Pyelonephritis
Colpitis
Thyrotoxicosis
Menopause
17713 15 October
IMPORTANT!
The information in this section cannot be used for self-diagnosis and self-treatment.
In case of pain or other exacerbation of the disease, diagnostic tests should be prescribed only by the attending physician. To make a diagnosis and properly prescribe treatment, you should contact your doctor. We remind you that independent interpretation of the results is unacceptable; the information below is for reference only.
Progesterone: indications for use, rules for preparing for the test, interpretation of results and normal indicators.
What is progesterone
Progesterone is a hormone. It is produced in both women and men. In the stronger sex, progesterone is produced by the adrenal cortex and testicular tissue. Progesterone is a precursor to many hormones, including testosterone.
Progesterone is often called the pregnancy hormone. And this is justified, since progesterone plays an important role in maintaining and prolonging pregnancy. In women, this hormone is mainly produced by the corpus luteum of the ovary. This is a temporary gland that forms in the ovarian tissue at the site of the ovulated follicle.
The corpus luteum of the ovary has a soft yellow color and is clearly visible on the surface of the ovary. Hence the name - corpus luteum of the ovary. In women, progesterone is also produced in the adrenal cortex, and as pregnancy progresses, by the placenta. If pregnancy does not occur, the corpus luteum fades away.
Magnesia during pregnancy and other medications
What else is prescribed to a pregnant woman because of reinsurance? Noshpu, viburkol, magnesium sulfate (magnesia) and a number of other drugs, sometimes in large doses, although these drugs do not help maintain pregnancy and do not improve the prognosis.
I want to say a few words about magnesia . Its use at the beginning of pregnancy is not only ineffective, but also dangerous to the woman’s health. At rest, the muscles of the uterus are insensitive to this drug. Only when cramp-like contractions begin in the third trimester of pregnancy can the muscles of the uterus become sensitive to magnesium sulfate and respond to it with temporary relaxation. However, not always and not for everyone.
In modern obstetrics, this drug is used to prevent and relieve seizures and partly to lower high blood pressure during such serious complications of pregnancy as preeclampsia and eclampsia. Magnesia has many side effects, which is why it is used only with strict control of the electrolyte (salt) metabolism of a pregnant woman.
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Changes in the body of a pregnant woman under the influence of progesterone
An increase in progesterone concentration begins in the second phase of the menstrual cycle. Under the influence of the hormone, the body begins to prepare for pregnancy - the mucous layer of the uterus thickens (according to ultrasound - an increase in the thickness of the endometrium), the mucous membrane becomes loose, its energy reserve increases, and blood vessels grow intensively. Progesterone reduces the contractile function of the uterus. When pregnancy occurs, the embryo will not experience difficulty in implantation due to contractions of the uterus.
When pregnancy occurs, the corpus luteum blossoms (it increases in size, and the production of progesterone also increases). Under the influence of progesterone, the contractile function of the smooth muscles of the body decreases. The lumen of the arteries increases and pregnant women experience a physiological decrease in blood pressure. This may lead to drowsiness, a feeling of slight fatigue, and a desire to lie down.
Progesterone has an immunosuppressive effect on a woman’s body. For the expectant mother, the fetus is genetically half foreign. The immune system must recognize the foreign material and reject it. That is, lead to a miscarriage. But, progesterone (like a number of other biologically active substances) reduces the activity of the immune system, suppressing it, thereby prolonging pregnancy. The immune system does not seem to notice the foreign part of the fetus.
It is important!
Progesterone also affects the central nervous system, forming the “pregnancy dominant”.
The future baby comes first. All other issues become secondary and unimportant. During pregnancy, it is important to maintain pregnancy dominance. Try to protect the pregnant woman from negative emotions and experiences. The dominant of pregnancy plays a significant role in the physiological gestation of pregnancy. An increase in glandular tissue of the mammary gland is also associated with the influence of progesterone. Already in the early stages of pregnancy, a woman notices engorgement and enlargement of the mammary glands. It is important at this moment to pay attention to your underwear. It should not put pressure on the mammary gland, but at the same time have good support.
Indications for the purpose of the study
Progesterone is a natural steroid hormone, synthesized in the ovaries, testicles, adrenal cortex, and during pregnancy - in the placenta.
It is a precursor to sex hormones and corticosteroids.
Women need progesterone so that they can successfully bear and give birth to a child. The hormone ensures the endometrium’s receptivity to the fertilized egg, its implantation and subsequent development. In the first trimester of pregnancy, progesterone increases the threshold of excitability of the muscle fibers of the uterus, which promotes pregnancy. In the second and third trimesters, high levels of progesterone inhibit the contractile activity of the uterus.
Progesterone ensures the ability of the maternal immune system to tolerate the effects of fetal antigens, which helps maintain pregnancy.
Progesterone receptors are found in the endometrium, myometrium, ovaries, mammary glands, as well as in the vascular endothelium, thymus, bones, bronchi, lungs, and pancreas. It has a relaxing effect on the smooth muscles of the uterus, blood vessels, and biliary system. Progesterone promotes the growth and development of glandular tissue of the mammary gland and blocks the secretion of milk by the mammary gland during pregnancy.
Progesterone affects brain structures (hypothalamus, pituitary gland, etc.) and affects the cognitive process, memory, emotions, sexual behavior, body temperature. Progesterone protects against bone loss.
