One of the most important “female” hormones is traditionally considered to be progesterone – a steroid hormone of the progestogen group, which has a very wide complex effect on a woman’s body. In addition to directly affecting the female body, progesterone is an important link in the synthesis of other endogenous hormones, including a number of sex hormones and corticosteroids.
- Progesterone Synthesis
- Progesterone Functions
- Progesterone levels in the female body
- Norms of progesterone in the female body by the phases of the menstrual cycle
- Female progesterone levels for the phases of the menstrual cycle for women using hormonal contraceptives
- Female progesterone levels in the days of the menstrual cycle
- Rates of progesterone in the female body by trimester of pregnancy
- Symptoms of increased progesterone in women
- Pathological causes of increased progesterone in women
- Ways to reduce progesterone levels
Despite such a large-scale role of progesterone, modern medicine knows far from all about it. Its functions, the reasons for the change in the level in the body and the prerequisites for the growth of regulatory indicators remain not fully understood. We’ll talk about what you can say for sure about progesterone.
Progesterone Synthesis
Progesterone is synthesized in the body by two organs: the corpus luteum (temporal secretory gland, which is formed during the post-ovulation period) and the adrenal glands. Due to the hormone produced by the corpus luteum, the secretory activity of the endometrium increases and vascularization increases – the process of formation of new blood vessels. Thanks to these processes, the inner mucous membrane of the uterus is brought into a state of readiness for receiving a fertilized egg and slows the mobility of the uterus itself. That is, the female body is preparing for pregnancy. In addition to the corpus luteum and adrenal glands, synthesizes progesterone and the placenta. This happens mainly during pregnancy. We will talk more about this stage of the synthesis below.
Progesterone Functions
We have already noted that progesterone has an extremely wide impact on the female body. Consider its main functions in more detail:
| Exposure Direction | Basic Functions |
| Reproductive System | A number of doctors give progesterone another name – the pregnancy hormone. Thanks to him, the uterus is being prepared for conception. In addition, after fertilization, progesterone reduces the intensity of the immune response of the female body, thus avoiding embryo rejection. During childbirth, a drop in the level of progesterone in the female body contributes to the relief of their course, and after birth, a decrease in the amount of hormone synthesis is a prerequisite for the onset of lactation. |
| Hormonal Balance | Progesterone has a rather serious effect on the synthesis of other hormones. We have already mentioned sex hormones and corticosteroids. In addition to these, an imbalance of progesterone can affect the activity of aldosterone – the hormone of the adrenal cortex, as well as the functioning of estrogen, particularly in breast tissue. |
| Leather | The functions of progesterone in this direction are quite a controversial statement, but a number of physicians accept them as an axiom. The presence of progesterone receptors in the skin is believed to form a close relationship between the hormone and the skin. A drop in its level can lead to an increase in the number of wrinkles, as well as a decrease in skin strength and elasticity. This statement is partly proved by the fact that hormone therapy using progester-containing drugs, in most cases has a positive effect on the quality of the skin. |
| Central Nervous System | Progesterone is partially synthesized in the central nervous system and, according to the international classification, it is referred to as endogenous steroids. In addition, progesterone synthesis is a prerequisite for the production of allopregnanol – quite important for the body neurosteroid. |
| Sexual behavior | There is an opinion that progesterone, together with the aforementioned allopregnanol, increases sexual attraction in the female body. In addition, a number of studies conducted by Dr. Diana Fleischman have shown some correlation between high levels of progesterone and a tendency towards homosexual relationships. But the spread of this theory has not received in medicine. |
Progesterone levels in the female body
Like all that concerns progesterone, the normative indicators of its content in the body – the concept is not fully understood and rather vague. There are four tables of progesterone levels in women:
- the phases of the menstrual cycle,
- the phases of the menstrual cycle for women using hormonal contraceptives,
- on the days of the menstrual cycle,
- trimester of pregnancy.
Consider them separately.
