Progesterone Question
QUESTION
Dear Midwife,
My doctor just confirmed that I am pregnant with a blood test. By my estimation, I'm four weeks pregnant. I spoke to a nurse in the office and she said I am supposed to go back into the office in a few days to get another blood test and progesterone suppositories. Why would I be put on progesterone? Is it standard to use this? Are there any side effects for the fetus?
This is my first pregnancy and am 36 years old. While I have endometriosis, I didn't think this was a problem with maintaining a pregnancy. I am cramping and spotting a little, but was told this was normal at this stage.
Thank you for your assistance.
ANSWER
It sounds like they checked your progesterone level when they did the blood test, and just want to make sure that your levels stay high enough to maintain the pregnancy.
Progesterone levels drop just before menstruation, which results in the breakdown of the uterine lining. During pregnancy, low progesterone can be one cause of a miscarriage.
Since you are already over 35 and with the endometriosis, might have trouble conceiving again, they are just trying to give you every chance to carry this pregnancy to term. Good luck!
-- 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.
