Low progesterone in first trimester :(

[Kalanthe]

Hi everyone! I'm currently 7w1d. I got two private blood tests, one at 4w6d and the other at 6w6d. The tests showed that my hCG is progressing nicely, doubling every 72 hours. However, my progesterone is on the lower side of the normal range - it is 49.1 nmol/L (UK measure) = 15.44 ng/mL (US measure). It has only slightly increased from 46 nmol/L which I had 2 weeks ago. I have found a few articles saying that the normal range in first trimester is 11-44 ng/mL so I'm at the very low end. I also found articles saying that it is usually above 25 ng/mL in healthy pregnancy and anything below can indicate that something is wrong. This got me really worried. I've never had a miscarriage (this is my first pregnancy) and haven't had any spotting or cramps, but I'm worried that this low progesterone will end up in a miscarriage of otherwise healthy baby. I read a ton of topics here about progesterone supplements, but from what I gather they are only prescribed by consultants (a GP won't do it) to women undergoing fertility treatment or having previous miscarriages. So I was wondering if there is any point going to a private consultant and buying progesterone supplements (which will cost up to £500), or should I just wait since it is within normal range? Has anyone here had low progesterone when pregnant and managed to carry the baby to full term without supplementing? Thank you in advance :)

Mine was just above 8ng/ml at 18dpo / 5wks. It's on the low side of the normal range, but I think it will increase. I started taking some extra vitamins of vit c, B6, zinc and magnesium on top of my pregnancy vitamin but so amounts are still below the max recommended amount during pregnancy. I think as long as there is no bleeding or spotting it isn't so much of an issue, but I was going to mention it when I have an 8 week scan next Thursday and retest it myself privately again around then.

They are giving you a range for the whole of the first trimester so you're likely to be at the low side of that at the start. I would imagine as the placenta starts to take over that will make a difference. I'm 7w1d as well, but I ovulated late on cycle day 26, so 25dpo today and progresterone might be lower for me because of that.

I want to know the same too. I have PCOS which is known to cause low progesterone levels. The last couple of days I have had spotting and cramping. I’ve been seen by EPU and they did a scan which puts me between 5 and 6 weeks. No heartbeat detectable yet so they have rebooked me for 2 weeks time (unless the unfortunate happens in the meantime). My HCG levels have come back at 9358 and my progesterone is 29nmol/L which I know is low and am worried is causing me to potentially miscarry 😞 only problem is that as this is my first pregnancy and I have no history of miscarriage they won’t prescribe me progesterone pessaries. Really want to know if I can get them privately. Willing to do anything to try and save this baby 🥺

Hello! I wrote this post a few months ago. I am now 19 weeks and everything is fine.

At the time I couldn’t find any good answers, so I paid for a private visit to a Polish gynaecologist here in London (I’m originally from Poland). He said that although my progesterone was on the lower side, it was still within normal range so it wouldn’t cause a miscarriage alone, since I had no spotting or cramping. No reason for concern according to him. I was very worried so he prescribed me progesterone pessaries in case I start spotting, but I never did so I threw away the prescription. If you do have spotting and cramping, then you could also get a private visit and get progesterone prescribed.

I think that the reason why they don’t prescribe pessaries on the NHS if you don’t have history of recurring miscarriage is because over 20% of pregnancies end in a miscarriage due to genetic abnormalities in an embryo. In this case there is no point in maintaining such pregnancy artificially since baby won’t be healthy. In recurring miscarriages they know that there is some other reason so they prescribe progesterone to help.

I hope everything goes well for you x

I'm sorry to jump onto this post after so long, but I'd love to know how this worked out for you (especially the lady with 8 progesterone)
I was told on Friday by my hospital that I had had a miscarriage after two days of heavy bleeding Thursday and Friday, my bloods came back as HCG 23 and progesterone under 5 , I've since had my bloods repeated yesterday, and they're now HCG 132 and progesterone 6 (still dangerously low) but my HCG suggests something is trying to grow,
My bleeding has stopped bit I still have mild cramps, I know I'd only be perhaps 4 weeks pregnant, could the low progesterone be due to this? Do I have any hope ?
Tia
Xx

How did you get on?

I know this was a while ago but what happened please as my leaves are 28 hcg and 2.8 progesterone. I've been having spotting and now heavier bleedings isn't looking good 😔

They didn't retest the progesterone but my hcg continued to rise. Im currently 12 weeks x

Hi sorry for bringing this thread back up but I'm just wondering how everyone got on? @Katy31 with your low progesterone was all ok in the end? X

Hiya @MinnieLou
Unfortunately it turned out to be an ectopic pregnancy, treated with drug therapy and I'm now 4 months pregnant with our rainbow 🌈

@Katy31 congratulations on your rainbow! 🌈 thank you for replying, I had a bleed last week, EPU did bloods and my HCG was 2000 but my progesterone was 3.9 I was told I was having a miscarriage however they scanned me a few days later and all seems fine for how far along I am, I've been put on progesterone pessaries and have another scan in two weeks so just a waiting game! X