Progesterone Levels During Pregnancy
Posted on November 25, 2011, by yalymoreno, under Progesterone.
Progesterone is often referred to as the chief pregnancy or reproductive hormone. This hormone is critical for ovulation, development of fertilized egg and childbirth. Thus, a woman who has lowered or extremely high levels of progesterone faces a risk of having infertility, failed pregnancies or multiple miscarriages. In fact, women who are beyond the age of 45 years and have entered menopause are regarded among the highly-improbable group, i.e. their propensity to conceive is very minimal. This is because with the onset of menopause, progesterone levels start falling alarmingly. In the absence of sufficient progesterone, none of the reproductive processes can be sustained.
Understanding Progesterone & Pregnancy
Progesterone is produced as a part of the menstrual cycle. This hormone is first produced when a female reaches puberty. After this, the levels of progesterone keep on increasing until they have attained a basic concentration. Along with estrogen, progesterone forms the most critical hormonal balance in the female body, affecting her overall physical well-being and psychological health. Progesterone is primarily produced by the ovaries. It is first produced before ovulation and after ovulation its levels rise again and then, begin to drop gradually. The menstrual cycle usually lasts for 28 days. During this time, ovulation or release of a mature female egg is completed. If the progesterone levels are low, ovulation is impaired. Apart from ovulation, progesterone controls the overall thickness of the endometrium. The increase in progesterone levels after ovulation is critical for ensuring that the endometrial lining is thick enough to support implantation of the fertilized egg. If this lining is not properly prepared, pregnancy cannot be established, i.e. the fertilized egg is not embedded in the uterus and the woman cannot conceive.
Delving Deeper into Progesterone & Pregnancy
Even after successful implantation, the ovaries have to produce a basic amount of progesterone to ensure that the embryo can develop normally. A few weeks after implantation, the placenta overtakes the role of producing progesterone. Without basic progesterone levels during pregnancy being maintained by the placenta, a healthy pregnancy cannot be maintained, i.e. there is a greater chance of miscarriage. When pregnancy is about to come to its natural end towards the last trimester, the progesterone levels again dip. This is a direct simulation for the contractions to begin along the birth canal that help the baby to be pushed out.
Progesterone Levels & Successful Pregnancy
It is regarded that a basic concentration of about 10 ng/ml of progesterone is vital to sustain pregnancy during the early stage. The amount of progesterone measured in the blood during the early stage of pregnancy can even point towards chances of abnormal pregnancies like ectopic pregnancy developing. In fact, progesterone levels are monitored through the pregnancy to ensure that the woman doesn’t face hormonal deficit at any stage. During pregnancy, progesterone plays a rather important role in inhibiting lactation. However, progesterone levels fall after delivery and this acts as a trigger for milk secretion.
Pregnancy Aid: Progesterone Supplementation
If it is found that the woman is not producing sufficient amounts of progesterone and is complaining of typical symptoms like difficulty in menstruation, infertility, severe cramps in abdomen, extreme mood swings resembling psychological problems and uterine bleeding, some form of progesterone supplementation is recommended. The supplementation is more concentrated if the woman is trying to get pregnant. The supplementation can be in the form of natural progesterone aids usually available in the form of creams or steroidal drugs that mimic the effect of progesterone.
