I started a diary the other day, in which I plan to only record significant news. I thought I would put it here in case anyone with a similar experience finds it useful or informative re- low progesterone.
I have been observing the rocky outcrop that is my basal body temperature chart since last October, and trying to conceive with my beautiful husband since November 06. I never thought I would find myself a year on and still trying to conceive. This diary is for mental escape and self learning. A place to record my thoughts, feelings and physical state for prosperity and development.
So a brief breakdown of events.
We decided to begin trying for a baby on our holiday in the Maldives in November, so in preparation, and true to my usual control freakishness, I studied all I could to improve our chances of conception. I learnt about charting my temps and looking for a thermal shift to indicate ovulation, what sort of cervical fluid is most fertile. I learned to pee on stick to test for the hormone that surges before ovulation, and the hormone that builds when pregnant. I watched and listened to my body and have learned even what my cervix feels like at different stages of my cycle. You could say I am at one with my fertility.
We were delighted beyond belief when we got our positive result with a digital pregnancy test in January after just 3 months of trying to conceive. We dashed to the book department in Selfridges and bought 3 big books on pregnancy and infancy. It was so hard to believe but I kept testing positive and although it seemed unreal as we hadn't seen a doctor yet, we began to indulge in chats about what names we liked and what sort of parents we could be. Each week we studied the pictures and descriptions of how our baby was developing. But sadly at 7 weeks we miscarried. Terribly I began bleeding at a large family gathering and felt the blood drain from my face when I discovered the light bleed on visiting the lavatory. I confided in Mum and Andrew who told me not to worry. I arrived home that afternoon and a couple of hours later went to the lou to discover I was bleeding heavily, as I wiped I was mortified to find the foetal sac sitting there on the paper; 3 dimensional proof of my pregnancy and loss all at once. I shan't try to describe my feelings at that time, this diary is for me and I understand those feelings better without trying to measure them with words. Our marriage was still very new at the time and in hindsight I guess our light magical honeymoon period ended there. But it was replaced with something deeper and more binding. I am immensely proud of how my husband and I pulled together in the face of such a personal tragedy.
We got straight back to business and after the initial frustration of my miscarriage being followed by an anovulatory cycle, we were buoyed up to see in my charts that I was ovulating once more.
After a couple more months studying my charts I began to notice a tendency for big thermal dips in my luteal phase and in some cases very low temps throughout. I looked into possible causes and the more I read the more convinced I became that I have low progesterone. One month I had a positive pregnancy test only to be followed the next day by my period. A chemical pregnancy - such an early miscarriage it doesn't even earn a name that acknowledges it's existence.
A progesterone test is very cheap and straight forward but my doctor was very unwilling as I had 'only' had one miscarriage. Despite the evidence in my charts and other symptoms such as light and irregular periods she only conceded to test when I turned on the waterworks (a low card to play but it was born out of desperation and I am suitably ashamed that my negotiating skills came to tears).
The test came back 2.5 - so low it indicated that I had not ovulated although even my doctor agreed, I clearly had, based on my charts.
When my GP explained that one test didn't mean much I lost patience and booked in with a fertility clinic. Unfortunately in the time between discovering a low progesterone level and managing to get treatment I had a second 'chemical pregnancy'.
But that just about brings me up to today. 13th Sept 2007
I have been prescribed cyclogest, a progesterone pessary that I take twice a day in a very un ladylike manor. Having tried them for the first time last month I am assured of the positive effect they had on my temperatures which looked extremely healthy after ovulation. My 'test run' month also revealed to me that I can expect to need to replace all of my knickers in 2 weeks time and if I am pregnant, will need to factor in a very large underwear bill after I have passed first tri. One sneaky side effect is feeling very pregnant. Very large swollen boobs set in after a couple of days taking these little tricksters closely followed by fatigue, queasiness and general low spirits. And yet I am elated. I feel as though we have a fresh start and have a greater chance of maintaining our next pregnancy. So I am praying for this month, or next month, or the month after that. Things have got exciting again
I have been observing the rocky outcrop that is my basal body temperature chart since last October, and trying to conceive with my beautiful husband since November 06. I never thought I would find myself a year on and still trying to conceive. This diary is for mental escape and self learning. A place to record my thoughts, feelings and physical state for prosperity and development.
