is there a connection between low progesterone and breakthrough bleeding?

[vmcd28]

When I say breakthrough bleeding I mean bleeding / spotting when your period would have been due, 4,8,12 weeks.
The reason I ask is that I had spotting at 8 and 12 weeks, even tho I have been using progesterone cream. I was going to wean myself off it at 14 weeks, but would be nervous to do this if the breakthrough bleeding is due to low progesterone.
Any advice would be wonderful

PS I self prescribed it (I know, I know), so can't ask my gp for advice
Thanks xx

Yes, which is why dr's prescribe it for women who've had m/c, esp. if testing has shown low levels. This seems to be standard (testing and treatment) in the US, but rare in UK, which is why MANY women self prescribe.......

You can still talk to a GP about this - they may have a few sour words for you, but should still advice you. I think the main thing is NOT to suddenly stop taking it. But by 14 weeks, placenta function should be fully established (as you no doubt know already!).

Of course, it may be that the bleeding was not linked to hormone levels, and the timing (at the have time your period would have came), just a coincidence.

Thanks for your reply!
So do you mean that yes there's a connection, but it should be ok to start weaning off it at 14 weeks?
Or do you reckon I should wait a bit longer?

Has anyone been in a similar situation?

Gentle bump

Yes, there is a connection between low progesterone and bleeding/early miscarraige (but that doesn't mean low hormone level is what caused your bleeding - if you haven't been tested, you cant't be sure).

I stopped taking a herbal preperation which boosts hormone levels (not as strong as gel) at around 12 weeks (17 weeks now). When TTC, I was taking one set of herbal tablets during the first half of my cycle (soya isoflavens), then the another (can't remember now? Agnus castus?, to boost progestrogone) in the second half of the cycle, continuing with that (Agnus castus) when I got my BFP - this combination is supposed to increase ovulation/conception in people who may not be ovulating every month (peri-menopause or ovarian problems for example), and that's why I know a little about it -it's frustrating that they seem to take testing for hormonal problems less seriously here in the UK than in the US, but it means MANY women self-medicate and then feel at a loss when they don't know what to do next.

IMO, at 14 weeks you could wean off the gel, most of the info I read said around 12 weeks, but taking it longer is probably not going to cause any problem. But you could still talk to your GP - he/she probably won't bite!

I didn't save any links, but if you google something like "progestrogone (sp?) suplementation in pregnancy" and similar terms, look at some of the American medical texts which come up - you will find treatment protocols (ie telling you how long they advise you to take the gel), and that might help you decide.

I hope that helps!

Thanks for all the helpful info, both.
Do you know if there is any/much risk of the placenta not doing its job by now?
Even if the spotting had been due to low progesterone, will staying on the cream make any difference at this stage?

IMO, if the placenta wasn't working by now, you'd be losing your symptoms/bleeding - from what I understand, the mums body makes all the hormones required to maintain pregnancy until about 8 weeks, when the growing placenta (which is part of the baby, not the mum) gradually begins to produce these hormones for itself, and by 11 or 12 weeks, it is the placenta which is maintaining the pregnancy, not the womans body.

So probably (but this is only IMO, not an expert), the cream won't be doing anything much at this stage - but I do know you shouldn't stop using it suddenly as this could cause a dip in hormone levels. So use less, over a period of a few days or a week.

IF you are actually spotting NOW (not sure from your OP how far along you are), you maybe shouldn't stop taking the gel unless you speak to a MW/Dr first, thought if the worst was going to happen, there's sadly not a lot you can do, really.

thanks for the advice, that all makes perfect sense.
I'm 13w 3d at the moment, and was planning on weaning myself off starting at 14w.
I am not currently spotting, but it has been on and off (usually brown).
12w 2d was the last time I had any pink, and it was pale brown for a few days.

best wishes!