Pregnant. Diagnosed With Sub Chorionic Hematoma. Recommended Progesterone. What Is It For?

Posted on Fri, 15 Nov 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 15 Nov 2013 Answered on

Sat, 7 Dec 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : My daughter is pregnant. She was diagnosed with a subcorionic hematoma on the placenta. We understand that this is something that can remedy itself by being reabsorbed in her system. Her doctor has recommended that she begin taking progestrone as her level has gone down from 27 to 18.5 since she found out about the pregnancy. What is this about? Is 18.5 so low as to supplement the level? Thanks for any information you can send me.

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (1 hour later)

Brief Answer: Please find detailed answer below Detailed Answer: Hi, Thanks for writing in to us. I have read through your query in detail. You have rightly said that sub chorionic hematomas usually resolves by itself in most patients. Theprogesterone levels in pregnancy vary with age of foetus and follow a particular pattern on monitoring. As you have not mentioned about the exact age of pregnancy in weeks, Im unable to giv you the level of progesterone appropriate for the pregnancy. During 8 to 10 weeks of pregnancy, progesterone levels must bein the range of 25.9 to 30.0 in normal pregnancy. However, progesterone levels decreasing from 27 to 18.5 requires supplementation. Your doctor is taking precautionary measures for a healthy and normal pregnancy. Progesterone guideline specify that when progesterone supplementation is given to a mother, its half life in the blood is very short. In four minutes it begins to be excreted rapidly into the urine. The most efficient route to take the progesterone to insure the best blood levels and the longest survival of the progesterone in the blood is to use vaginal suppositories. The next best route of administration is to take injections of progesterone. The least effective is to take the progesterone by mouth. Your doctor will take an approriate decision on progesterone treatment for your daughter. Please take the medication under medical supervision. Hope your query is answered. Do write back in you have any doubts. Regards, Dr.Vivek

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar