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Very interesting NIH research article...

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3604830/

Quite a tough read if you not a medic..but you get a good understanding if you read the abstract and conclusion...

"CONCLUSION
Considering that progesterone has important immunomodulatory functions by decreasing proinflammatory and increasing anti-inflammatory cytokines in early pregnancy, progesterone's role in maintaining early pregnancy is crucial. This study provides support that progesterone supplementation reduces the subsequent miscarriage rate in patients with unexplained recurrent miscarriages in comparison with historical data. Although this study is limited by having no control group, the results contribute to the existing body of the literature on this subject which claims that progesterone supplementation may improve the pregnancy outcome in selected groups of unexplained recurrent miscarriages."

I'm also 41 and my doctors have been having me take progesterone for almost a year now, starting the day after ovulation, for 12 days. The only downside is that if you're on progesterone through your tww, it mimics pregnancy symptoms. (However, if you start after your BFP, that's settled. You already know!)

It can't hurt.

Thanks MrsFlasche for your comments ..very interesting as my last miscarriage was an empty sac too..

I was taking small dose thyroxine with last mc and asprin in mc before that (5 wks)..these past two months I am not taking anything..re. thyroid testing it was found that I do not any thyroid anti-bodies and my TSH was 278 in my last blood test..(I had been off thyroxine for two months prior to this test)

I assume you taking prenatals...but are u taking anything else too? I ask because i was wondering whether I should ask them to test my estrogen too..as it is also supposed to rise in pregnancy..any ideas on this?

I also had a bunch of tests done such as clotting, karyotyping, MTHFR..etc etc but all came back normal

Did you have your progestrone tested in your prior pregnancies and if yes what were they?

I had low progestrone in my 2 pregnancies in my 30's that hovered around 10-12 after BFP. This pregnancy in my 40's was 9 and my HCG never doubled properly and progestrone continued to decrease. I was on supplements during first trimester with both my daughters.

Please note 2 different ways hospitals measure progesterone in blood (mine are all mnol and u have to divde by 3.18 to convert to ng/ml
Read this link
http://babyandbump.momtastic.com/pregnancy-first-trimester/396680-progesterone-levels.html

I had cd21 progesterone and it was 47 nmol (meaning I had ovulated)

I don't have the levels for all mcs...

MC1
week 6 - (4 Oct 2012) bleeding, miscarriage - HCG 27, Progesterone 2

MC2
week 5 even lighter urine pregnancy test - went to hospital - HCG 109 Progesterone 95. Scan showed 'perhaps' a sac..but to early for them to tell
week 5, day 5 Bood Test HCG 55 (they did not repeat prog)
week 5, day 6 bleeding started

MC4
week 4 hcg 269, prog 93.5 (29.4 ng/ml)
week 6 hcg 8000 (prog was not repeated) - empty sac :((

The consultant explained that there is evidence that progesterone can drop significantly in some women and those who suffer recurrent mc may benefit from progesterone..I have been told to get the prog. pessaries when I get a +ve hpt

Hi.

I have 3 miscarriages after my first baby and before my 2nd baby. The 5th pregnancy (the one which finally stuck) was the one I started taking the progesterone immediately after IUI.

I think it probably won't hurt to try it in case of unexplained miscarriages.

Thanks Super Sally, that is really really helpful..unfortunately, I started AF this week, but think you are right..it is so good hearing success stories. Also, is there anything else you did differently in your last successful pregnancy please?