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Too much progesterone supplement during pregnancy

by Kristyna
(Toronto, Canada)

I have had 7 pregnancies, 3 births, 3 miscarriages, and am currently pregnant. The cause of my miscarriages is low progesterone levels- thus unstable uterus.

To ensure a successful pregnancy, I must take prometrium 2-300mg daily until 16 weeks (when placenta can take over) My question is, is it possible to have too much progesterone? My level (blood work) at 5 weeks, after 6 days of oral progesterone 300mg, is 63. This is high, but hcg is growing steadily, and everything seems normal so far (still VERY early). Besides increased pregnancy side effects (constipation, etc.) is there any harm in having a high progesterone level?

Comments for Too much progesterone supplement during pregnancy

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Dec 01, 2010
 Too much progesterone supplement during pregnancy
by: Wray

Hi Kristyna It's a pity you've been given oral progesterone, it's not the best delivery system. Please see this page on Progesterone application methods. Your progesterone is not very high because you're using oral progesterone. With topical progesterone levels can be far higher, please see here. The following gives you some idea of the rise in progesterone during pregnancy, I guess you are about 5 weeks pregnant, but the range is given below......
Pregnancy (serum)
1st trimester 11.2 - 90.0 ng/ml or 35.6 - 286.2 nmol/L
2nd trimester 25.6 - 89.4 ng/ml or 81.4 - 284.29 nmol/L
3rd trimester 48.4 - 425 ng/ml or 153.9 - 1351.5 nmol/L
Medline Progesterone
Progesterone levels increase as pregnancy progresses, without it no woman would carry a child to term. So no, there is no harm from having a high level, only good. Your ovaries should be making between 11.2 to 90.0 ng/ml per day during the first trimester. At 5 weeks the 63ng/ml sounds about right. But as you've had miscarriages in the past, this could all be coming from the supplement. I'm pleased you're using it, but you would get greater benefit if you used the caps as suppositories. Oral progesterone is mostly destroyed in the gut. The liver has to metabolise the rest which puts an unnecessary strain on it. Excess oestrogen causes water retention, this causes water to be absorbed from the gut, causing constipation. Progesterone opposes oestrogen, so if enough is circulating, constipation shouldn't be a problem. Excess oestrogen also causes nausea, progesterone is excellent at stopping this. In fact if nausea is experienced, it's a sign progesterone levels are dropping. We do have a page on Pregnancy, please read through it as it gives info on all the stages during pregnancy and how to use progesterone. Take care Wray
Dec 05, 2010
 VAGINAL VS ORAL
by: kristyna

Can I use my oral 100mg gelatin balls capsules vaginally?
Dec 09, 2010
 VAGINAL VS ORAL
by: Wray

Hi Kristyna Yes you can. I tend to only use the word suppositories, when I should use suppositories/pessaries! In fact it's best in the vagina, as it's absorbed ultra fast from there, and goes straight to the uterus where it's needed, see here, here and here. Please be aware your progesterone level will increase greatly, so please read our page on Oestrogen Dominance before you change over. Take care Wray
Sep 21, 2011
 2 or 3 times a day
by: Janna

Hi my doc put me on the cream but due to my insurance I have to wait for it to be approved. In the mean time they gave me samples of the vaginal pills that are 100 mg. The nurse told me to take it twice a day (morn and night) and then said I could take it three times a day if I really wanted to. My question is would 3 times a day be too much? I have PCOS and with out the prog. I miscarry. Could it hurt anything to take it that many times or am I fine at twice a day with just 200 mg? Thank you
Feb 19, 2012
 Update?
by: Mrs. A

Hi Janna, I just found your post here as I'm reading through this site. How are you doing? I hope you can post here again to update us.

Take care!

