Miscarriage - low progesterone & no one cares

[strawberrysundae]

In the last half of the year was undergoing investigations into my erratic bleeding, and was due to go in for tests on my hormones on my next period. Then i fell pregnant (hooray). I tried speaking to my GP about these suspected hormonal issues but i just kept getting told they wont look into it until i have had 3 miscarriages, even though the gyno unit were in the middle of testing me BEFORE i got pregnant. Turns out once your pregnant, they don't care though. If I have low progesterone, then I think that means I am at high risk of miscarriage, and at least I could have been more mentally prepared but I have felt thoroughly abandoned. This morning i suffered a miscarriage, and I attended the early pregnancy clinic, where they looked at me as if i didn't matter because i was only 5 weeks pregnant. I feel completely lost and in the dark. It seems that no one matters in our system until you reach your first scan date.

Has anyone got any words of wisdom or advice?

first, I'm so very sorry for your loss. I've been there and the grief hollows you out.

When you're able, I would ask your GP/consultant to pick up the tests where they left off, and stick to your guns, the 3 miscarriages bullshit policy shouldn't derail that. But, from bitter experience, if you do fall pregnant again in the meantime, get yourself seen privately by a specialist fertility clinic if there's any way you can. The NHS are really colour-by-numbers with fertility. Very very best of luck

Strawberry- just wanted to say I am so sorry for your loss. Was this your third? Where did you get to with your testing? Such a sad sad loss weather it is 5 weeks or not it's a little something you made out of love. Take your time ( as much as you need personally) to grieve. Take care x

Thanks for your responses. Its comforting to talk to others. No this was my first pregnancy, so by their policy I'll need to go through another two, which is crazy if they already think they know what the problem is. I will definitely follow up with the consultant i saw at the gyno unit and hopefully get some more answers.

I never imagined a year ago that I would need to go to a specialist fertility clinic MoJangled, but I was already wondering if you can go private for this type of thing.

I dont hold out much hope about avoiding a miscarriage again.

I mean, I am now wondering about it (after this has happened)

Yes it is ridiculous I totally agree and clearly who ever made the rules haven't had one, struggled for baby ever!

I see a Dr in London called Dr shehata, he is the recurrent miscarriage guru and tests for EVERYTHiNG known to man

But if they know you have low progesterone why the heck didn't they just treat that esp as so simple? The nhs never fIl to surprise me with their lack of care sometimes, then other times they are so very very good. X

Well I never got the low progesterone confirmed. I was due to get a blood test on the second day of my next period, but obviously my period never came because i got pregnant straight away.

I was getting tested originally because they were concerned about my inter-menstrual bleeding (not relating to TTC). I had an ultrasounds and examination which cleared me of lots of nasty illnesses, so they suspected it was hormonal imbalances causing the bleeding, with which i needed to follow up with blood tests.

Is it simple to treat?

Really sorry for your loss, have you looked into vitamin b6 and vitamin b complex, i am currently taking them as i spot a good few days before AF is due and i think its to do with my progesterone lowering to quickly - though i went to the doctor about it and they said come back after a year of trying to conceive so i have been doing some research on line, December was my first month using vitamin b complex and have seen a slight progress, i have added b6 to see what happens this month!!

B6 helps produce progesterone – the pregnancy hormone (so take straight away and throughout pregnancy). Some people get pregnant, but do not produce enough progesterone, so the pregnancy does not continue. So this could be a vital supplement for some ladies. B6 also strengthens the immune system. Taking supplements such as vitamin B6, zinc and magnesium can help to reduce the risk of miscarriage since these nutrients are all required to help the pituitary and ovaries produce the high levels of oestrogen and progesterone needed to secure the pregnancy until the placenta can take over.

B6 deficiency can lead to a buildup of estrogen in your system causing decreased progesterone production. A proper balance of estrogen and progesterone is essential for conception to occur. Too low a level of progesterone can lead to miscarriage and luteal phase defects (where the time from ovulation to menstruation is shorter than 10 days).

B6 effectively reduces blood estrogen and increases progesterone in the body making you much more conducive to getting pregnant.

B6 works best when taken with the other B group vitamins as it absorbs better this way. Just 50 mg is usually enough to make positive changes,

I am currently taking pregnacare conception, Tesco vitamin B complex,Tesco B6, you may find you urine goes bright yellow, this is nothing to worry about its just the excess b vitamin that the body does not need flushing out, i am hoping some of this information is some use to you

This is great Rainy - it gives me hope. I didn't have any problems getting pregnant this time, so it sounds more like that I cannot produce enough progesterone to stop from miscarrying.

