very low progesterone by hcg doubling??

christina109 · August 2013

hello-- my name is christina, and I have a situation that is seeming to perplex my doctors (ob specialists), so I was looking for some feedback.... a little history about me is that i had one miscarriage at 12 weeks in 2011 (needed a d and c), and one child born in 2012.

i got pregnant in july 2013 and had a really early miscarriage (at 4 weeks 1 day). doc said that without early detection pg tests i wouldnt have even known i was pregnant. he said that since it was so early i didnt need to wait before getting pg again. well, 2 weeks later (late july/early aug) I got pg again.

I am currently 5 weeks, but have had some bleeding off and on past week, which has tapered off. doctor did a hcg test on monday evening and levels were at 124, but progerestone was at .5. Doc called and said I was going to miscarry, that no supplements would help since progesterone was so low, and just to wait for the miscarriage to happen. Well, I am just not a "wait and see" kind of girl!

Doctor wants to rule out ectopic, so they had me do another hcg test 48 hours later, and my levels tripped to 384!! doctor is perplexed how that has happened, and wants to do another hcg test month. they still arent retesting progesterone.

My questions: is it possible for progesterone levels to rise on their own? Anyone have this happen? If I was having another m/c, would my hcg be doubling? I feel really out of control right now, and am looking for any different perspective that can be offered....

jap618 · August 2013

Congrats & Welcome. I'm sorry you're in limbo. I'm on progesterone supplements (I take them vaginally at bed time and will until 10 weeks) to help support my pregnancy. If your numbers are going up & your progesterone is low it seems like a win win (although I'm not a doctor and don't know your history) but seems like it may be worth bringing up? Several ladies on here are also on supplemental progesterone whether taken in shot form, pill form or suppository form. Good luck!

christina109 · August 2013

No, I asked about supplements and the doctor said that "with my levels so low, there really isnt a chance that it will do anything". A little frustrated right now. Is it possible for progesterone levels to go up on their own without the supplements?

BootsOrHearts · August 2013

Hang in there - it's not over until it's over. I hope your doctor is wrong. Your HCG levels increasing is a good sign.

Agree with PP - progesterone levels fluctuate a lot, can they test it again when they do your next draw?

1983sas · August 2013

My OB wouldn't give me supplements after my first beta draw (hcg 25 and progesterone at 5.2), but did 4 days later when I hadn't experienced any bleeding and hcg jumped up to 200. I would push for the supplements.

christina109 · August 2013

so i am calling them again today after hearing this feedback to ask a second opinion on the supplements.

i did have bleeding a week or so ago, so i am wondering if that is why the doc is assuming i am miscarrying?

in addition, they are drawing my hcg on Monday, which it would seem to make sense for them to draw my progesterone as well. maybe they are waiting to see what that comes back as before they do additional testing?

I dont want to think... "what if?". If I dont ask for the progesterone again, and if i do end up miscarrying again (which is very likely), I will be upset with myself.

thanks again ladies!

thanks for the feedback!

1983sas · August 2013

Good luck. I know what you mean about wanting to know/not wanting to know about progesterone levels. If it makes you feel better though, my OB said they would find out what they needed to know from HCG, since that's more 'telling' than progesterone.

SopranoMama · August 2013

I had good doubling numbers and falling progesterone. I had to fight with my Drs to get them to continue to check my progesterone levels and then to put me on supplements. My levels weren't ever as low as yours though so I don't know anything about the "too low to supplement" thing. I'm happy we fought for the supps and testing though, meeting my peanut is right around the corner!

christina109 · August 2013

Well, doctors office called back. Nurse was kind of a (blank) to me on the phone. Said that will not treat progesterone that is lower than 10. Even after I begged, pleaded and cryed. I also asked her if there was any hopoe for the pregnancy and she assured me "no". Ah, long day.

jap618 · August 2013

(((hugs))) hun. I'm sorry you're going through this again

christina109 · August 2013

so, I had HCG levels tested this AM, and they are still doubling!! so confused right now!

christina109 · August 2013

they told me they "will NOT re-test progesterone"....

Serenla · August 2013

((Hugs)) I'm so sorry this is happening and that the office won't retest.

Eliz77 · August 2013

I'm so sorry to hear you are going through this. I went through something similar-at 4.5-5.5 weeks, my HCG doubled twice then on draw 4 (which was 4 days after draw 3), went up but did not double (not sure 1st number, under 150, 330, 747, 1550). My progesterone however consistently dropped-12, 8, 6, 2). The NP did put me on oral progesterone, but cautioned it probably wouldn't help much.

I had an EP. The NP was sure I was having a MC and I was sure I was having an EP (diagnosed in the ER with a hemorrhagic cyst which turned out to be a ruptured tube).

Be your own advocate and keep going back for tests. I don't get why they won't retest progesterone. If you have any pain, just go to the ER. It's not over until it's over. T&Ps all turns out well for you!!!

Roses87 · August 2013

christina109 said:

they told me they "will NOT re-test progesterone"....

oh my so sorry you are going through this. I would DEMAND they test it. If they still declined i would be finding a new doc. I had low progesterone and dbling betas in my first tri and was placed on supplements. They didn't place me on supplements till they did a US at 5 weeks and confirmed a sac in the ute. But I took them all first tri and i am now 18 + weeks. Hopefully this gets sorted for you. Demand for a progesterone recheck!

christina109 · August 2013

another blood draw today..... hcg doubled again!! now its up to 2,600.... ultrasound tomorrow. very nervous. the doctor let me know he has "no idea what we are going to find..."

Havlous · August 2013

Hoping you get the answers you are hoping for. Please keep us updated.

hopeforamiracle2013 · August 2013

Good luck tomorrow!! Please update asap!

christina109 · August 2013

update: interestingly enough, ultrasound showed no ectopic. there is a gestational sac, however no hb. ultrasound tech said that for 6 weeks this is fairly normal. So far, preg looks like it is on track for 6 weeks. doc is still hesitant since progesterone was so low 10 days ago. he finally put me on a progesterone supplement, but will not retest. he told me it is what it is.

so, although we are cautiously hopeful, i still have concerns... is it possible that the low progesterone would cause issues later in the pregnancy? low progesterone cant lead to birth defects, etc, can it?

another u/s in two weeks to check for hb....

christina109 · November 2013

well, i am now going on 15 weeks, multiple u/s all show a strong heartbeat. doc has no explanation for it all....

SandSunBliss · November 2013

That is great news!! Wow. What a story. So glad you spoke up for yourself and your lo.

Roses87 · November 2013

Yay! good update. Same thing happen with my SIL and me. My nephew is 9 months now and I am almost 29 weeks with a surprise baby. My Dr told me that it can mean eptopic but also some ppl ovaries just don't produce the progesterone you need to maintain the pregnancy and it can be a perfectly helpful pregnancy but you can still miscarry if you dont have enough progesterone. So with the help of progesterone it can help to get your levels up to prevent that. In the beginning my dr said I still could very well miscarry. After seeing the heart beat at 10 weeks and seeing the baby wiggle she said my chance to miscarry was very low. Congrats to you for being in the second tri!! Best wishes for a healthy rest of your pregnancy.

amwangel · November 2013

What an awesome update!

very low progesterone by hcg doubling??

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