Mrs. A
xXx
Jul 29, 2013
 The best progesterone supplement I have found after tons of research...
by: Anonymous

Do not take that synthetic progesterone! Take a bioidentical hormone replacement that has no xenoestrogens in it. The best I have found is derived from yams in nothing but pure coconut oil. Progestelle is the name and it comes in a glass bottle with a dropper and is applied topically. I love it. I even work at a compounding pharmacy and this is the best stuff I have found and you don't need an Rx and it's cheap. Plus, it really works. I am currently pregnant after two miscarriages and my levels whent from undetectable to perfect and I am sustaining this pregnancy beautifully!!! Also, before I concieved, my periods were unpredictable and anywhere from 30-45 days and progestelle regulated them to every 28 days like when I was a teenager/young adult!!! I am 11 weeks blessed now and can't wait to meet my snuggle bunny!!!! (I am in no way making any money off this or connected but the website is www.womhoo.com. Which is a weird name for a website but the product is soooo amazing and you can call the Dr anytime you have a question!!! :-) good luck ladies!!!! Xoxo
<3 )O(
Jul 30, 2013
 The best progesterone supplement I have found after tons of research...
by: Wray

Hi there Thanks for your comment, it is a good brand. I'm so pleased it's helping you. But we also make a cream with no nasties in it too, see here. One study found that an emulsion type delivery system is better than either an oil or gel. They say "Mean peak plasma concentrations were: 1 ng/ml for the lipophilic, 1.24 ng/ml for the hydrophilic and 2.26 ng/ml for the emulsion type base." See here. So please bear that in mind when choosing a progesterone. Take care Wray
Aug 05, 2013
 Show me the data
by: Anonymous

I challenge you to have your MD show you the research that progesterone supplementation works to prevent recurrent miscarriage. Though there is data that it may help in IVF pregnancies that data has not been supported in non-IVF pregnancies. The people who are the biggest supporters of prog supplementation are the drug companies who make the drug (WYATT). They convince the MDs to do something based off the "appropriate progesterone levels" and the fear of the patient losing the pregnancy. If you get a chance ask one of the drug reps to show you a true randomized controlled trial that has shown benefit they will not be able to. There are plenty of people to study but it has not proven any benefit. Though it is sad to say, some people profit off the fear of others in their biggest time of need.
Aug 06, 2013
 Show me the data
by: Wray

Hi there Purely anecdotal, but we've helped many women who've had recurrent miscarriages to carry to full term using progesterone. These is one randomised double-blind placebo-controlled multi-centre trial currently underway, see here. At least they are using a good amount, 800mg/day, let's hope it proves to all the doubters that it does work. I fail to see why not. Surely if low progesterone is the problem, and progesterone is vital for embryo implantation and retention, why won't supplemental be as effective. It's certainly been found so for pre-term births, see here. And these here, here and here. This last says "Randomized, controlled trials showed that women who received progesterone were statistically significantly less likely to have recurrent miscarriages before 34 weeks, to have an infant with birth weight of 2.5 kg or lower, or to have an infant diagnosed with intraventricular haemorrhage. There is currently, however, insufficient information to allow recommendations regarding the optimal dose, route and timing of administration of progesterone supplementation." They seem clueless about the route, amount to use and timing, strange. An early luteal rise is essential for implantation, and yet it is invariably given after either natural or assisted implantation has taken place. It should be given prior to ovulation, or collection of an egg/s. Take care Wray
Sep 28, 2013
 can excess progesssyerone cause infertility?
by: faustina

I am trying to conceive after seven months of marriage but to no avail. I always experience breast tenderness, headaches, vaginal dryness acne. I have also put on weight. I was told it was due to excess progesterone. Can it cause infertility? I must admit I have taken emergency contraceptive a couple of time and used oral combined pills for a month.
Sep 29, 2013
 can excess progesssyerone cause infertility?
by: Wray

Hi Faustina Progesterone is vital for fertility, so no it won't cause Infertility. All those symptoms you have are an indication your oestrogen and testosterone are too high. And your progesterone too low. You might like to read our page on Contraceptives, they can really mess up the reproductive system. And take a look at our page on Breast Tenderness and Migraines. Plus we have one on Pregnancy and another here. Take care Wray
Nov 19, 2013
 Should I?
by: June Bug

Hi there,

This page has been so informative! I have one son who just turned 2. I have been TTC for 1 year and had a MC in July. I just got a positive pregnancy test this morning and am so hopeful! My ob/gyn told me she would be willing to prescribe progesterone suppositories as a precaution, but I don't know if I need it. She says she doesn't do labs because levels vary too much and it's hard to tell what's "normal". I feel uncomfortable supplmenting my progesterone withut knowing if it's necessary. What should I do?

