Progesterone is a hormone, produced by the ovaries that plays a very important role in the delivery process, being responsible for regulating the woman’s menstrual cycle and preparing the uterus to receive the fertilized egg, preventing it from being expelled by the body.
Normally, progesterone levels increase after ovulation and remain high in case of blockage, so the body prevents the development of uterine walls and does not cause abortion; However, in case there is no embargo, the ovaries should produce progesterone and, for this reason, the lining of the uterus is naturally destroyed and eliminated by menstruation.
- As a result.
- Normal levels of this hormone can lead to fertility problems in women trying to become pregnant.
- Or serious consequences such as ectopic abortion or abortion in pregnant women.
- Look what an ectopic pregnancy is.
The progesterone test is usually indicated for women who have
This test is usually close to prenatal checkups, but it may be necessary to repeat the bad times, in case of a drop in values between each visit.
Although it can be used on board, this type of test is not used to confirm if there is a pregnancy, he can confirm that it is GCH. See how this should be done.
Progesterone levels can be evaluated using a blood test that identifies the hormone level per ml of blood. This test should be done more than 7 days after ovulation and may indicate the following results:
Progesterone levels are considered high when its value is greater than 10 ng / ml, which normally occurs during ovulation, when the ovary releases the mature egg; This increase in hormone production is used to prepare the uterus in case of an embargo. and is maintained throughout the embargo, for example, to prevent abortion.
Thus, high levels of progesterone are generally a good week for those trying to get pregnant, allowing the fertilized egg to implant into the walls of the uterus and begin to develop, without periods occurring during the release of a new egg. In addition, levels are high in a woman on board, also lower risk of abortion.
However, if levels remain high, even when the woman is still in fertility, this could 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 a person with these problems.
To ensure that progesterone levels are not correct, you should not take progesterone tablets 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 getting pregnant because the amount of progesterone is not enough to prepare the uterus for gestation, possibly causing menstruation with the removal of the fertilized egg. These women generally do not need to use progesterone-based medications to increase the chances of becoming pregnant.
However, if levels and progesterone have decreased over the weeks, this means that there is a high risk of developing an ectopic procedure or abortion and therefore appropriate treatment is needed to avoid serious consequences.
Women with progesterone may also experience symptoms such as weight gain, frequent headaches, sudden mood swings, lack of sexual appetite, irregular menstruation or heat waves.
Preparation of the progesterone test is very important to ensure that the results are correct and that they are not influenced by other factors, so to perform the test it is recommended:
In addition, it is also important to have a test 7 days after ovulation, when levels are naturally higher; However, your doctor tries to evaluate progesterone levels outside of ovulation to see if they stay high throughout the cycle, which may be necessary before ovulation.
Treatment to correct progesterone levels is usually only when hormone levels are lower than normal and the use of progesterone tablets like utrogestan, especially in women with difficulty falling under pressure. When sent with a high risk of abortion, progesterone is usually injected directly into the vagina by an obstetrician or gynecologist. Learn more about Utrogestan.
However, before starting treatment, the doctor must re-examine to confirm the result and rule out other factors that could decrease the levels of progesterone consumed before being in another phase of the menstrual cycle, for example.
In most cases, intake of this type of medication occurs for 10 days in a row and after the 17th day of the menstrual cycle, repeating each cycle. The duration of treatment and dosing of the medication should always be calculated for each case and the doctor’s advice is essential.
The use of hormones such as progesterone can have side effects in the body such as weight gain, generalized swelling, water retention, excessive fatigue, discomfort in the mammary region or irregular menstruation.
In addition, some women may experience increased appetite, painful headaches, a cold and difficulty sleeping. This type of medicine should be avoided in people such as arterial diseases, depression, breast cancer, vaginal bleeding during menstrual periods 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 help in the production of progesterone, as chemicals used in packaged foods can affect the body’s ability to produce hormones.
Progesterone values in the blood vary depending on a woman’s menstrual period and stage of life, as follows:
Therefore, whenever there is a change in value, a doctor should evaluate the outcome to understand the cause and start treatment, if necessary.