Progesterone is one of the most critical hormones for women's reproductive health. It is essential for the progesterone hormone to reach sufficient levels in the blood for the continuity of the monthly menstrual cycle and for the initiation and maintenance of pregnancy. In case of insufficient progesterone level in the blood, a healthy menstrual cycle cannot occur; pregnancy cannot be initiated and sustained. Therefore, the importance of progesterone hormone for female reproductive health and the problems that may arise in case of deficiency should be known correctly.
What is Progesterone?
Progesterone hormone is one of the hormones associated with the menstrual cycle and the continuation of pregnancy. Ovulation occurs on the 14th day of the monthly menstrual cycle in a woman. As a result, a structure called the corpus luteum, also called the yellow body, is formed. Until the beginning of pregnancy, the corpus luteum takes over the task of secreting the hormone progesterone. However, with the placement of the egg cell on the uterine wall and the onset of pregnancy, progesterone secretion is carried out by the placental duct, which provides the connection between the mother and the baby. It is not possible for the body to store the hormone progesterone, which is a steroid. Therefore, progesterone deficiency is seen in the presence of any condition that prevents the secretion of this hormone in the body. As a result, both pregnancy and a healthy menstrual cycle are at risk. It is not possible to initiate and maintain a healthy pregnancy process in the absence of the hormone progesterone, which has an extremely important role in women's reproductive health. to prepare it in such a way that it can easily settle and to ensure that this cell attaches to the endometrium layer. In order for the pregnancy to start smoothly, the fertilization of the egg cell by the sperm cell is very important, the more important it is for the fertilized egg cell to settle into the uterus correctly. If the fertilized egg cannot find a suitable environment in the uterus and cannot develop here, it is not possible for the pregnancy process to start even if the fertilization event is completed perfectly. Therefore, the pregnancy started correctly and continued without any problems. The tissue in the uterus must be made suitable for pregnancy through the hormone progesterone. Progesterone hormone, secreted from the corpus luteum, primarily increases the secretion of intrauterine secretion and thus softens the mucosal tissue. The softness of the uterine mucosa is the first condition for the fertilized egg cell to attach to this tissue. Then, the hormone progesterone accelerates the blood flow on the surface of the uterus, causing the tissues to swell and plump. In this way, the fertilized egg cell can securely attach to the inner wall of the uterus and continue its development here. One of the main tasks of the hormone oxytocin is to ensure the contraction of the uterine muscles, thereby initiating labor. Progesterone hormone, on the other hand, reduces the sensitivity of the uterine muscles to oxytocin, preventing these muscles from experiencing sudden contractions. In this way, it takes the risk of miscarriage under control. In addition, progesterone, which supports the development of breast tissue and prepares these tissues for milk secretion in the postpartum period, is also one of the most important hormones for the postpartum period.
How Much Progesterone Should Be?
Healthy During the menstrual cycle, the level of the hormone progesterone naturally changes. Progesterone secretion is minimal until ovulation occurs. This period, called the follicular phase, constitutes the first 14 days of the cycle. During this period, the level of progesterone in the blood varies between 0.2-1.4 ng/ml. However, with the formation of the yellow body called the corpus luteum with ovulation, progesterone secretion increases rapidly and the menstrual cycle starts between 14-28. It progresses in the range of 4-25 ng / ml between days. It is extremely important to maintain these progesterone levels in order to realize and maintain a healthy menstrual cycle. In addition, in cases such as pregnancy, menopause, and in the presence of certain diseases, the level of progesterone in the blood changes greatly.
Progesterone hormone reaches 11.2-90 ng/ml levels in the first trimester of pregnancy. 25.6-89.4 ng/min in the range of 3-6 months, called the second trimester The hormone level, which rises to ml levels, is measured as at least 48-300 ng/ml in the last trimester. It is seen at levels less than 1 ng/ml during menopause.
How Many Progesterone Can You Get Pregnant?
Progesterone hormone level is critical for the initiation of pregnancy and maintaining a healthy pregnancy. The corpus luteum, which is formed as a result of the egg being ejected from the ovary, rapidly secretes progesterone to prepare the body for pregnancy. In this way, it begins to prepare the inside of the uterus in such a way that the fertilized egg cell can hold. For pregnancy to occur, the fertilized egg must attach to the uterus. Even if the fertilization phase of the egg is correct, if this fertilized egg cell does not settle into the uterus properly, it is not possible to initiate a healthy pregnancy process. Therefore, progesterone hormone is extremely important in order to initiate and maintain a healthy pregnancy process. The hormone level, which is between 0.2-1.4 ng/ml in the first 14 days of the menstrual cycle, reaches 4-25 ng/ml with the onset of progesterone secretion from the corpus luteum. In other words, it can be said that the progesterone level should be at least 4 ng/ml for the pregnancy to occur. With the onset of pregnancy, the placenta channel between the mother and the baby assumes the role of progesterone secretion. During this period, the level of progesterone in the blood increases extremely rapidly.
