18 Week Progesterone Question

[hmr11913]

Since all of my history isn't on here I will fill you in first; I found out that my progesterone was low the month before we conceived, so as soon as I had a BFP I was put on Progesterone 200mg 2x per day(vaginally) --- that was at 3 weeks, then I was taken off the RX at 14 weeks. (Could have been at 10, but I felt better staying on it so he let me until 14.)  Since then, I haven't had my progesterone checked at all because my OB said that my body "SHOULD" be doing it's job by supplementing it. 

Even though I haven't had any issues since stopping it, every once in awhile I go into panic mode wondering if my progesterone is good enough. I mean, who knows since it hasn't been checked..... I do have a routine appointment with him next Friday(I will be almost 19 weeks at the appointment) just to listen to the HB again, if you were me, would you have them check your progesterone levels while you're there? 

I had asked him before about people that I've read that stay on progesterone through their whole pregnancy and he said that is injections and mainly due to having preterm labor..... so my uneducated brain wonders and thinks, well, what if I had preterm labor because my progesterone was low and it could have been prevented, if we knew about it? 

Sorry for all of the questions........ sometimes this just makes me so nervous! 

[BookishMomma]

I have a friend who stayed on vaginal progesterone (Crinone) throughout her pregnancy. She had had 3 losses prior to her rainbow baby and insisted on having progesterone tested throughout her pregnancy. So it's not unheard of. It certainly can't hurt to have a blood draw to have it tested.

[hmr11913]

Thank you, BookishMomma. I am going to call them and have them schedule it for me as long as I'll be there anyway. I've asked him several times if I could just stay on the progesterone and he said not after 14 weeks....... which, why does it matter to him if I'm on it or not if it's not harming anything???

[uneek]

I agree with Bookish.

I've read and been told by one doctor that if you're having a boy, staying on the progesterone long term could cause genital deformities. Please don't take this as gospel. I don't remember where I read it and only one doctor has ever said this, but it could be something to ask your doctor.

[dawnstar898]

My understanding is that first it's the corpus luteum's job to make progesterone in early pregnancy then the placenta starts to take over around 8-10 weeks ish? So once the placenta takes over you shouldn't need supplementation any more. You shouldn't stay on it the whole pregnancy because I believe there are some birth defects it can cause. I'm not 100% sure, and it's a good question. I'm on progesterone as well. Maybe next time I go in, I will ask my doc to go into detail about it. I'm staying on it until 14 weeks.

[hmr11913]

uneek -- I'll def. have to ask about that, as we are TEAM GREEN.

dawnstar898 -- Yes, your placenta should take over around that time frame, however my concern would be what if it didn't?

[dawnstar898]

Jan 28, 2015 10:31:30 GMT -5 hmr11913 said:

uneek -- I'll def. have to ask about that, as we are TEAM GREEN.

dawnstar898 -- Yes, your placenta should take over around that time frame, however my concern would be what if it didn't?

That is a very good question...

[fourthtimesacharm]

I had 3 m/c and took progesterone this time around without being tested for low progesterone. It was one of those "can't hurt, might help" situations. I only stayed on it until 10 weeks. The high risk dr reviewed my case and did not think I needed to be on the weekly injections. The placenta has a lot of responsibility besides just producing progesterone and if it can't do that then there are other issues with your placenta and synthetic progesterone won't correct the other issues. Talk to your dr. He/she can hopefully give you some clear answers to help put your mind at ease. Good luck and congratulations on your pregnancy.

[jlword710]

My understanding is the same as dawnstar898.... but I think there is no harm in throwing it out there to your doctor.

I got off the progesterone at 10 weeks then had some spotting, so started taking one suppository until 12 weeks when my ob was all "it's not doing anything.... stop with the mental games" (that's how I interpreted it anywho). Then, it 18 weeks we had some rare term labor threats, so the discussion at that time was stitching up my cervix and progesterone injections.

So maybe the injection differs from the suppositories in some way? I do know oral differs from suppositories...

Not too much help, I just get the worry and am trying to throw out some "ease of mind-ness"

Hope the dr answers some questions!

[hmr11913]

Thank you ladies!!!