Outside of pregnancy, progesterone promotes the transformation of the endometrium from a state of proliferation (tissue growth through cell multiplication by division) to a state of secretion (the process of releasing chemical compounds from the cell), promotes the rejection of the endometrium and the onset of menstruation.
Thus, a blood test for progesterone in women is prescribed:
- in case of irregularities in the menstrual cycle or absence of menstruation for a long time to identify the causes of the disorders;
- for pain in the mammary glands or regular pain in the lower abdomen;
- to identify the causes of infertility and miscarriage;
- with heavy bleeding from the vagina;
- to assess the condition of the placenta in the second half of pregnancy;
- to identify the causes of post-term pregnancy.
Progesterone in men is synthesized primarily in the testicles and is a precursor to such important hormones as neurosteroids, testosterone, cortisol, and aldosterone.
Progesterone prevents the proliferation of prostate tissue and the development of cancer. In addition, it controls blood sugar levels, affects nervous activity, normalizes the functioning of the thyroid gland, prevents an increase in estrogen levels, improves sleep, and keeps the skin in good condition.
Violation of progesterone levels in men can manifest as metabolic disorders, create preconditions for female-type obesity, causeless depression, drowsiness, sudden mood swings, headaches, fatigue, irritability, testicular atrophy, and decreased blood pressure. Changes in the level of progesterone in the blood also negatively affect sexual desire.
Thus, a doctor can give a man a referral for a blood test for progesterone:
- with signs of imbalance of hormones in the body (enlargement of the mammary glands of the female type (gynecomastia), loss of muscle mass, hair loss on the head and body, decreased libido, problems with ejaculation, erection, lack of calcium in the body, frequent mood changes, sharp fluctuations in body weight, the appearance of excess weight);
- if you suspect prostate cancer, tumors of the adrenal glands or testes;
- to monitor already prescribed therapy.
In children, a progesterone test is prescribed for abnormalities in the production of sex hormones.
Progesterone levels during pregnancy
With the onset of pregnancy, an increase in the hormone progesterone is observed. In the early stages of pregnancy due to the production of progesterone by the corpus luteum of the ovary. From about 8 weeks of pregnancy, progesterone begins to be produced by the chorion (future placenta). By 16 weeks of pregnancy, the placenta takes over the entire function of producing this hormone. The corpus luteum begins to shrink.
The increase in hormone levels during pregnancy is observed unevenly. By 16 weeks the level triples, and by 32 weeks it increases to 15 times compared to the early stages. There are several tables of progesterone norms. To assess the correspondence of indicators to gestational age, it is necessary to clarify the reference values for the laboratory in which the study took place.
Treatment of progesterone deficiency
If infertility is caused by an insufficient amount of progesterone in the body, then the level of the hormone must be increased by taking appropriate medications. They can be prescribed either in tablets for oral administration or in injection form. With a high risk of miscarriage and reduced progesterone levels, these drugs allow you to carry the fetus to term and prepare the body for childbirth. There is no single regimen for prescribing these hormonal drugs, so the doctor must select an individual regimen for each woman. Treatment for progesterone deficiency begins before 16 weeks of pregnancy.
To prevent miscarriage, progestins that do not have virilizing characteristics are used. The most common drugs for the treatment of progesterone deficiency during pregnancy are utrogestan, duphaston and 17-OPK. These are synthesized analogues of this hormone, which are considered effective in cases of high risk of miscarriage. Progesterone preparations can reduce the excitability of the uterus and improve the function of its mucous membrane. In general, treatment of progesterone deficiency allows, in most cases, to normalize the course of pregnancy and significantly reduce the risk of spontaneous abortion. In addition, synthesized progesterone analogues can also be used in women who are not pregnant. These drugs are indicated for pathology of the menstrual cycle and endometriosis. They should also be taken for frequent uterine bleeding of various origins.
Decreased progesterone, is it dangerous?
Both increases and decreases in progesterone levels require careful analysis. A decrease in hormone levels may indicate insufficient production of the hormone by the corpus luteum of the ovary, which can lead to termination of pregnancy. A decrease in hormone levels may also indicate feto-placental insufficiency, a burdened obstetric-gynecological history (history of miscarriage).
An increase in the level may indicate problems with its excretion, disruption of the placenta, somatic diseases of the mother, or multiple pregnancy. Therefore, a doctor examines each specific case. And, if necessary, recommends maintenance therapy.
Progesterone level test
With a regular cycle, the hormone level should be examined on day 22. If the menstrual cycle is not regular, the doctor prescribes repeated tests in order to more accurately assess the state of hormonal levels.
A test for progesterone levels should be carried out no less than 8 hours after eating. The best time to get tested is in the morning. The concentration of the hormone progesterone is affected by the day of the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and the use of certain medications.
If there is excessive progesterone production or its concentration is too low, the first thing to do is consult a specialist. The doctor will select an individual course of treatment and help eliminate the problem.
Next: » Thyroid-stimulating hormone
Decoding indicators
If in the transcript of the analysis the progesterone indicator is indicated in ng/ml, then to obtain the most accurate indicator it is necessary to divide the figure by 3.18. The level of progesterone in the blood of boys and girls before puberty is the same and is less than 1.1 nmol/l. With the entry into adolescence, the beginning of hormonal changes and the active formation of sexual function, norms become different for children of both sexes. The production of progesterone outside of pregnancy largely depends on the stage of the menstrual cycle.
