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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jh - 1355 days ago.
is anyone using natural progesterone?

peach - 1467 days ago.
JBaum--yes, take a pregnancy test right away and if it's positive, call your doctor ASAP to find out if you should take progesterone. He'll probably want to check your blood first. I just had a miscarriage after 4 weeks and 5 days of pregnancy. My progesterone was 1.9.

msims - 1509 days ago.
My doctor called and informed me that my hcg was 3000 but my progesterone is only 4.2 and I am to start taking 200 mg pills once a day to help it. I am 5 weeks and 2days today. Has anyone else had a sucessful pregnancy with numbers this low?

susiejw - 1602 days ago.
I forgot to add that when my husband and I had sex while on prometrium we used condoms so it wouldn't affect how much prometrium stayed in....I know...TMI

susiejw - 1602 days ago.
Hi Jbaum, during my last pregnancy I was put on that same dosage. During this pregnancy I'm on 100. My pregnancy symptoms are made worse while I"m on it but I tell myself that it will all be worth it at the end. I should be on it for another few days and I will stop...but I"m so scared of stopping. I hope all goes well with your pregnancy!

Jbaum - 1615 days ago.
Tested this morning and we are pregnant. 4w&5d. called the Dr today and they have started me on 200mg of prometrium3 times a day. Has anyone else been put on that dosage? We go in for blood work 4 times before our ultra sound on the 28th. Also, I know this is a very personal question, but if you have taken the vaginal suppositories, can you still have sex? what are the side effects that some of you have experienced??

tiffanyjade - 1734 days ago.
Hello! I had a m/c 2 years ago at 4 weeks due to low progesterone levels. When they tested it was at 7 and they put me on the 200mg pills taken at bedtime. I only took them for 2 days then had m/c. I am now 6 wks pregnant again..yay!! I went to have my levels checked at 4 wks and the progesterone was at 13.5 which doc said wasn't were it needs to be so they put me on the progesterone suppositories this time and I have been on them for 1 week now and went for blood work today and will find out tomorrow if the levels have went up...I hope so!

TwoBabyBuntings - 1788 days ago.
jbaum~~ I am currently 12 weeks 3 days pregnant and on progesterone until 13 weeks. I had a m/c earlier this year due to low progesterone. My dr told me that I needed to call as soon as I thougt I might be pregnant because if it was low again we needed to get me on progesterone as soon as possible. I called in when I would have been between 3 and 4 weeks because I got a positive hpt and it was low again and they started me on it right away. I personally would not wait to test if you think you are pregnant. Your dr will probably want to get you on progesterone as soon as possible.

JBaum - 1788 days ago.
Hi Ladies - I miscarried last summer. (This is the 3rd m/c in my life - I have no children). My Husband and I have been actively trying (only had 1 miscarriage with him). My period is late (only by a day though), my breasts are twice the size. Hurt even to touch. I have a tingly feeling in my lower stomach. After my last miscarriage, I was sent to a fertility clinic and the DR there said he wants to start me on progesterine when I get pregnant again. My question is - how soon in your pregnancy do you start to take it? I have asked my hubby to pick me up a pregnancy test and he said we should wait a few weeks until I test. I know he doesn't want to be dissappointed if I'm not pregnant, but how long should I wait to test? and when should I start taking progesterine?? Thanks so much!

MsBeenee - 1795 days ago.
Has anyone missed a few doses with their progesterone suppositories and still been okay? I am 8 weeks and started taking them at 3 1/2 weeks. I take one in the morning and one at night. About 5 or 6 times I have missed the morning one but always take the night one. I have had no spotting or anything. Has anyone unfortunately done this too?