Norms of progesterone in the female body by the phases of the menstrual cycle
| Phase of the menstrual cycle | Progesterone Content Rate |
| Follicular | 0.32-2.25 nmol / l |
| Ovulation | 0.49-9.41 nmol / l |
| Lutein | 6.95-56.63 nmol / l |
| postmenopause | Below 0.64 nmol / L |
Female progesterone levels for the phases of the menstrual cycle for women using hormonal contraceptives
| Phase of the menstrual cycle | Progesterone Content Rate |
| Follicular | Below 3.6 nmol / L |
| Ovulation | 1.52-5.45 nmol / l |
| Lutein | 3,01-66,8 nmol / l |
| postmenopause | Below 3.19 nmol / L |
Female progesterone levels in the days of the menstrual cycle
| Cycle Days | Progesterone Content Rate |
| 1-5 | 0.32-2.23 nmol / l |
| 6-8 | 0,37-4,41 nmol / l |
| 9-13 | 0.41-4.81 nmol / l |
| 14-15 | 0.48-9.41 nmol / l |
| 16-18 | 0.51-9.67 nmol / l |
| 19-28 | 6,99-56,93 nmol / l |
Rates of progesterone in the female body by trimester of pregnancy
| Trimester of Pregnancy | Progesterone Content Rate |
| First | 8.9-468.5 nmol / l |
| Second | 71.5-303.2 nmol / l |
| Third | 88.7-771.5 nmol / l |
Looking at the numbers in the four tables, we can draw several conclusions. First, medicine recognizes very wide regulatory ranges of progesterone levels. This is due to the fact that the amount of the hormone changes in the body almost constantly and depends on many factors:
- time of day
- emotional state,
- physical exertion,
- lifestyle.
And none of these factors is pathological and even a serious increase in progesterone level, if several of them coincided, is not a sign of pathology.
Secondly, we clearly see the rapid growth of progesterone during pregnancy. This only confirms the statement that progesterone is a “pregnancy hormone” and that it is extremely important in the reproductive function of a woman.
And thirdly, these figures show that the analysis of progesterone should be studied exclusively by a doctor. There is no question of any self-diagnosis. Even very high numbers in the results of laboratory research can be the result of just the individual characteristics of the female body.
Symptoms of increased progesterone in women
Increasing the level of progesterone in the body does not have clear specific manifestations and only laboratory analysis and specialist consultation can definitely fix this violation. At the same time, there are a number of symptoms, which, as is commonly believed, occur with high progesterone:
- significant amount of acne on the skin,
- abundant hair on the body,
- unreasonable weight gain,
- general fatigue, often accompanied by stress and depression,
- frequent allergic reactions of the body,
- fairly bright and regular headaches
- externally unreasonable changes in blood pressure in both directions,
- breast tenderness,
- menstrual problems
- Vaginal discharge with blood patches.
At the same time, we note once again: all these signs are non-specific. It is impossible to make a diagnosis only on them. But the manifestation of several of them is a clear message to test for progesterone in order to identify the development of probable pathology at an early stage and eliminate it without consequences.
| Also remember: a sharp increase in progesterone is a clear sign of pregnancy. And this manifestation needs to be checked first. |
Pathological causes of increased progesterone in women
There are only a few pathologies that manifest as an increase in progesterone levels. The most common among them is congenital dysfunction of the adrenal cortex. This disease leads to impaired synthesis of many hormones by the adrenal glands. Some of them are produced in insufficient quantities, and some, including progesterone, in excess.
Practically, the entire hormonal composition also grows when a vesicle is introduced — a pathology of pregnancy, to which the fertilization of the egg by a pair of spermatozoa, or defective maternal material. Against the background of a skid, the level of progesterone is high even in comparison with the norms of this hormone during pregnancy. This pathology requires quite serious and timely therapy, including chemotherapy, since its development can lead to the formation of malignant tumors.
Another pathology that is manifested by an increase in progesterone levels is ovarian cancer. Therefore, qualitative research and qualified medical consultation with such an analysis is necessary.
Ways to reduce progesterone levels
Applying therapy aimed at reducing the level of progesterone is only necessary when confirming the pathological nature of this manifestation. Mainly, pregnancy should be excluded, since any effect on hormonal levels during this period can lead to very unpleasant consequences.
Medication for high progesterone can be carried out with the following drugs:
| Drug | Price | Description |
| Tamoxifen | from 280 rub. | Tamoxifen binds to estrogen receptors and prevents the formation of female sex hormones. |
| Mifepristone | from 1300 rub. | Synthetic steroid antiprogestogen drug. Its effect on progesterone production is based on blocking progesterone receptors. |
| Valproic acid | from 410 rub. | Fatty acid derivative. Its action is based on changing the properties of sodium channels and on increasing levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid in the brain. |
| Clomiphene | from 980 rub. | A non-steroidal anti-estrogen that binds to estrogen receptors located in the ovaries and pituitary gland. |
In addition to drug therapy, limiting the use of a number of products will help normalize progesterone levels:
- nuts,
- beans,
- dairy products,
- beef and poultry.
In this case, the exclusion of these products is not an independent method, but is used as an adjunct to drug therapy.
It is also believed that high progesterone helps reduce mint. Tea from this plant should be drunk up to three times a day.
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