The hormone progesterone. Over and under production.

Progesterone is a female hormone that is responsible for fertilization and gestation. The balance of this substance is important throughout a woman’s life.

Numerous studies have proven the relationship between PMS, climate syndrome and the concentration of progesterone in the body. This hormone affects the menstrual cycle, it helps prepare the female body for pregnancy and bearing a child.

The level of the hormone progesterone is one of the main factors that influence reproductive function. This substance maintains optimal conditions for conception in the uterus and helps preserve the embryo throughout pregnancy.

If the body does not produce enough progesterone, the uterus does not increase in size, and the mammary glands do not prepare to produce milk.

This hormone affects the concentration of sugar in the blood, it promotes the conversion of adipose tissue into energy, and also blocks the formation of fibrous cysts.

Normal progesterone concentration

The level of the hormone progesterone changes depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle and trimester of pregnancy. During ovulation, its indicator increases 10 times, this makes it possible to accurately determine the most favorable days for conception.

The level of concentration is influenced by the patient’s age, her health, the use of contraceptives, pregnancy and environmental factors.

The level of the hormone progesterone depends on the phase of the menstrual cycle:

0.32-2.23 nmol/l during the follicular phase.
0.48-9.41 nmol/l during ovulation.
3.99-56.63 nmol/l is the normal concentration of progesterone in the luteal phase.
During menopause, progesterone levels are below 0.64.

During the first trimester of pregnancy, the hormone level (normally) is 80.9-468.4 nmol/l, during the second trimester - 71.5-303.1 nmol/l, during the last three months the progesterone concentration should be 88, 7-771.5 nmol/l.

What is progesterone responsible for?

Progesterone is necessary for a woman during pregnancy and childbirth. The hormone ensures the endometrium’s receptivity to the fertilized egg, its implantation and further development. During the period of conception and in the first 4 weeks of pregnancy, progesterone is responsible for the threshold of excitability of the muscle fibers of the uterus. He increases it so that the woman bears the fetus during the period of its engraftment in the uterus.

In later stages of pregnancy, progesterone increases to inhibit the contractile activity of the uterus. The hormone increases the immunity capabilities of the mother's body so that it easily tolerates the influence of fetal antigens, and the woman calmly bears the fetus.

Receptors for progesterone in a pregnant woman are found not only in the ovaries and placenta. Their effects extend to the endometrium, myometrium, mammary glands, vascular endothelium, thymus, bones, bronchi, lungs and pancreas. A sufficient amount of it relaxes the smooth muscles of the uterus, blood vessels and bile ducts. Promotes the growth of glandular tissue of the mammary gland and prevents the mammary gland from secreting colostrum until birth.

Progesterone also affects brain structures such as the pituitary gland and hypothalamus. The cognitive process, memory, emotional stability, sexual desire, body temperature, as well as the holistic and healthy state of bone tissue depend on its high-quality production.

Outside of pregnancy, the hormone helps transform the endometrium. Cell division occurs, tissue grows and chemical elements are released from it. This process helps shed the endometrium and promotes the onset of a healthy menstrual cycle. The amount of progesterone in the circulatory system determines the health of a woman’s breasts, blood sugar levels, the rate of sebum production and blood pressure.

Excessive and insufficient production of progesterone

Too low progesterone concentration may indicate the following problems:

Failure of the menstrual cycle.
Chronic inflammation of the reproductive system.

In some cases, the reason for the decrease in progesterone is the use of certain drugs. Only a qualified doctor can balance the concentration of the hormone, who, depending on the individual needs of the body, will prescribe suitable treatment.

When the hormone progesterone decreases in a pregnant woman, we can talk about the following disorders:

Risk of miscarriage.
Violation of fetal development.
Malfunction of the placenta.

In most cases, excessive progesterone production is associated with pregnancy. If it is excluded, then a high concentration can signal cycle disruptions, adrenal dysfunction, a malignant tumor, etc.

In a pregnant woman, high levels of the hormone can signal disturbances in the formation and development of the placenta.

The main functions of progesterone in the female body

In a woman’s body, progesterone controls the following processes:

Stimulates the growth of the endometrium of the uterus so that the egg can implant.
It prevents contraction of the uterine muscles and, as a consequence, miscarriage, which often occurs in the early stages.
Helps stop menstruation in pregnant women.
Regulates the enlargement of the uterus during pregnancy.
Stimulates the functioning of the sebaceous glands.
Necessary for the formation and transformation of fetal tissue.

Since progesterone plays a huge role not only in the onset of pregnancy, but also in its course, its level increases several times immediately after implantation of the embryo into the uterine wall.

Progesterone level test

With a regular cycle, the hormone level should be examined on day 22. If the menstrual cycle is not regular, the doctor prescribes repeated tests in order to more accurately assess the state of hormonal levels.

A test for progesterone levels should be carried out no less than 8 hours after eating. The best time to get tested is in the morning. The concentration of the hormone progesterone is affected by the day of the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and the use of certain medications.

