Progesterone is a hormone that is necessary for maintaining a healthy pregnancy. If you have low levels of progesterone it may result in a miscarriage. It has not been proven that the lack of progesterone causes miscarriages, some doctors believe that a low progesterone level found in early pregnancy only shows that a pregnancy was already failing.
Early in pregnancy progesterone is made by a small cyst in the ovary – the corpus luteum. Later, around ten weeks of pregnancy, the placenta should be making enough progesterone for a healthy pregnancy. If the corpus luteum is not producing enough progesterone it is thought that this may be the cause of some early miscarriages.
Some doctors will prescribe progesterone supplements to help with this problem. While the use has not been proven effective, the medication is safe, inexpensive and easy to use.