their period until a day or so after they stop taking the supplements. Your doctor will obviously be the best one to tell you what your body needs and what will be the best for your fertility. All the best!

krogers07 - 43 days ago.
Ok question. Didnt know where to post this. We are ttc. For the last 2 months I have started spotting on day 24 of my 27 day cycle. I normallly ovulate on day 14. My breasts have also been very tender. Doc is checking me for low progesterone. Has anyone experienced this? Is it easily fixed? Can I still get pregnant this month? I am charting and I have a clear thermal shift after ovulation and my temp does not drop till the day before I start my period. Any advice would help. Thanks

miraclemumma - 50 days ago.
hi all. My progesterone was 32 at 5 weeks, then dropped to 27 3 days later. spoke to my doctor who decided to put me on progesterone twice daily. the follwing day my bloods were done again and progesterone had gone up to 87!!! still on them. currently at 7wks 3 days and will be on prog until 12 weeks.

sheework - 105 days ago.
My nurse called and said my levels were at 0.97 I don't know if that is good or not. My doctor hadn't looked over them yet but my nurse just told me what they were. Not sure what to take away from that. I am not pregnant but ttc and have had 4 losses and thought low levels might be causing them.

liewerm - 120 days ago.
I am on the progesterone suppositories and have been on them since week 5 and i am almost 10 weeks along now. i don't know what my levels were at the first time i had blood taken but i am going to make sure and ask when i go in for my appointment next week. so far it just seems to me like it has increased the symptoms of being pregnant. i had a m/c last june at 8 weeks, so i like to think that this one will work out cause yeah its only one week but still have symptoms and its lasted longer than the other.

hopingmarch - 133 days ago.
I wanted to respond to your question/concern marchbabies. I am 4 1/2 weeks pregnant and had a previous miscarriage in May. My progesterone level were taken about a week ago and it was 25.7 and yesterday I had a blood test and they were 20.4. Of course I am really nervous about that but my midwife tells me it is okay for progesterone to fluctuate as long as it doesn't drop really low, like under 10. I am still worried and I probably will be until at least 12 weeks. I just wanted you to know I had the same experience.

marchbabies - 139 days ago.
I am 6 weeks pregnant after 3 m/c. Last week, my progesterone levels were 19.8 and this week they dropped to 17.9. Anyone had this happen? Is the drop a bad sign? Do you think progesterone supplements would be necessary? I haven't had any spotting yet and just a little light cramping but I am worried sick to lose this pregnancy for the 4th time in row. Any success stories??

adriana03 - 167 days ago.
For those of you who were put on the shots or suppositories when did your doc start to give them to you?? Im kind of contracting already and he says that i have to wait til 20 weeks. iVe heard alot of ppl getting them at 16??? why does he say i have to wait?? Im only 13 weeks now.

Mommy2Chloe - 167 days ago.
I was on progesterone suppositories for my first trimester. I also had a friend who was on them for her first trimester too. I have a healthy 6 month old baby girl and my friend has a healthy 1 year old boy. So, progesterone is there to help, not hurt baby's growth.

kjslover - 167 days ago.
I was on progesterone suppositories for the first trimester and didn't have any problems. I'm 25 weeks now and my baby is healthy and growing right on schedule! It's very common to be used when there is a threat or risk of miscarriage. Good luck with your pregnancy!

PreggersMissy - 167 days ago.
I recently went to the doctor a week ago and had my progesterone levels tested to see if I was ovulating. They called me the next day and told me that I did not ovulate - level was 6.3. I got real upset and thought that I was going to need fertility drugs in order to conceive. Well, after drinking beer over the weekend, I found out I was about 5 weeks pregnant. (I didn't know that you don't ovulate when pregnant) My doctor immediately became worried after realizing that my progesterone levels were so low so he tested it again and it was only 6.6 and he then prescribed progesterone vaginal suppositories. I was wondering if anyone has experienced severe side effects or believes that progesterone causes problems with the baby.....

CelticBabe2009 - 260 days ago.
I was diagnosed with low progesterone (7) too after a 5 months of trying, a miscarriage, and another 8 months of trying. They prescribed Clomid to be taken on my next cycle. Before I was able to take it, I read that a diet high in raw fruits and veggies will raise it naturally, so I tried it for a bit over three weeks (days 7-30). BFP on day 30 without any drugs! My doc immediately put me on prog. supplements for the first trimester (I am about to enter week 11). I won't say that it will work for everyone, but the worst that will happen is you will be eating healthier......

flutterflybaby1999 - 283 days ago.
I wonder why my doctor never gave me a choice to check into my progest levels? even when i asked if i could get checked. i had a mc at 5weeks in aug 08 and i thought maybe since i had irregular periods maybe thats why i didnt have enought progest.

mgarcia2411 - 329 days ago.
To any of you ladies who have used prog. cream, I have a question. I have been using a natural progesterone cream to lengthen my luteal phase which had been around 8-9 days, and it works my luteal phase now is around 14-15 days. After I take a preg. test and its negative I stop the cream and then AF usually shows about 4 days later. My question is I have been doing this for the last 4 months and want to know will prog. cream help my body to lengthen it on its own or only when I am using the cream? Im wanting to stop using it the next cycle and see if my body goes back to how it was 4 months ago or if the cream helped my body to do this on its own. I mean Im sure women with short luteal phases dont stay on this forever right? Thanks

mom2bewithnumber3 - 331 days ago.
Hi girls! I just found out yesterday that I am pregnant again! I am hoping and praying this time it will turn out okay. During my last pregnancy, at about 4 and a half weeks, my Dr. called me to inform me that my progesterone level was at 5....and she usually likes to see it around 16 at that point. She gave me a prescription for Prometrium to try and up my levels. Right after I started taking it, I miscarried. It could be that it was just meant to happen, but I can't help but worry that maybe the Prometrium triggered it. She told me if I got pregnant again, to go ahead and start taking it right away (she said it wouldn't hurt if my levels were normal)....but I'm so scared! I haven't been to the Dr. yet to even know what my levels are and I'm supposed to start taking this again. Can anyone offer any advice? PLEASE?

AandDsMommy - 348 days ago.
I am on the shots once a week also and I just want to know how long after you stop taking the shots does it take for labor to start??? I'm very anxious to get him out and I am miserable. I am only 30 weeks by the way and yes I realize he is not coming all that soon, I stop my shot between 34 and 36 weeks. I just wanna know how long it took for you guys to go into labor after using this shot?!?!?!

LMDYNOMITE - 348 days ago.
HELLO EVERYONE I AM ON PROMETRIUM AND I TAKE 3 200MG TABLETS A DAY I HAVE DONE THIS WITH ALL OF MY PREGNANCY'S AND I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS . THIS TIME I HAVE TO TAKE ALL THE WAY UP UNTIL WEEK 36 . PROMETRIUM MAKES YOUR CERVIX THICKER AND HELPS PREVENT CRAMPING . I AM HAPPY THAT I DECIDED TO TAKE THE MEDICATION I HAVE 2 LOVELY GIRLS AND BABY # 3 ON THE WAY