What is Progesterone?
Progesterone is a key hormone that plays an important role in the female reproductive system and pregnancy. Some key points about progesterone:
- What it is: Progesterone is a steroid hormone produced mainly by the corpus luteum in the ovary during the second half of the menstrual cycle and by the placenta during pregnancy.
- Main functions:
- Prepares the uterus for pregnancy by building up the uterine lining
- Maintains pregnancy by supporting the fertilized egg
- Balances estrogen levels
- Role in menstrual cycle: After ovulation occurs mid-cycle, the corpus luteum releases progesterone to thicken and prepare the uterine lining for possible implantation. If no pregnancy occurs, progesterone levels drop, which signals the shedding of the lining (your period).
- Role in pregnancy:
- The placenta produces high levels of progesterone to support pregnancy after the fertilized egg implants into the uterine lining
- It helps maintain the uterine lining to nurture the developing fetus
- Has immune-suppressing effects to prevent rejecting the fetus
- Progesterone testing: Levels peak mid-cycle and rise continuously during pregnancy, so testing progesterone at certain points helps assess:
- Ovulation - did it occur?
- Corpus luteum function - is it producing enough progesterone after ovulation?
- Early pregnancy - are levels rising appropriately to support implantation and development?
So, in summary, progesterone is the pregnancy-supporting hormone produced after ovulation to help prepare for and maintain a healthy pregnancy by supporting the uterine lining and suppressing immune responses. Evaluating progesterone levels at key points helps assess reproductive health and early pregnancy progress.
To maintain appropriately high progesterone levels, most doctors recommend supplementing with progesterone creams, gels, or vaginal suppositories in some cases like luteal phase defect or recurrent pregnancy loss. However, consult your physician at Harmonize Wellness Clinic to determine if progesterone therapy is right for you.
Some key times when progesterone testing is useful include:
- To confirm ovulation
- To investigate miscarriages
- To diagnose and treat luteal phase defect
- To determine if progesterone supplementation could help in early pregnancy
I hope this gives you a helpful overview of understanding what progesterone is, its major functions, and when progesterone testing can provide useful information!