Progesterone is one of the hormones responsible for maintaining a pregnancy. Normal progesterone levels in early pregnancy should be between 12 and 20 ng/ml and rise to over 50 ng/ml during the third trimester. Women with low levels of progesterone and recurrent miscarriage may benefit from taking progesterone supplements. Studies show there's no benefit for progesterone to be given routinely to women, and progesterone supplements won't prevent miscarriage from chromosomal abnormalities, the most common cause of miscarriage.
Taking progesterone supplements
Step 1
Determine if progesterone supplements are necessary. Progesterone supplements are recommended for women with a history of recurrent miscarriage, or those with low levels of progesterone in early pregnancy (less than 12 ng/ml).
Step 2
Discuss types of supplementation with your doctor. Progesterone can be taken in pills, injections or vaginal suppositories.
Step 3
Learn how to use progesterone supplements. Injections may require instructions from medical personnel. Pills should be taken on a schedule prescribed by your doctor. Suppositories are best absorbed if inserted at night, to prevent leakage.
Step 4
Administer exactly as directed. Missing doses could result in low progesterone levels and jeopardize the pregnancy. Giving an injection in the wrong location or without using sterile technique could result in an infection or abscess.
Step 5
Watch for side effects. Progesterone supplements can cause bloating, nausea, diarrhea, drowsiness, headaches or heartburn. Serious side effects include allergic reactions, which can cause difficulty breathing, rash, hives or collapse.
Step 6
Report side effects to your doctor. Sometimes changing the form of supplementation can help decrease side effects.
Step 7
Check progesterone blood levels regularly. The only way to check for the effectiveness of the progesterone dose is through blood tests.
Step 8
Take progesterone until your doctor tells you to stop. Stopping too soon can increase the chance of miscarriage.
Tips and Warnings
- A review of 15 studies published by the Cochrane Collaboration showed that women with a history of three or more miscarriages were more likely to carry a pregnancy to term if progesterone supplements were given. Discuss this possibility with your obstetrician if you have a history of unexplained miscarriage. Progesterone may also help women with a shortened cervix to maintain a pregnancy, according to a study reported in the New England Journal of Medicine.
- Progesterone supplements should be used only by women who have a proven need for them. There is a small risk to the fetus from supplemental progesterone, including development of hypospadias, an abnormally placed opening at the tip of the penis, in male fetuses.
Things You'll Need
- Progesterone blood tests
- Progesterone supplements