So a brief breakdown of events.
We decided to begin trying for a baby on our holiday in the Maldives in November, so in preparation, and true to my usual control freakishness, I studied all I could to improve our chances of conception. I learnt about charting my temps and looking for a thermal shift to indicate ovulation, what sort of cervical fluid is most fertile. I learned to pee on stick to test for the hormone that surges before ovulation, and the hormone that builds when pregnant. I watched and listened to my body and have learned even what my cervix feels like at different stages of my cycle. You could say I am at one with my fertility.
We were delighted beyond belief when we got our positive result with a digital pregnancy test in January after just 3 months of trying to conceive. We dashed to the book department in Selfridges and bought 3 big books on pregnancy and infancy. It was so hard to believe but I kept testing positive and although it seemed unreal as we hadn't seen a doctor yet, we began to indulge in chats about what names we liked and what sort of parents we could be. Each week we studied the pictures and descriptions of how our baby was developing. But sadly at 7 weeks we miscarried. Terribly I began bleeding at a large family gathering and felt the blood drain from my face when I discovered the light bleed on visiting the lavatory. I confided in Mum and Andrew who told me not to worry. I arrived home that afternoon and a couple of hours later went to the lou to discover I was bleeding heavily, as I wiped I was mortified to find the foetal sac sitting there on the paper; 3 dimensional proof of my pregnancy and loss all at once. I shan't try to describe my feelings at that time, this diary is for me and I understand those feelings better without trying to measure them with words. Our marriage was still very new at the time and in hindsight I guess our light magical honeymoon period ended there. But it was replaced with something deeper and more binding. I am immensely proud of how my husband and I pulled together in the face of such a personal tragedy.
We got straight back to business and after the initial frustration of my miscarriage being followed by an anovulatory cycle, we were buoyed up to see in my charts that I was ovulating once more.
After a couple more months studying my charts I began to notice a tendency for big thermal dips in my luteal phase and in some cases very low temps throughout. I looked into possible causes and the more I read the more convinced I became that I have low progesterone. One month I had a positive pregnancy test only to be followed the next day by my period. A chemical pregnancy - such an early miscarriage it doesn't even earn a name that acknowledges it's existence.
A progesterone test is very cheap and straight forward but my doctor was very unwilling as I had 'only' had one miscarriage. Despite the evidence in my charts and other symptoms such as light and irregular periods she only conceded to test when I turned on the waterworks (a low card to play but it was born out of desperation and I am suitably ashamed that my negotiating skills came to tears).
The test came back 2.5 - so low it indicated that I had not ovulated although even my doctor agreed, I clearly had, based on my charts.
When my GP explained that one test didn't mean much I lost patience and booked in with a fertility clinic. Unfortunately in the time between discovering a low progesterone level and managing to get treatment I had a second 'chemical pregnancy'.
But that just about brings me up to today. 13th Sept 2007
I have been prescribed cyclogest, a progesterone pessary that I take twice a day in a very un ladylike manor. Having tried them for the first time last month I am assured of the positive effect they had on my temperatures which looked extremely healthy after ovulation. My 'test run' month also revealed to me that I can expect to need to replace all of my knickers in 2 weeks time and if I am pregnant, will need to factor in a very large underwear bill after I have passed first tri. One sneaky side effect is feeling very pregnant. Very large swollen boobs set in after a couple of days taking these little tricksters closely followed by fatigue, queasiness and general low spirits. And yet I am elated. I feel as though we have a fresh start and have a greater chance of maintaining our next pregnancy. So I am praying for this month, or next month, or the month after that. Things have got exciting again
Quite noticeable .. 
Get some panty liners or those super thin pads for light flows... I used them quite successfully. Panty liners you have to change more often. 
thanks for sharing, I hope the acupuncture works out. Let us know how you get on 