Can low progesterone be the cause of a missed miscarriage?

[Anonymous]

I recently had a missed miscarriage (u/s at 10.5 weeks showed baby stopped developing at around 7.5 weeks). My luteal phase has always been on the short side - anywhere from 9-11 days, usually around 10. Could low progesterone cause a missed miscarriage? I would think that if it were a progesterone issue, the lining would shed earlier rather than my body continuing to think I were pregnant? Anybody know? (FWW: this is my second consecutive miscarriage. The last one occured sponateously at around 6 weeks.)

[Anonymous]

So sorry for your loss, OP. I don't know that you would have gotten that far with just low progesterone being the cause. Your first m/c might have been from low progesterone which is why it happened so early. What does your OB think? How was your progesterone at your first appointment blood draw?

Wishing you peace and strength.

[Anonymous]

First, I am so sorry for your losses, I know that they hurt and we try so hard to find answers when the reality is that most miscarriages happen that early and it is usually because something went wrong with the baby making it not compatible with life. So many miscarriages happen at that stage that unless you are trying most don't even realize that they happened - thinking their periods are late, etc.

As for the progesterone, probably not. I take it there was no way to test the product of conception to see what the issue might have been? I found that insisting on that helped a LOT when it is possible.

Like you, I have a short luteal phase (9) days and I bleed through the entire second half of my cycle. They never could figure out what was wrong. Your Endo can test you on a cycle to see what your progesterone is doing and most are fine. I was able to have a baby even with my bleeding and short cycle on my own without intervention (first time around we did IVF)

[Anonymous]

Missed miscarriages are mostly due to a chromosomal abnormality. And, at least in my personal experience and research, are not accompanied by active miscarriage - meaning the fetus aborts when the growth stops. With low progesterone, active bleeding and miscarriage occur (as in the low progesterone results in the lining shedding and the miscarriage occuring).

Regardless of whether your miscarriages are active or missed, I would talk to your OB (or RE is you see one) about supplementing with progesterone in your luteal phase.

[Anonymous]

Agree with the other posters. Progesterone can lead to a spontaneous loss, but probably not a missed miscarriage.

Two miscarriages in a row are emotionally difficult. My OB tried to make me wait until 3 consecutive for additional testing. It took a lot of arguing, but she agreed to progesterone testing and eventual supplementation. I've never had a missed m/c.