Progesterone Levels
QUESTION
Dear Midwife,
I am 39 years old. I got pregnant six months ago, everything was going well, but at 8 wks. suddenly I did not feel pregnant at all, two weeks later I had a miscarriage. My doctor said sometimes there is no explanation why this happens.
Since I want to try to get pregnant again, the doctor recommended to do some test to check my progesterone levels. Results came back with a 7.5 and he recommends to be at least a 10. He is going to put me in treatment to raise the progesterone level.
My question is if there is a possibility that I can get pregnant again, and if so, will I need to use progesterone during the pregnancy? Could this low level be a sign of pre-menopause?
Thank you for your answer.
ANSWER
Yes, of course there is a possibility that you can get pregnant again. Supplementing with progesterone is sometimes the key to a successful pregnancy, and I hope that is true for you!
-- Cynthia, CNM. PhD.
Cynthia Flynn
Cynthia Flynn, CNM. PhD, is the General Director of the Family Health and Birth Center which provides prenatal, birth, postnatal, gynecological and primary health care to underserved women and their families in Washington, D.C. Recently Cynthia served as Associate Professor of Nursing at Seattle University. There she not only taught, but remained in full scope clinical midwifery practice at Valley Medical Center where she cared for pregnant and birthing women, and practices well-woman gynecology, family planning, and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.
Cynthia founded Columbia Women's Clinic and Birth Center, where she took care of pregnant women and infants up to two weeks of age and attended both birth center and hospital births. Before Cynthia earned her CNM, she worked as a registered nurse in labor and delivery and postpartum and is a certified Doula and Doula trainer.
