Progesterone is a critical hormone for a healthy menstrual cycle and fertility, especially in women. It’s produced by the ovaries in response to other reproductive hormones like estrogen and luteinizing hormone (LH). Progesterone is sometimes called the “pregnancy hormone” because it helps maintain pregnancy by supporting an environment that’s good for implantation, fertilization, and maintenance of the early embryo.
But did you know that progesterone also stimulates ovulation and production of other reproductive hormones? Additionally, progesterone has many other roles in our bodies outside of reproduction. In this article, we will break down everything you need to know about this essential hormone.
What is Progesterone?
Progesterone is one of the most essential hormones for reproduction. It’s also known as the “hormone of pregnancy” because it helps to support a healthy environment for pregnancy. In women, progesterone is produced by the ovaries as well as during the menstrual cycle to help prepare the uterus for implantation and support a healthy pregnancy.
Progesterone belongs to a class of hormones known as “steroids.” It is synthesized from cholesterol in the body and is produced by both males and females. Progesterone is secreted by the ovaries, the adrenal glands, and the placenta during pregnancy.
What is progesterone responsible for?
Progesterone is responsible for many functions during the reproductive cycle. It promotes healthy ovarian function and helps to “ prepare “ the uterus for implantation and a healthy pregnancy. Progesterone is critical for maintaining a pregnancy because it supports the endometrial lining.
After ovulation, progesterone levels rise and prepares the uterine lining (the endometrium) for implantation of the fertilized egg. If a woman does not become pregnant, progesterone levels drop and this drop in progesterone causes the uterus to shed its lining, resulting in a menstrual period.
What should be the level of progesterone, and how is it detected
You probably know that progesterone is a hormone, which is produced in the ovaries and other glands of the body. The level of progesterone can vary during the reproductive cycle. Here are the list of progesterone levels for all stages.
| Stage | Progesterone level (ng/mL) |
| pre-ovulation | < 0.89 |
| ovulation | ≤ 12 |
| post-ovulation | 1.8–24 |
| first trimester | 11–44 |
| second trimester | 25–83 |
| third trimester | 58–214 |
An accurate reading requires you to have a specific time window for checking the levels, so it’s always better to consult your gynecologist for any test related to hormone production.
Often specialist recommends two types of medical testing to check your progesterone levels: saliva tests and blood tests. However, there are certain limitations to both these diagnostic processes. In order to detect progesterone levels as well as estrogen, most laboratories will run a “breast/endocrine” panel. This panel is useful to monitor ovarian function and menstrual cycles.
Also read: 8 Things You Should Know About Hormones
What to do if your progesterone level is high?
If your progesterone level is high and this is what is causing you to not conceive, then there is good news. This is an easy problem to solve. The first thing to do is to make sure that you are not taking too much progesterone supplements. Too much progesterone can be as bad as too little. The first line of treatment for this issue is to get your hormone levels tested again after a few months of controlled dosage.
Next, make sure that you are ovulating regularly and that you are having sex on the days when you are most likely to conceive. Having sex regularly can help increase your progesterone levels, provided you have the right position. The best position to conceive a child naturally is the missionary position. When you are in this position, the cervix is tilted towards the uterus and the semen gets deposited inside the cervix, which increases the chance of pregnancy.
What to do if your progesterone level is low?
Some symptoms of low progesterone are: low libido, hot flashes, migraine, headaches, mood changes, menstrual cycle irregularity or absence, and depression, anxiety, or other mood changes. Signs of low progesterone in pregnant women include spotting, abdominal pain, frequent low blood sugar, tender breasts, constant fatigue, vaginal dryness and regular fatigue.
If your progesterone level is low and you are still not able to get pregnant, you need to take more drastic measures. First, you should get your hormone levels tested. See if the other fertility markers are normal or abnormal. If they are normal and the progesterone is low, then there is a problem that needs to be addressed. Next, make sure that you are ovulating regularly. You can take saliva tests to determine if you are ovulating or not. If it turns out that you are not ovulating regularly, then you need to visit a fertility specialist since the issue is not with the progesterone levels but with the ovulation cycle itself.
What are the other benefits of progesterone?
Progesterone is responsible for many functions in the body beyond reproduction. It is a “neuroendocrine hormone” because it affects many different organs and tissues. It helps to balance the effects of estrogen, which is also produced by the ovaries. When a woman has balanced levels of estrogen and progesterone, it helps to reduce the risk of developing certain conditions.
Consequently, the benefits of progesterone are numerous. They include helping to prevent endometrial cancer, reducing symptoms of PMS, and balancing the effects of estrogen among others. Read on to learn more about the benefits of progesterone and its role in balancing your hormones naturally.
The role of progesterone in a healthy menstrual cycle
Progesterone is the second most important hormone for women, and the one that many have problems with. Women need it to stay healthy. Without it, the negative effects are severe. Progesterone deficiency can lead to menstrual irregularities, infertility, and even early menopause. Even if you’re not at risk of any of these things, you should be concerned about progesterone because it helps keep your period regular and healthy!
There are other important hormones in a woman’s cycle, like estrogen and LH (luteinizing hormone). But progesterone stands out because it’s the only one that prepares your body for pregnancy by thickening the uterus walls so that an egg can settle there. That’s why this article focuses on just how important progesterone is to a woman’s overall health!
Final Words
Progesterone is a critical hormone for reproduction and is responsible for many essential functions. It is synthesized by the ovaries, adrenal glands, and placenta during pregnancy. Although progesterone is often called the “pregnancy hormone,” it is important for reproductive health in all stages of life. A healthy progesterone level can help prepare for a healthy pregnancy, as well as support a healthy menstrual cycle and libido.
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