[TnPhotoMama81]

Hi everyone

I am almost 7 weeks along now.

I had my first u/s last Friday and they went ahead and tested my HCG and Progesterone.

My progesterone at a little over 3 weeks was 8.9. I had them put me on prometrium. My levels came back at 7.2 this time. HOWEVER, I have been taking the prometrium vaginally instead of orally. I have heard that it gets where it needs to be better. When you take them vaginally though, it doesn't get into your blood stream as well so if they check your levels, they may not reflect how high they really are. I guess I am just concerned because they have dropped from 8.9 which wasn't a good number already. I know there is a chance they are probably higher than what my bloodwork shows but it still upsets me.

They want me on 200 mg instead of 100 mg. I guess I will take one orally in the morning and then do one vaginally at night (they are 100 mg pills).

Also my hcg quantitive came back at 3891 at 6 weeks 1 day. I thought I was 6 weeks 6 days at my appt last Friday but when they did the measurement it showed me at 6 weeks 1 day. I guess that number is normal but I haven't had a HCG test since Jan 19th so I don't have much to compare it to. 3,891 seems low to me though for 6 weeks?

Anyway, I hope everything is ok. I guess I just needed some support...or maybe others experiences with progesterone?

[StaceygirlPa]

Melissa, When I was pregrant my doctor put me on prometrium suppositories 200 mg twice a day. From what I understand if you take them vaginally the suppositories work better. You can always ask your doctor to switch you to suppositories. I hope this helps you.

[TnPhotoMama81]

Are the suppositories different from the pills? I am taking the round pink pills....and just inserting them vaginally. I've heard you can use those as suppositories?

[StaceygirlPa]

My suppositories are oval and cream color. I don't really know if there is a differance between the suppositories and pills. The only thing my ob has ever put me on is suppositories.

[TnPhotoMama81]

Thanks I might ask my dr about the suppositories...ive heard they are not covered under insurance sometimes.

Oh and I found this chart so it makes me feel a little better about my HCG level:

The following presents some average expected HCG levels based on time after conception:


First week: 0-50 mIU/ml
1-2 weeks: 40-300 mIU/ml
3-4 weeks: 500-6,000 mIU/ml
1-2 months: 5,000-200,000 mIU/ml
2-3 months: 10,000-100,000 mIU/ml
2nd trimester: 3,000-50,000 mIU/ml
3rd trimester: 1,000-50,000 mIU/ml
Non-pregnant females: < 5.0 mIU/ml
Postmenopausal females: < 9.5 mIU/ml


it looks like my levels would be OK for 4 weeks since conception. We conceived sometime around Jan 1-4th. Which would have been 4ish weeks on Feb 4th (the day I had the bloodwork)....

The dating system on the ultrasound really confuses me. When they measure the baby are they going off of how big the baby measures from conception or LMP?

[.:Shortcake:.]

I also take the pills. I take on orally in the morning and one vaginally at night. HUGS! Stay positive hun. KUP.

[ljcbrown]

My last Beta that was drawn was 2996 and I was 6 weeks 1 day according to my LMP. My progesterone was 9 so the doctor put me on 200 mg Prometrium twice a day.

[TnPhotoMama81]

Oh ok...yeah my LMP was Dec 10 so I am well over 6 weeks pregnant according to that...I'd be like 8 or something I think. I don't ovulate on Day 14 though so it makes things confusing.

I don't understand why they don't go ahead and put me on a higher dose of prometrium (like 200 mg twice a day) when my levels are low

[ohnicole]

I take progesterone suppositories and they are pink spheres. I take 100 mg twice a day. It sounds like you are doing well even with your progesterone number. I hope everything goes great from here on out

[missy123]

I have always been on 200mg 1 time a day but my progestrone was always at 20+. Melissa - call them tomorrow and tell them you want to be on 200mg 2 times a day and see what they say. I have heard it can't hurt you, only help.

As far as your betas go, it sounds like a very healthy number. But as an FYI it is not the actual number that is important - it is the doubling time. And compared to what yours were before you are doing great!

((Hugs))

[TnPhotoMama81]

Thanks Missy. I think I will call them tomorrow and see if it is okay to take 200 mg twice a day. I don't know why they keep wanting to do the bare minimum for me.

It just seems like they would do a little more, just to be safe, esp since having a little more of progesterone can't hurt. I just feel like I am the only one who really cares. My husband is always saying that I need to trust what our Dr. says but I can't help but try to be my own advocate as well since Dr.'s CAN make mistakes.

[missy123]

Very well said... Sometimes we have to be our own advocates. Keep us updated and hang in there.

[StaceygirlPa]

Originally Posted by missy123

Very well said... Sometimes we have to be our own advocates. Keep us updated and hang in there.

I agree with Missy. I would call and see.

[ashj_1218]

Hi Photomama I hope that the doc listens to your concerns and puts on the higher dose of progesterone. You are right that the ones you are using are fine vaginally (and that they work better and won't necessarily show up in blood when taken that way). But if you are worried, they should just give you the higher dose. It is silly to make you worry for no reason!! And your HCG number sounds fine. It doesn't really matter the actual number, just that it is rising nicely

And the ultrasounds date the pregnancy as though your LMP is included. So if it said 6 weeks, 1 day, the baby is measuring 4 weeks, 1 day from conception and they add two weeks for your LMP. But since yours don't add up, I see how that can be confusing. Some HCG charts are by conception, some are by LMP. But I still would not worry about it a whole lot, since it doubled a couple more times since your last draw and betas slow down the further along you get. Some women never get above 5,000 before the end of the first tri. Some are in the 20,000 or 50,000 range. It just depends on the woman. Try to relax I know how hard that sounds!!