MsBeenee - 1795 days ago.
Froggie024: My doctor did the same thing to me. He put me on the progesterone supositories without checking my levels. I had miscarried twice before that and so this was with my third pregnancy. I had a healthy baby boy in 2006 and then another doing the same thing in 2008. I took it until 12 weeks (because then your placenta is mature enough to take over). Check with your doctor though. I am now currently taking it again (I am 8 weeks prego). I hope that helps you!

froggie024 - 1798 days ago.
Hello! I am 12 weeks along today! I have been taking Progesterone pill form since I was about 4 weeks along. I had two m/s last year, so I am terrified it will happen again. My Dr. never took my levels, just put me on the pills since we think thats the problem. Is anyone else doing the same thing? When are you going to stop taking them?

mrsparker - 1804 days ago.
Hello ladies. I am 4w6d along. I got the results to the blood work I had done yesterday. My hcg level is at 949, but my progesterone is only at 10. My OB says she wants it to be at 15. She's prescribing prometrium 100mg capsule orally twice a day. I'm so scared of another m/c and really hopes this will work. I'm trying hard not to read to much internet about birth defects or other side effects for me like heart disease or breast cancer. Enough to drive a woman crazy....as if being pregnant wasn't enough

fettski - 1823 days ago.
Is it possible to go forward with a progesterone level at 10? Or has anyone gone full term with this level?

frankcj03 - 1889 days ago.
hello, I just started taking prometrium 200 mg at bedtime. i have never experienced any m/c but too blood work on friday and dr said my levels were on the low side of normal. I too am very nervous. I hope and pray that all will go well. I am 6.3 weeks pregnant and need to take these until i am 10 weeks. My dr appt is on the 28th so we will see if this meds makes a difference.

Eve-80 - 1993 days ago.
So, at 6weeks, 6 days pregnant my progesterone level was 14.8 when it should be 24. I kinda panicked but my doctor said it'll be okay. I am now: 8weeks, 5 days pregnant and have been taking 200mg of Progesterone suppositories daily (1 at night, 1 in the morning). My GYN appt. is tomorrow and I hope my level is normal. (Crossing fingers).

mom2bntexas - 1998 days ago.
I am 5 weeks 2 days today. I had a HORROR story with lab work. They nurse drew blood Tuesday, and Thursday called and said that the HCG level was 0. They asked them to run it again, but had me come in for an ultrasound and more blood work. I had a BFP on another urine test and there was a sac and yolk measuring exactly 5 wks 1 day. I got a call this morning that the re-test of the first blood draw came back again but was positive with HCG at 1400, but my progesterone was 7.5. He prescribed prometrium to be inserted vaginally. I had the same with my daughter, I just hope that I started it in time. With her I started at 4 weeks not 5. Anyone have any idea how quickly prometrium can increase your progesterone level?

slinky - 2056 days ago.
Hi this is a test as i am new to this forum, please can someone give me some advice asap regarding my profesterone levels?

pkmdsmom - 2077 days ago.
CBONITA- I also had a very difficult pregnancy with my first. I had my son at 32 wks and was on bed rest at the hospital for 6 wks due to a ruptured membrane. I started taking progesterone shots with my second from 16 weeks and now I am 33 wks and happy to say still pregnant, moving around and not on bed rest. My progesterone dose ends at 35 wks but I'll be very happy if I even get to 35 wks and I'll be ok if I even give birth 36-37 wks. I know someone else who also had a difficult time with pregnancies and rejected taking the shots. She is now 32 wks and on complete bed rest due to having a weak cervix. I don't know if it really is the progesterone but, I'll do it again in a heart beat. The only cons I have with the shot is that I have weekly shots which do hurt sometimes and I get itchy at the location of the shot. There are ways to subside the pain and bump by massaging the area after the shot and placing a heat pad. The itching went away after the first 4 shots. Hope this helps and good luck on your pregnancy!

manda22 - 2083 days ago.
cbonita- I am 6 weeks with my 4th pregnancy I have one DD age 5 ( 2 MC's) My OBGYN has me on 600mg of progesteron a day now Istarteditthe day I got my BFP, Im taking oral tablets 200mg 3 times a day and theonly side effect I have is some dizziness but nothing major. My OB also said that if our baby is a girl she may have enlarged (slightly) genitalia at birth due to the extra hormons but it would only be temporary! Good Luck!! Hope this helps a bit!!

cbonita - 2084 days ago.
I am almost 15 weeks pregnant and my Dr wants me to start progesterone shots at 19 weeks I have had 4 miscarriages and 2 live births both were premature at 32 and 34 weeks. I spent a month in the hospital with both and that is something I don't want to go through again. Has anyone had progesterone shots to prevent preterm labor and were their any side affects? This is the first I've heard of these shots My kids are 9 and 10 this was not an option back then.

redheadmama - 2159 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 - 2160 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 - 2167 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 - 2223 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.