BFN due to big Progesterone (P4) drop? Advice? Experience?

MakingBaby · 10-04-2007, 09:28 AM

First of all, congratulations on getting your BFPs ladies. You've kicked IF to the curb and your dreams are coming true. May your pregnancies be without problems. I thought I might ask you for some advice since you may have experienced this issue.

I got a BFN call yesterday from my IVF cycle. And later that afternoon, I got a call from my nurse telling me that they needed me to come back in for another blood test since my progesterone came in at 14 at my test today (and I had just taken a PIO shot). One week before, at my 1 week checkup post retrieval, it was supposedly at 91. They retested yesterday's sample and then made to come for another P4 draw. What could cause my P4 level to take a dive like this?

The RE, not expecting to see me, popped into the blooddraw room to pick up a chart. He said, "I was really expecting this cycle to work. If this progesterone is the issue, we may need to throw everything we've got at this - supplemental progesterone".

Have any of you heard of this? Any experience or advice to share. Is this an endo/auto-immune issue? What could cause this?

Good luck and congratulations again!!!

thebabyproject · 10-04-2007, 09:52 AM

19 isn't a bad progesterone. Mine was 18 and they wanted anything over 10. They don't check it at 7dpER either. And I'm on PIO + prometrium twice a day.

I'm all for supplementing as much as possible as before we added the prometrium PLUS estrace and vivelle patches(both estrogen) I'd get AF 11dpER just as always like I wasn't on anything.

If you ovulate, your ovaries make progesterone naturally as well.

I'm sorry about your BFN, but I don't think that was the ONLY reason.

Hugs,
Emily

Fireman's Wife · 10-04-2007, 10:17 AM

On all my IVF cycles I was given progesterone supplements (suppositories and PIO). I was told your body doesn't produce it b/c "ovulation" is done artificially. Maybe I'm wrong, but I would definitely get supplements!

Oh, and my RE just wanted our P4 to be over 20.

gatorsteph · 10-04-2007, 01:41 PM

while it's odd that your progesterone went from 91 to 14 while on the PIO, I don't think it's the reason that you didn't get pg. When I got my positive beta my progesterone was 3.6 - I likely would have miscarried had it not been for having an early beta (10dpo) and progesterone level and starting PIO right away which we had at home from a previous IVF cycle. (I got pg from an injectable IUI cycle this time). I'm sorry about your BFN - hopefully you'll get the answers you need and get your BFP with your next cycle.

MakingBaby · 10-07-2007, 08:13 AM

You girls are the best. I am going to follow up with my RE in one week.

They made me retest that afternoon and it was 24 (I had taken my shot only 15 minutes before my beta). Now I am left to wonder if the 91 was a lab error? Is my body doing something to nullify the progesterone? Was my second PIO bottle defective? DO I have immune issues.

I don't understand why my RE didn't run a complete panel like they do before the cycle with all the hormone levels. I am trying to figure out what my womb needs to be more receptive, inviting and accepting of new life. I am demanding information at my follow up next week. I also have a thyroid that doesn't run super high but has bounced around above 3. Yesterday, I asked my normal doc to get my a script to test my thyroid. So I'll at least have that number handy at my next appt. I want to know what all my hormones are doing.

I appreciate all the time and effort you ladies put into my issue. I wish you continued success in your pregnancies.

10-04-2007, 09:28 AM	#1 (permalink)
MakingBaby 0-99 post 2 of hearts Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 67	BFN due to big Progesterone (P4) drop? Advice? Experience? First of all, congratulations on getting your BFPs ladies. You've kicked IF to the curb and your dreams are coming true. May your pregnancies be without problems. I thought I might ask you for some advice since you may have experienced this issue. I got a BFN call yesterday from my IVF cycle. And later that afternoon, I got a call from my nurse telling me that they needed me to come back in for another blood test since my progesterone came in at 14 at my test today (and I had just taken a PIO shot). One week before, at my 1 week checkup post retrieval, it was supposedly at 91. They retested yesterday's sample and then made to come for another P4 draw. What could cause my P4 level to take a dive like this? The RE, not expecting to see me, popped into the blooddraw room to pick up a chart. He said, "I was really expecting this cycle to work. If this progesterone is the issue, we may need to throw everything we've got at this - supplemental progesterone". Have any of you heard of this? Any experience or advice to share. Is this an endo/auto-immune issue? What could cause this? Good luck and congratulations again!!!

