Bleeding and progesterone levels

[ButtercupGarden]

Hi all. You might have seen my other post about having a fairly major bleed on Saturday night and attending A&E. I had another bleed last night so continuing to stress massively.

The hospital did blood tests and came back with HCG levels around 4500 and progesterone at 24.9. The midwife said that the progesterone is low (should be over 30) and advised me to speak to my clinic, which I did.

However the clinic said that they only really care about progesterone levels before transfer as it is important for implantation and refused to do any more progesterone tests or change my dosage. I pushed back on this as I've seen so many people say that bleeds are caused by low progesterone. In the end they said I could increase the dose of my pessaries from 3 to 4 a day as "it won't do any harm".

Should they be taking this more seriously? I've seen people talking about progesterone injections, so surely there is something else they can do now to increase the chance of this pregnancy surviving. They seem like they have just written this one off already!

Thanks in advance ladies.

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi ButtercupGarden. My feelings are that it is too early to assume anything so early on in a pregnancy. Have you tried inserting the pessaries in your back passage to give the front a rest, just in case irritation of the cervix is making matters worse. The placenta won't really have started to support little one yet, it still has a chorionic villii, which can be susceptible to bleeds that scare you to bits, then settles back down again. perhaps something like that has happened, I don't know, but be reassured by your Beta hCG being a respectable level. Thinking of you. Diane

[ButtercupGarden in reply to DianeArnold]

Thanks Diane. I'm on lutigest so I'm not sure they can be used rectally? The instructions look like it is just vaginal. The bleeding is definitely more than just some spotting/irritation though, it's a lot of blood!

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK in reply to ButtercupGarden]

Hi ButtercupGarden. So sorry the bleeding is so bad. Just hoping it might be the chorionic development. I suppose all you can do is rest and let's hope the increased medication does the trick. You will only absorb any extra that you need. Such a scare for you, but hopefully all will be well. Diane xx

[Ltry]

I don't have any advice but sorry to hear you've had another bleed. Hopefully upping the pessaries will help. Still got my fingers crossed for you xx

[Woody2019]

My progesterone was only a little higher than yours, my clinic also upped from 3 to 4!

I’ve had 2 fairly major bleeds, clots also. My scan show a fair size area of bleed (Subchorionic hematoma).. I’ve spotted and had cramps the whole way almost. It’s a constant worry I won’t lie, but baby was perfect at my last scan! Even measuring ahead. Thinking of you ♥️

[ButtercupGarden in reply to Woody2019]

Thanks for your reply. I'm praying that it turns out like this and the bleeds are just an annoying worry and nothing major! I'm not feeling positive today though, this is TMI but I have big dry black clots coming out. I wasn't sure if it is the pessary discharge but it looks more fleshy than that. Sorry, totally gross, but I'm freaking out every time I go to the loo.

So pleased your pregnancy is progressing well now, hope it stays drama free! Xxx

[IVFat40]

Hello hun, I'm so sorry for what you're going through, it must be really scary. I wondered if this link to a Tommy's page on Progesterone in early pregnancy and the NICE guidance (quite recently changed) might be helpful at all. If you're clinic aren't wanting to keep checking your Progesterone levels it's possible your GP might help or you can do it through one of the online blood test companies like Medichecks. I'm not medically qualified so could be wrong but I've seen women on here before talking about some women absorbing Progesterone in different forms better (perhaps injection rather than pessary), I wonder if Tommy's might be able to advise on any research on this that you could perhaps take back to your clinic. That said this definitely may not apply to you and the extra pessary may do the trick. It sounds like you're doing everything you possibly can, keeping everything crossed for you.

[IVFat40 in reply to IVFat40]

tommys.org/tommys-research-...

[ButtercupGarden in reply to IVFat40]

Thank you for the link! I'll raise it with them today if my HCG levels are still rising 🤞

[ButtercupGarden]

Hello, just an update on my ever changing situation! After the two terrifying bleeds, I've had 3 blood tests back with good HCG progression from Sunday to Thursday (growing from 4500 to 13000) and went for an early scan at the EPU today. They could see the yolk sac and fetal pole and I'm genuinely amazed that it is still there despite all the bleeding! Too early for a heartbeat so I remain super anxious, but for now, it's good news. They did say that there was a small haematoma visible but nothing major that needs tracking. So the bleeding remains a mystery, but for now, I'm still pregnant, hooray! Now the waiting continues....

[Hidden]

amazing news! Congrats lovely xx

[liftinglady]

babe this is amazing to read. I’ve been thinking about you today. Take it easy this weekend xx

[ButtercupGarden in reply to liftinglady]

Thank you lovely! Hope all is well with you too