Low Progesterone in Early Pregnancy: What It Means & Next Steps

Question
I am 30 years old and six weeks pregnant with my second child.  I went to my first doctor's appointment and was told that my hCG count had almost tripled in two days (went from 750 to 1770) but my progesterone level was low (8.5).  They are doing a sonogram next week to check for a heart beat.  What does having a low progesterone level mean?  If there is a heart beat on my sonogram, what will they do about the progesterone level?  I appreciate any help that you can give.

Holly

Answer
Sometimes, woman with low progesterone will miscarry. Progesterone is the hormone that maintains the pregnancy until the placenta is developed (at around 11 weeks). If the progesterone level is low, the pregnancy may not survive. For that reason, we usually give progesterone supplementation (either suppositories or pills) until 12 weeks gestation. If the HCG value rose, the baby probably has a heartbeat. However, if the HCG value is too high, it can indicate some trophoblastic disease (Molar pregnancy) which is non viable and dangerous. A sonogram will show what is going on. Be optimistic. Good luck to you.