Progesterone is a hormone, produced by the ovaries, which plays a very important role in the pregnancy process, being in charge of regulating the woman’s menstrual cycle and preparing the uterus to receive the fertilized egg, preventing it from being expelled by the organism.
Normally, progesterone levels increase after ovulation and remain high if there is a pregnancy, so the body prevents the walls of the uterus from developing and does not cause abortion; however, if there is no pregnancy, the ovaries stop producing progesterone and, as a result, the lining of the uterus is naturally destroyed and removed by menstruation.
- Therefore.
- Decreased normal levels of this hormone can cause fertility problems in women trying to conceive.
- Or serious consequences.
- Such as ectopic pregnancies or abortions.
- In pregnant women.
The progesterone test is usually indicated in women with
This test is usually done in prenatal care, but may need to be repeated more frequently if the pregnant woman has a decrease in values between visits.
Although it can be used during pregnancy, this type of test is not used to confirm if there is a pregnancy, the most accurate and recommended is the HCG test, see how and when it should be performed.
Progesterone levels can be evaluated using a blood test that identifies the amount of hormone per ml of blood.This test should be done approximately 7 days after ovulation and may indicate the following results:
Progesterone levels are considered high when their value is greater than 10 ng/mL, which normally occurs during ovulation, i.e. when the ovary releases the mature egg; this increase in hormone production is used to prepare the uterus in case of pregnancy, and is maintained throughout pregnancy, to prevent an abortion, for example.
Therefore, high levels of progesterone are often a good sign for anyone trying to conceive, as they allow the fertilized egg to adhere to the walls of the uterus and begin to develop, without menstruation or release of a new egg.in a pregnant woman also indicate a lower risk of miscarriage.
However, if levels remain high, even when the woman has not yet fertilized, this may be a sign of some problems such as:
In these cases, your doctor may order more blood tests or an ultrasound to evaluate for any changes that can confirm the presence of any of these problems.
To ensure that progesterone levels are correct, women should not take progesterone pills for 4 weeks before the test.
When the value of progesterone is less than 10 ng/mL, the production of this hormone is considered low, in these cases the woman may have difficulty conceiving, since the amount of progesterone is not enough to prepare the uterus for pregnancy and menstruation occurs.with the removal of the fertilized egg. These women should generally use progesterone supplements to increase their chances of getting pregnant.
During pregnancy, if progesterone levels have decreased over the weeks, this means that there is a high risk of developing an ectopic pregnancy or abortion and therefore appropriate treatment is needed to avoid serious consequences.
Women with low progesterone levels may also experience symptoms such as weight gain, frequent headaches, sudden mood swings, poor sex drive, irregular menstruation, or hot flashes, for example.
Preparing the progesterone test is very important to ensure that the results are correct and that they are not influenced by other factors, so to pass the test it is recommended:
In addition, it is also important to test approximately 7 days after ovulation, as this is the period in which rates are naturally higher; However, if your doctor tries to evaluate progesterone levels outside of ovulation, to determine if they remain high throughout the process.during the cycle, it may be necessary to perform the test before ovulation, for example.
Treatment to correct progesterone levels is usually done only when the amount of the hormone is lower than normal and is done with the use of progesterone tablets, such as Utrogestan, especially in women who have difficulty getting pregnant.In pregnant women at high risk of miscarriage., progesterone is usually injected directly into the vagina by the obstetrician or gynecologist.
However, before starting treatment, your doctor should repeat the test to confirm the result and rule out other factors that may lower progesterone levels, such as eating before or at another stage of your menstrual cycle, for example.
In most cases, ingestion of this type of medication occurs for 10 consecutive days and after the 17th day of the menstrual cycle, resumed with each cycle.The duration of treatment and medication doses should always be well calculated for each case, and medical advice.it’s essential.
The use of hormones, such as progesterone, can cause side effects in the body such as weight gain, generalized swelling, fluid retention, excessive fatigue, discomfort in the breast area or irregular menstruation.
In addition, some women may also experience increased appetite, frequent headaches, fever and difficulty sleeping.This type of medicine should be avoided in people with arterial disease, depression, breast cancer, vaginal bleeding outside the period or liver disease.
As progesterone is a hormone naturally produced by the body, certain precautions can increase its concentration in the body, such as:
In addition, giving preference to organic foods can also contribute to the production of progesterone, as chemicals used in packaged foods can affect the body’s ability to produce hormones.
The values of progesterone in the blood vary depending on the menstrual period and the phase of a woman’s life, being:
Then, whenever there is a change in value, the result should be evaluated by a doctor to understand what the outcome can change, starting treatment if necessary.