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Low hcg level + low progesterone level

Hello.  I am a 27 yo who has just found out she was pregnant.  I am 8 wks since LMP, but am actually thinking that I'm only 14 days pregnant.  I started testing immediately after I was late (4 weeks ago) but only got a positive home pregnancy test last saturday.  I had blood work done on monday and had an hcg level of 45 and progesterone level of 9.1.  I had the labs redone on wednesday (yesterday) to find that I have an hcg level of 79 and a progesterone level of only 9.3.  They doctor wants me to start taking supplemental progesterone (via vaginal suppository).  Has anyone else been through this?  Was the pregnancy viable?  I am conflicted about whether I should let nature take its course or try to supplemental hormones?  Does these have major side-effects?  

Any advice is much appreciated!  I'm supposed to go to the drug store tonight to get the suppositories so I'm hoping to get some advice before then.

Thanks!
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Avatar universal
i would take the progesterone. it will only help a viable embryo and could save it. your hcq nearly doubled so its def worth a shot. i did take progesterone orally and had no real side effects. maybe a couple of times i got a little dizzy when i first started to take them. it cant hurt!!
Helpful - 0
1121273 tn?1325367975
I had a miscarriage on 2/28, and personally, for me, the progesterone did not stop me from miscarrying. There are conflicting theories on that though.  Some people feel that progesterone will feed an otherwise unhealthy pregnancy and that you may end up with a sick baby.  Others feel that the only time progesterone will keep a pregnancy around that may have been lost is if it was going to be lost ONLY due to low progesterone.  I hope that made sense.  But as I said, I started bleeding while still taking progesterone.  So, for me, I feel safer taking it.

If you are 8 weeks LMP, those numbers are not good at all.  Now, if you only conceived 14 days ago, then you look like you're in good shape with the hcg.  Your progesterone, however, should be around 20.  So, that is why they are suggesting the suppositories.  The only other thought I have is that your hcg didn't double in 48 hours.  It doesn't always double every 48 hours for all women.  It can be up to 72 hours.  So, this could be perfectly normal.  Below is a list of the average hcg levels (I only provided it for a few days to give you an idea).

At 14 DPO, the average HCG level is 48 mIU/ml, with a typical range of 17-119 mIU/ml.

At 15 DPO, the average HCG level is 59 mIU/ml, with a typical range of 17-147 mIU/ml.

At 16 DPO, the average HCG level is 95 mIU/ml, with a typical range of 33-223 mIU/ml.

At 17 DPO, the average HCG level is 132 mIU/ml, with a typical range of 17-429 mIU/ml.


I wish you the best of luck.  
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Avatar universal
Thank you.  Any idea how much the vaginal progeterone costs?  I am going to pick it up tonight but from some research I've seen some people complain of the costs.  The nurse who called to discuss my lab results said that her daughter was on it all the way until her 3rd trimester!  How long do they normally make you try it out for?

Thanks for the advice.  I think it's worth a shot, even though I'm a bit skeptical that this is going to work.
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Avatar universal
do you have insurance? i paid 25 for prometrium but it is def costly if you dont have insurance - prob like 200 for a month
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