Is Low Progesterone an Obstacle to Pregnancy?
Progesterone is essential for the initiation and maintenance of pregnancy. In order for a healthy pregnancy process to begin, the fertilized egg cell must settle and attach to the uterus correctly. One of the most important hormones playing a role in this process is the hormone progesterone, which is secreted from the yellow body called the corpus luteum. Thanks to this hormone, intrauterine mucosal tissue secretion increases and preparations are started for the egg to settle. The blood flow to the uterine wall is increased, and this area becomes fuller, swollen and fluffy so that the egg can easily settle. Insufficient secretion of the hormone progesterone and insufficient blood If it does not reach the surface, these preparations do not take place in the uterine wall. Even if the fertilization phase of the egg is completed correctly, the pregnancy process cannot be started. For a healthy start of pregnancy, adequate progesterone level must be provided and the fertilized egg cell must be attached to the uterine wall properly.
What is Progesterone Test?
Especially in the presence of recurrent miscarriages or due to various diseases. In cases of risky pregnancy, it may be necessary to check the hormone value with a progesterone test. During certain periods of the menstrual cycle or pregnancy, blood is taken from the person and the amount of progesterone in this blood is measured. These values are then compared with the normal progesterone values for that menstrual cycle day or current week of pregnancy. In this way, the presence of conditions such as low or high progesterone can be detected in the person. Progesterone testing can also be helpful in diagnosing some reproductive problems. Progesterone test is often preferred in the diagnosis of fertility problems, especially due to ovulation. Progesterone hormone is secreted from the placenta in the later stages of pregnancy. Therefore, the progesterone test also gives very reliable results in evaluating the condition and functioning of the placenta.
Symptoms of Low Progesterone
The passage of the egg cell, which has reached sufficient maturity for fertilization, from the ovaries to the fallopian tubes is called ovulation. . The increase in progesterone secretion is initiated with the ovulation event. In cases where the mature egg cell cannot pass into the tubes, fertility problems due to ovulation are seen. The corpus luteum is formed with the egg cell being ejected from the ovaries and passing into the tubes for fertilization. The corpus luteum is the most important structure that secretes the hormone progesterone during the onset of pregnancy. In cases where the egg cell cannot pass from the ovaries to the tubes, the corpus luteum structure cannot be formed. Therefore, in the absence of this structure, low progesterone and related fertility problems are seen. Irregular menstrual cycle is also among the findings indicating low progesterone.
Progesterone Symptoms of Height
Progesterone is one of the hormones that is critical for both the realization of a healthy menstrual cycle and the initiation and maintenance of a healthy pregnancy process. Generally, women with regular menstrual cycles are considered to have adequate hormone levels without testing. Therefore, the first point to consider when evaluating the progesterone level is the regularity of the menstrual cycle. If the menstrual cycle is occurring regularly at normal intervals, it is possible to say that the progesterone hormone reaches sufficient levels. Although the main effect is to develop the breast tissue to secrete milk in the postpartum period, in some cases, a feeling of tenderness and fullness in the breast tissue may occur with the high level of progesterone hormone.
How to Increase Progesterone?
With some medical treatment methods, it is possible to increase the amount of progesterone in the blood and thus support the safer initiation and maintenance of pregnancy. Progesterone hormone, which can be taken orally, vaginally or as an intramuscular injection, is preferred especially in expectant mothers with a low history, in the presence of various diseases that risk pregnancy such as coagulation disorder and in cases such as advanced gestational age. After hormone supplementation, the values in the blood should be closely monitored and the treatment plan should be shaped accordingly. Therefore, in order to increase the progesterone hormone, physician-controlled treatment options should be applied and one should be aware of the side effects.
Progesterone Side Effects
With the supplementation of the progesterone hormone, some side effects are observed in the body. . The main ones are drowsiness, dizziness, shortening or interruption of the menstrual period, bleeding, acne, skin sensitivity and redness, urticaria, edema, weight gain, nausea and vomiting, digestive system disorders, libido change, breast tissue tenderness and discomfort, high fever, insomnia, increased hair growth, alopecia areata (ringworm), depression and venous thromboembolism. Along with these, progesterone supplementation, especially in breast tissue and cardiovascular system
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