If there is excessive progesterone production or its concentration is too low, the first thing to do is consult a specialist. The doctor will select an individual course of treatment and help eliminate the problem.

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In what cases is a progesterone test prescribed?

The attending physician prescribes a blood test to determine progesterone levels in the following cases:

menstrual irregularities, including differential diagnosis of various types of amenorrhea.
identifying the causes of infertility.
dysfunctional uterine bleeding.
assessment of the condition of the placenta in the second half of pregnancy.
during postterm pregnancy.

In some cases, quantitative determination of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels is additionally required.

Also, a blood test for progesterone should be carried out in women of childbearing age if they have the following complaints:

a sharp decrease in the amount of menstrual blood released or a complete cessation of menstruation within six months;
a significant decrease in performance, leading to a deterioration in the quality of life;
general weakness without objective reasons;
long-term decrease in psycho-emotional background;
pain of various types or a feeling of discomfort in the lower abdomen and/or lumbar region, in the mammary glands;
bleeding outside the menstrual cycle.

How to maintain the hormone progesterone

Progesterone in women and men is an important component of health, so it is necessary to carefully monitor its concentration. In the absence of hormonal imbalance, a number of effective measures can be taken to prevent preventive action. To a large extent, prevention lies in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition.

According to medical recommendations, to achieve and maintain progesterone levels, you must adhere to the following rules:

Complete rest and sleep. Lack of sleep leads to fatigue, stress and decreased performance. Therefore, it is extremely important to monitor the correct alternation of sleep and wake cycles.
Adequate physical activity. Playing sports that do not involve intense physical activity has a beneficial effect on normalizing hormonal levels. The safest and most effective are breathing exercises in the fresh air.
Balanced and varied diet. To maintain progesterone levels, you need to consume enough proteins, fats and carbohydrates daily. It is strongly recommended to increase your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, fish and lean meats. To achieve better results, you will need to give up fat and junk food. You also need to monitor your water balance and drink at least 1.5 liters of clean water daily.
Take oral contraceptives and other medications containing hormones with caution. Before starting such a therapeutic course, it is necessary to consult with your doctor, who will select the correct dosage in accordance with the individual characteristics of each patient.
It is impossible to achieve normal levels of progesterone without eliminating concomitant somatic diseases. Therefore, you need to carefully monitor your own health and promptly seek medical help if even minor pathological symptoms appear. Also, do not ignore preventive examinations, especially by gynecologists (at least once a year if there is no serious medical history).
Timely visit to the doctor. Often, the onset of the disease or a symptom of a deficiency of certain hormones are signs that patients mistakenly do not pay attention to: frequent mood swings, fatigue, hair loss and brittle nails, headaches, depression. It is almost impossible to completely get rid of them without medical intervention. Moreover, self-medication can only worsen the current situation. Therefore, if these symptoms persist for a long time, it is necessary to urgently consult a specialist, undergo diagnostics and receive treatment from a qualified doctor.

Controlling progesterone levels is a guarantee not only of physical health, but also of procreation. The implementation of reproductive function in both men and women depends on this hormone. Even a slight hormonal imbalance can lead to a significant deterioration in a person’s well-being, as well as to serious health problems, including infertility. Therefore, maintaining the level of this hormone in the normal range and timely treatment of any disorders is the key to success for those who care about their own health and family well-being.

Analysis

It is important to understand that controlling progesterone levels is vital for any person. To do this, just contact our medical center, where there is a modern laboratory that allows you to quickly obtain accurate research results.

As mentioned above, the sex hormone in women fluctuates depending on the menstrual cycle, so it is necessary to take the test on certain days. The optimal period is considered to be the 22nd day of the cycle (subject to stable menstruation). If there are any failures or delays, you will need to be tested for progesterone levels several times: a week after the start of menstruation, on the 14th and 20th day. Thanks to this, it is possible to effectively assess the dynamics of changes.

This analysis does not require complex preparation. To obtain the most reliable diagnostic data, it is necessary to donate blood on an empty stomach (refuse to eat at least 8 hours before the procedure) in the morning. The day before blood sampling, you will need to limit the consumption of foods that stimulate the central nervous system (coffee, strong tea and dishes with a lot of spices). It is also strongly recommended to stop drinking alcoholic beverages and take a break from smoking. These preparatory measures will be enough to accurately identify normal, decreased or increased progesterone.

This test is often prescribed to patients suffering from infertility. In addition, its use is advisable when diagnosing increases in the menstrual cycle and uterine bleeding of varying intensity of unspecified etiology. In men, decreased or increased progesterone may indicate testicular pathology, increased functioning of the adrenal glands or thyroid gland.

Typically, results can be obtained from our laboratory within 1-2 business days. The interpretation of diagnostic data is carried out exclusively by the attending physician. Based on the information received, he prescribes additional diagnostics, makes the correct diagnosis and selects the optimal therapeutic course aimed at achieving the progesterone level and improving the current condition. In most cases, medications are used for treatment. Modifying the patient’s lifestyle is no less effective. This combination of treatment measures allows you to achieve better results in the shortest possible time.