Will the NHS test for low progesterone?

[JasmineBloom]

Backstory- I had a miscarriage in July after seeing a heartbeat at 6 weeks. I would typically spot for a day or two before my period starts and had a little light brown spotting shortly after getting my positive test which makes me worry that the miscarriage may have been due to low progesterone. I’ve just found out I’m pregnant again and I can’t stop worrying in case my progesterone is low and leads to another miscarriage, especially as it’s such an easy fix if it is. I have a feeling my GP won’t test my levels as I asked at the beginning of my last pregnancy and she wasn’t open to it. I’m wondering
now if I should look into getting it tested privately for peace of mind? Has anyone had any luck with getting their progesterone tested by their GP?

Yes go privately get tested for progesterone it is very important.

@cinnamonda I’ve spoke to a few private clinics and most had never heard of checking progesterone levels, one said I must have got it mixed up with HCG! I did find one clinic who said they could do the blood test but would be unable to prescribe it if I needed it and that I’d have to go through an obstetrician. It’s very frustrating when it’s such an easy fix if needed. I’ll continue to keep looking and hopefully will find a clinic that can do the test and prescribe it if necessary.

I think unfortunately it depends on how many miscarriages you've had. I had 3 including one late loss but I still had to go private to get the progesterone this time. My consultant would have prescribed it eventually but not until I saw her at 13 weeks!! I've never been tested, they have just put me on it as a precaution I think. Definitely try and go private and see what they say x

@Pennyroses thanks for your reply and so sorry for your losses. My EPU said the guidelines have changed and if you have had at least one loss and have bleeding they will prescribe it. However you have to have had a scan first. I would prefer not to have a transvaginal scan as the last few I had were when I had my miscarriage and I just think I’ll find it so upsetting. Also I’d imagine you have to be a bit further along for them to see what they need to on a scan and I’d rather get started on it as soon as possible if needed. I haven’t had any luck in finding a private clinic near me that will do the test but I’ll keep looking. Just finding it very frustrating to not be able to get it checked when it seems like there’s an easy solution if it’s low.

Also I believe progesterone is no longer as important once the placenta takes over which would be by 13 weeks I would have thought?? So not helpful at all!

The guidelines require you to have a scan before starting the progesterone to ensure that the pregnancy is located inside the uterus, not ectopic or PUL. This scan can be done at 5 weeks to visualise that the gestational sac is in the uterus even if it is too early to detect anything else.

There are many reasons for miscarriage- you could get a private blood test to check your progesterone so at least you know either way. Then if it is low you can discuss with the team the best way forward to get the progesterone prescribed on the nhs.

Hope you can get some advice from the specialists soon.

@JasmineBloom it's very frustrating isn't it. I was very lucky as I had just been for a private fertility appointment to discuss options as we'd been trying for a while and only having losses. The doctor said as soon as I find out next time to get straight on the progesterone and he would prescribe it. I found out 2 weeks later! So was on it from 13 dpo as I found out very early. I'm actually having to stay on it until 34 weeks as one of my losses was at 19 weeks. It's such a shame they can't just prescribe it for you even just for peace of mind, it causes no harm so I don't understand why they don't?? All I can suggest is booking a private appointment with a fertility specialist. You're paying so much for the appointment (I paid around £250) they can't really refuse. If you explain you're anxious etc and had a loss before I'm sure they would do it. Good luck x

You should be able to get a private test and prescription for progesterone, I've found private doctors pretty willing to prescribe it. I've also heard of Dr Mortons and the Rose pharmacy where you can get private prescription if you explain previous losses etc. Nhs won't prescribe until after a Tv scan at 6 weeks to show pregnancy in the right place

I had two losses prior to this pregnancy. I made a GP appointment the day after my positive test, they did HCG and progesterone blood test and I was prescribed progesterone until 12 weeks.

I was very firm in what I expected to happen. I didn’t have a scan prior to the prescription but paid for one privately at 6 weeks to confirm location. I know all trusts and areas are different but I advocated for myself hard and luckily it paid off. I’m 25 weeks tomorrow.

good luck OP x

It may depend on your location but you typically won’t be offered a blood test to check progesterone if you’ve ‘only’ had one loss and without any spotting in the current pregnancy.
I am currently in the first trimester again after a 9week loss in June. I got a blood test appointment privately to check my progesterone in London (my luteal phase is on the shorter side at 10 days) and then took that to my private scan appointment at 7 weeks with a registered OB and they were happy to prescribe for me (my levels weren’t considered low but not high either and they saw it as a can’t hurt, can’t harm.
good luck and all the best with this pregnancy!