Progesterone Tasks
In the female body, the main role of progesterone is to ensure the possibility of conception and maintenance of pregnancy, in other words - gestation. From this term, the name of the hormone occurs.
His task is to prepare the endometrium for the implantation of the fetal egg by dividing the cells of the mucous membrane, and in the future - to reduce the contractile activity of the uterine muscles, which ensures the preservation of pregnancy. Also, progesterone promotes the growth of the uterus and the preparation of the mammary glands for the lactation process. Infertility and miscarriage, as well as cycle disorders and amenorrhea (absence of menstruation) may be due to the lack of this particular hormone.
A significant proportion of progesterone is produced by the ovaries and a relatively small percentage of the adrenal gland. In the case of pregnancy, the production of progesterone up to 16 weeks will be occupied by the yellow body (a specific formation in place of the bursting of the follicle at the time of ovulation in the ovary), and at later dates - the placenta.
The content of progesterone in the blood changes during the cycle, in the first, the follicular phase, it is quite low, and reaches its highest value in the second, luteal phase. If pregnancy in this cycle does not occur, the yellow body dies, after which the level of progesterone goes to a decline and a new cycle begins.
With the normal development of pregnancy, progesterone continues to grow and increases tens of times. It is his height that prevents menstrual bleeding during this period. In the case of the insufficiency of this hormone, conception can occur, but the body does not receive the necessary signal for reorganization and preparation for bearing a fetus, a miscarriage occurs.
In addition to ensuring the reproductive capacity of women, progesterone interferes with the formation of cystic changes, takes part in the regulation of adipose tissue and affects the sugar content in the blood.
If progesterone is elevated, then it can talk about the appearance of tumors, disruption of the functioning of the adrenal gland and a number of other serious disorders. Therefore, the normal level of this hormone is very important and beyond pregnancy.
How to take the test
For maximum reliability of the results of the analysis, certain rules must be observed. Optimal blood donation on the seventh day after the ovulation occurred. With an unstable cycle, you can try to track ovulation by folliculometry or special tests or pass the test 3-4 times throughout the cycle. The analysis is carried out in the morning on an empty stomach.
If the level of progesterone does not meet the standards
In case the results of the analysis showed that the level of this hormone goes beyond the reference values of the laboratory, the attending physician will prescribe appropriate hormonal therapy.
To date, to increase the level of progesterone are widely used drugs such as morning dress and dyufaston. With progesterone insufficiency, it is they who will take on the function of maintaining pregnancy before placenta formation.
It must be remembered that in no case should you take such drugs yourself, without consulting a gynecologist or gynecologist-endocrinologist. Any drug, especially hormonal, has a long list of contraindications, as well as various side effects. Only a doctor on the basis of the results of tests can recommend the use of a particular type of therapy.