Hi DeborahA,
It is possible to conceive with low progesterone, but may be more difficult. It may be hard to maintain a pregnancy if you have low progesterone.
Vitex will help boost Progesterone production. Vitex has been found to help normalize ovulation, improve a short luteal phase and reduce Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), all known fertility inhibitors. In one study, vitex helped normalize progesterone levels and increased the luteal phase from 5.4 days to 11.4 days.
I think going over our
Progesterone Fertility Guide would be beneficial to you. There is a quick check list to help you determine if you may be Progesterone defficient.
Natural progesterone is safe to use during pregnancy and may likely prevent many first trimester spontaneous abortions but should be used with caution in nursing as it may stop lactation. In the first trimester of pregnancy progesterone production is the sole responsibility of the ovaries, often fail to produce sufficient levels to maintain the pregnancy. By the second trimester, the placenta itself is responsible for producing progesterone, and it hikes the level of this hormone to 486% higher than the non-pregnant norm.
Synthetic progesterone drugs, not being natural progesterone, have side effects that if used to maintain the pregnancy may do damage to the baby.
If you are taking progesterone and get pregnant, you must continue taking progesterone until at least the 16th week. I personally would not stop if I had seriously low levels to begin with. But it is best to work with your health care practitioner if this is the case. They will continuously monitor your levels to make sure they are healthy for pregnancy.
Dalene