I also get monthly migraines after my period, so I'm worried that hormone therapy may cause migraines?

Any input would be greatly appreciated!
Jan 10, 2014
 Too much progesterone and having a boy
by: Rhe07

Can you continue to take progesterone in the 2nd trimester?? I am also having a boy and Im 17 weeks and wonder if too much can be a bad thing?? My doctor put me on them at 6 weeks and just told me to take them. so my questions are, will it hurt a boy? and Is too much bad? Thanks!
Jan 11, 2014
 progesterone and boys
by: Adama

Hi there, I am sure that others will chime in but I would say that progesterone will not affect your baby boy in a bad way at all because progesterone is not a sex hormone (such as testosterone). It won't feminize your baby boy. It is a 'pro' gestation hormone. Progesterone is good for all babies and that is why a pregnant mother makes a lot of it during pregnancy. xXx
Feb 11, 2015
 Progestelle oil
by: Anonymous

I am pregnant, 6 weeks 4 days. I have a history of healthy births but also miscarriage, so I have been on progesterone suppositories in the past due to low progesterone during pregnancy. Last week (wednesday) my progesterone was at 18. Dr was pleased. They said anything over 10 is fine. This week (yesterday, Tuesday), while I did hear the heartbeat for the first time, which I was told not everyone this early hears it, so that is a good thing, my progesterone dropped to 14. Nurse said that she wouldn't worry, as it's still a good number, and I'm not supplementing. She said to make me feel better I can do bloodwork again Friday morning. I have Progestelle oil and I used one dropperfull last night. I am not sure exactly how much I should be using though? I was told by another mom that uses it (who has had at least 2 pregnancies where she was spotting but delivered a healthy baby thanks to this oil) and she suggested 3 dropperfulls 2x day. Each dropper full is 20 (whatever measurement they use for progesterone). I don't want to harm the baby, just sustain. Any advice?
Jul 11, 2016
 progesterone for weak cervix after first trimester
by: Kim

Last year, I was pregnant with twins following IVF and was put on progesterone pessaries (2x400mg per day) by my private IVF consultant. This is the clinic's normal procedure up to 12 weeks but he told me that since my pregnancy was very high risk, my antenatal consultant would leave me on it for the duration of my pregnancy. My risk factors were twins, IVF, severe OHSS from IVF procedure with 27 eggs retrieved, 2 previous LOOP excisions of the cervix and my age being 40. The antenatal consultants did not see that this was necessary as there is little evidence to support the use of progesterone after 12 weeks and took me off it at 13 weeks (I suspect this is a cost issue on the NHS - I am in UK). I weaned myself off it taking 1 a day for the last 2 weeks as I had read a lot about withdrawal bleeding. Within 2 days of going to 1 a day, I started spotting with brown discharge. This got heavier when I stopped the progesterone completely and within 5 days of stopping, I went into pre-term labour and lost my twins at 17 weeks. I have since found out that I had Chorioamnionitis in one of the placentas which had ascended through my cervix. My question is could the drop in progesterone have allowed my cervix to open and allow this infection through or would it have happened anyway? Would the fact that I had 27 follicles producing progesterone for the first 12 weeks have also impacted on the sudden withdrawal?
I am now pregnant again at 13 weeks with a single baby and I have struggled to convince my consultant to allow me to stay on it. He says they do not believe my miscarriage was connected to the progesterone but I didn't fight for the progesterone last time and have regretted it ever since as I am convinced it is connected. I don't want history to repeat itself which it feels like is happening. What is your view on progesterone to strengthen the cervix and prevent infections ascending?
They are also concerned at the dose my IVF consultant has put me on - 2x400mg a day. I want to stay on this as it is when I reduced it that I miscarried last time but they want me to go to just 200mg a day. Is 800mg too much and can that dose do any harm?
Jan 14, 2017
 Too high for 4.5 weeks??
by: Anonymous

Hello I'm currently about 5 weeks. I had my progesterone tested this past week (4w3d) and it came back extremely high. 94. I have a history of 4 consecutive losses due to low progesterone, so I am supplementing both with oral during the day and vaginal inserts at bedtime. Any help appreciated! So nervous but hopeful. ❤️

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