Is Progesterone Supplementation Moral?
Question
I am currently 28 weeks pregnant with my second child. My first was born premature. My ob suggested progesterone injections starting at 16 weeks through 37 weeks as a measure to prevent premature labor. What are the views of the Church on this?
Sonia
Answer
Last Updated: September 12, 2022
Dear Sonia,
Using progesterone during pregnancy is both medically prudent and morally acceptable. Progesterone is produced during the second part of the menstrual cycle (after ovulation) to help develop the endometrium for implantation of the growing child. Additionally, a woman will continue to make progesterone in order to maintain the pregnancy. Without the proper progesterone levels, a miscarriage or premature birth will result. By replacing the progesterone at the proper time of the cycle and/or continuing progesterone replacement during pregnancy, a miscarriage or premature delivery can be avoided if low progesterone was the cause.
The proper levels of progesterone through the menstrual cycle and throughout all the weeks of pregnancy have been developed at the Pope Paul VI Institute, an institute fully obedient to the teachings of the Catholic Church. The founders, Thomas Hilgers MD, an Ob/Gyn, and his wife, Sue, began the Institute in response to the call to physicians and scientists in the encyclical Humane Vitae to investigate human fertility.
Using progesterone during your pregnancy can help to avoid a miscarriage or premature birth if progesterone levels are low. Progesterone replacement is in accord with Church teachings. Additionally, data from the Pope Paul VI Institute has demonstrated the safety profile of progesterone use in pregnancy.
I hope that this information will help you and your child.
God bless.
Gretchen V. Marsh, D.O.
Using progesterone during pregnancy is both medically prudent and morally acceptable. Progesterone is produced during the second part of the menstrual cycle (after ovulation) to help develop the endometrium for implantation of the growing child. Additionally, a woman will continue to make progesterone in order to maintain the pregnancy. Without the proper progesterone levels, a miscarriage or premature birth will result. By replacing the progesterone at the proper time of the cycle and/or continuing progesterone replacement during pregnancy, a miscarriage or premature delivery can be avoided if low progesterone was the cause.
The proper levels of progesterone through the menstrual cycle and throughout all the weeks of pregnancy have been developed at the Pope Paul VI Institute, an institute fully obedient to the teachings of the Catholic Church. The founders, Thomas Hilgers MD, an Ob/Gyn, and his wife, Sue, began the Institute in response to the call to physicians and scientists in the encyclical Humane Vitae to investigate human fertility.
Using progesterone during your pregnancy can help to avoid a miscarriage or premature birth if progesterone levels are low. Progesterone replacement is in accord with Church teachings. Additionally, data from the Pope Paul VI Institute has demonstrated the safety profile of progesterone use in pregnancy.
I hope that this information will help you and your child.
God bless.
Gretchen V. Marsh, D.O.
Answered By:
Gretchen Marsh, D.O.
Dr. Marsh graduated from Western University of Health Sciences in 1987 in Pomona, CA and is board certified in Family Medicine by the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians. She has been certified as a NaProTechnology® Medical Consultant (NaPro) and Creighton model Fertility Care System (CrMS) teacher since 2001. She and her husband, Jon, have 5 sons and live in the Reno region, where she sees patients in person, in addition to her telehealth services offered via MyCatholicDoctor.com
