I'm not sure if age has to do with progesterone deficiency, but that would be interesting- if you find something on it.
I know for me, that progesterone has always been a problem. In my first pregnancy with my son, I had a threatened miscarriage at 17 weeks, and from that point on- I had a trib pump in my leg and full time bed rest. My son was born early at a healthy weight (because of the GD) But it was in my second pregnancy, when I miscarried, that I realized how important progesterone was.
The more I read, the more I could compare it to myself (i.e. low sex drive, pre-term labor, unsensitive breasts, low temps, miscarriage, mood swings, etc) Since adding in progesterone things have been much better in my life. That one hormone makes such an emotional and physical difference in my body.
When I became pregnant with this one, my progesterone level was border-line at 15. But the thing about progesterone is- that it fluctuates. My doc and I felt I shouldn't be on the bottom end of normal, for such an unstable hormone in my body.
I added in progesterone in oil shots (PIO) which raised my level to 16. That was still not high enough though. So we did a combo of PIO and 200mg supps twice a day, and it worked! My level went to 38.1, and kept me pregnant! I had to stop the PIO shots at 10 weeks because of an allergic reaction I had to the sesame oil. But we raised my supps to 3 times daily, and I made it through the first trimester.
I did try to lower my progesterone down after 12 weeks, but once I had winged down to taking one 200mg supp a day- I started having contractions. I raised my dose back up to the 200mg twice a day, and my pregnancy has been problem-free.
It's such a shame that one stupid hormone can have so much control over my body. I'm just glad I know what I know now, and that I can share it with you all.
Bug