Its a shame we have to guess isn't it? In truth, it could have been nothing to do with my progesterone, but it was the only thing that would explain my symptoms before pregnancy, so its highly likely.

If I can put my foot down and demand that my tests should continue as they were before my pregnancy, I wonder if I should hold off the B vitamins until I can get some sort of diagnosis.

It would be great to hear how you get on

Strawberry if you are wanting to continue with the tests, it maybe better to wait for the vitamin b as i don't know if it might alter your tests and then it won't show up,
I will let you know how this month goes, I'm in my two but don't expect to be pregnant this month as when my most fertile time we had family staying so it didn't really happen, but il be grateful if i don't get any spotting this month then il know its helping, il keep you posted!!

please let me know how you get on!! xx

Like everything to do with miscarriage, progesterone levels/luteal phase defects are controversial, none of the experts agree with each other whether they are a cause of pregnancy failure or a symptom of it (i.e. low levels in pregnancy because it's not progressing normally)
There is a huge trial called PROMISE assessing how helpful progesterone is in recurrent miscarriage patients about to be published, it would be worth you keeping an eye out for publication as it is expected to say it does help and therefore will be fuel for you getting some. I've never come across anything saying progesterone can potentially do any harm.
In your shoes if you can't get back into the gynae system for the hormone tests I'd pay for a day 21 progesterone test privately and get a private prescription for Cyclogest pessaries if it's low.
I was a self-funded NHS patient (essentially non-profit making private treatment) of the Implantation Clinic run by Siobhan Quenby at University Hospital Coventry and have had a successful pregnancy after 4 miscarriages on their protocol which includes progesterone given from cycle day 21 and heparin once a scan confirms an intrauterine pregnancy. I also needed steroids to treat a specific immune system which probably caused my miscarriages, but there are several ladies on the recurrent miscarriage threads with no immune problems and recurrent unexplained losses doing well on the progesterone/heparin bit of the protocol.
It's pretty crap having to have 3 miscarriages before anyone takes an interest, even more so that having an unsuccessful pregnancy puts you to the back of the queue for fertility/gynae problems even if you were being investigated. I'd go back to GP and point out that out. If you were entitled to hormone tests before you should still be entitled to them now.
Sorry for your loss

Just read back my post,

it should read that i am in my two week wait rather than just two lol x

so sorry for your lost - amazing the NHS may be, they are restricted by rules and guidelines which don't take into account that their 'customers' are actual human beings with feelings. A loss, no matter how early, will be very upsetting - don't let anyone feel like it doesn't matter because it was early days. Allow yourself to grieve.

Good luck x

Poor you, the chemical pregnancy space is a lonely one somewhere between infertility and miscarriage and no one knows quite what to do with you.

Your early MC could be chromosomal and that is the most likely cause of an early chemical pregnancy but if you have other symptoms of low progesterone (spotting, a short luteal phase) then it is worth pushing for treatment. I had 2 Chemicals and all the symptoms of low progesterone and what worked for me was cyclogest from BFP (with very early testing) and heparin (as I also had a clotting disorder). I successfully had a child this way. I have just had another chemical after months of TTC and failed IVF although I suspect this one was just a duff egg.
I had to have testing privately as no one was interested on the NHS, cost about £1000 and was the best money I have ever spent.

I also recommend high dose B vitamins, vitamin D and co-enzyme q10 for egg quality
Good luck!

Thanks everyone. I will try to get my hormone test as originally promised but i suspect they will not offer me any treatment regardless of the results. The consultant told me that the solution would be to either put me on the contraceptive pill (obviously not helpful when TTC) or for me to get pregnant, and he said that either of those solutions would see my hormonal problems rectify themselves. I suspect this is not the case, based on my recent experience.

I am finding myself more informed than the doctors that i speak to, which is massively concerning. It is also difficult explaining that you have looked it up on the internet, without coming across as a massive hypochondriac though, and I am anything but.

It is great to hear about your experiences, and it really makes me feel as though there are options open to me.

I guess I will have to wait for my periods to get back to normal, then go for the blood test and then wait for the next cycle before trying again, so its months away. I have only had one miscarriage so if i manage to get pregnant again after all of that, I will give the vitamins a go. Has anyone tried progesterone cream too? Maybe I am latching onto the progesterone thing too much, but it doesnt sound like too much can harm you, so at the very least I'll feel like I am doing everything I can, and at the most it might help me have a baby.

Who knows.. maybe this was just a duff egg and next one will be perfectly fine. Positive thoughts!

Does low progesterone affect conception (as low as 0.8)