10-04-2007, 09:52 AM	#2 (permalink)
thebabyproject 1000-4999 post queen of hearts Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: South of Atlanta, GA Posts: 3,506 Blog Entries: 640	19 isn't a bad progesterone. Mine was 18 and they wanted anything over 10. They don't check it at 7dpER either. And I'm on PIO + prometrium twice a day. I'm all for supplementing as much as possible as before we added the prometrium PLUS estrace and vivelle patches(both estrogen) I'd get AF 11dpER just as always like I wasn't on anything. If you ovulate, your ovaries make progesterone naturally as well. I'm sorry about your BFN, but I don't think that was the ONLY reason. Hugs, Emily __________________ Severe MF w/SCSA 47% & DOR @ 32 DE IVF ICSI TESA#2 worked! Beta#1 3.5; Beta#2 13.8; Beta#3 58.6 Bethany Joyce born 5/16/08 Last edited by thebabyproject; 10-04-2007 at 01:55 PM.

10-04-2007, 10:17 AM	#3 (permalink)
Fireman's Wife Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Montgomery County, PA Posts: 3,564	On all my IVF cycles I was given progesterone supplements (suppositories and PIO). I was told your body doesn't produce it b/c "ovulation" is done artificially. Maybe I'm wrong, but I would definitely get supplements! Oh, and my RE just wanted our P4 to be over 20. __________________ Jackie me 40, DH 34...PCOS and MF 4 failed IUIs, IVF#1/#4 & FET#1/#2--BFN IVF#2--BFP...m/c Jan. 2006 IVF#3--BFP...m/c Aug. 2006 IVF #5--BFP twins...Logan Marie and Ripley Elaine born 2/15/08 at 35w5d

10-04-2007, 01:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
gatorsteph 1000-4999 post queen of hearts Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,789	while it's odd that your progesterone went from 91 to 14 while on the PIO, I don't think it's the reason that you didn't get pg. When I got my positive beta my progesterone was 3.6 - I likely would have miscarried had it not been for having an early beta (10dpo) and progesterone level and starting PIO right away which we had at home from a previous IVF cycle. (I got pg from an injectable IUI cycle this time). I'm sorry about your BFN - hopefully you'll get the answers you need and get your BFP with your next cycle. __________________ Me 31, DP 34 TTC for 3 1/2 years Dx: Me - anovulatory cycles, PAI-1 mutation DP - stage 3 endo, MTHFR mutation Tx: Combined: >16 IUIs, IVF x3 (4 fresh transfers), FETx1, Losses - m/c x2, chemical pg x2. Me: Hudson born 11/3/07 DP: IVF #3 BFP - (delivered at 34 weeks) Bennett & Kate 3/28/08 Our Blog

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10-07-2007, 08:13 AM	#5 (permalink)
MakingBaby 0-99 post 2 of hearts Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 67	You girls are the best. I am going to follow up with my RE in one week. They made me retest that afternoon and it was 24 (I had taken my shot only 15 minutes before my beta). Now I am left to wonder if the 91 was a lab error? Is my body doing something to nullify the progesterone? Was my second PIO bottle defective? DO I have immune issues. I don't understand why my RE didn't run a complete panel like they do before the cycle with all the hormone levels. I am trying to figure out what my womb needs to be more receptive, inviting and accepting of new life. I am demanding information at my follow up next week. I also have a thyroid that doesn't run super high but has bounced around above 3. Yesterday, I asked my normal doc to get my a script to test my thyroid. So I'll at least have that number handy at my next appt. I want to know what all my hormones are doing. I appreciate all the time and effort you ladies put into my issue. I wish you continued success in your pregnancies.