Norm of progesterone during pregnancy by week

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Progesterone is a steroid hormone that is found in varying concentrations in both female and male bodies. In the female body, the ovaries and adrenal cortex are responsible for its production. Without this hormone, conception and normal gestation are simply impossible.

During pregnancy, progesterone begins to be produced at an increased rate and if it deviates from the norm, the woman will have to correct it with the help of medication.

The role of the hormone during pregnancy

Its sufficient production is necessary not only at the stage of bearing a baby, but also much earlier. Thus, when planning pregnancy, progesterone creates favorable conditions so that the fertilized egg has the opportunity to securely attach itself to the uterine cavity.

To achieve this, the hormone promotes:

thickening of the walls of the uterus;
relaxes the muscles of the uterus, which prevents the development of fetal rejection and miscarriage;
active use of adipose tissue to obtain additional energy;
normalization of blood viscosity.

In addition, along with other hormones, progesterone ensures the functioning of the pancreas, immunity, nervous system and gall bladder. The role of the hormone does not end there.

Active production of progesterone begins after the corpus luteum forms in the ovary. It is responsible for its production.

After the birth of a new life, the hormone continues to actively participate in the development of the baby and the preparation of the mother’s body for the upcoming event:

Preparing the uterus for growth so that the growing body has a place to continue development.
Preparing the mammary glands for future feeding and milk production.
Stabilization of the work of muscles and tendons, which will subsequently have a beneficial effect during labor.

For the child himself, a sufficient amount of progesterone in the mother’s body will be the key to successful tissue formation and the formation of steroid hormones.

Progesterone is the norm during pregnancy: by trimester and week

Progesterone is an important factor influencing the success of conception planning. Therefore, it is worth knowing its functions, symptoms of disorders and the normal levels of the hormone in the body during pregnancy. The pregnancy hormone, or progesterone, is one of the main indicators when planning it. During the fixation of the fertilized egg on the wall of the uterus and its further development, progesterone plays a key role, which means that its content in the body directly affects the process of bearing a child.

Progesterone production begins before conception and continues until the 16th week of pregnancy. In the absence of fertilization, the death of the corpus luteum occurs and the production of progesterone ceases. Insufficient levels of the hormone can cause delayed fetal development or even miscarriage, while excess levels of progesterone indicate the presence of diseases of the reproductive system.

Main functions of progesterone

Progesterone 17 OH during pregnancy in a woman’s body performs the following functions:

• normal development of secretion changes in the endometrium of the uterus - this occurs in the second half of the monthly sexual cycle and prepares the uterus for the attachment of a fertilized egg; • increased secretion of the mucous layer of the fallopian tubes, through which the fertilized egg enters the nutrient medium; • influence on the development of alveolar ducts, as well as lobules in the mammary glands.

It is worth noting that normal levels of progesterone in the body are important not only during the period of planning and pregnancy, but also throughout the entire life cycle of a woman.

In particular, progesterone performs a number of functions not related to reproduction:

• normalization of blood viscosity and sugar concentration; • preventing the appearance of fibrous cysts in glandular tissue; • ensuring the transformation of adipose tissue into energy.

It has also been proven that a deficiency in the level of progesterone in the body contributes to the appearance of premenstrual and menopausal syndromes.

Symptoms of hormone excess or deficiency

The following symptoms can be identified that indicate an excessive level of progesterone in the body:

• fast fatiguability; • headache; • vision problems; • allergies (rashes and itching); • lowering blood pressure; • menstrual irregularities; • depression; • the appearance of pimples, often large and painful; • increased growth of body hair; • bloating; • emotional instability.

The main symptom of a lack of progesterone in the body is delayed ovulation, but there are other signs of this condition:

• painful menstruation; • increase or, conversely, decrease in body temperature; • increased gas formation; • vaginal dryness; • mood swings for no reason; • excessive body hair; • increased activity of the sebaceous glands.

Reasons for increasing and decreasing progesterone levels in the body

An increase in progesterone levels usually suggests the presence of one of the following factors: • pregnancy; • amenorrhea (menstrual irregularities); • deviations of placental development; • uterine bleeding; • hormonal imbalance; • renal failure; • corpus luteum cyst.

Also, elevated progesterone often indicates taking certain medications.

Lack of progesterone in the body indicates the following abnormalities: • dysfunction of the corpus luteum or placenta; • menstrual cycle disorders; • systematic uterine bleeding; • diseases of the reproductive organs; • hormonal disbalance; • kidney diseases; • malignant tumor; • stress; • excessive physical activity; • bad habits; • incorrect diet; • incorrect daily routine; • long-term use of certain medications.

When should I get tested?

Planning to conceive a child should always be accompanied by a preliminary medical examination, including a visit to the doctor and a test for progesterone levels. The main reasons for ordering such an analysis:

• causeless irregularities in the menstrual cycle; • induced ovulation in a woman; • infertility with persistence of ovulation.

It is very important to take the progesterone test on time, since taking it on the wrong day can result in an incorrect result. With a cycle of 28 days, the test is usually taken on days 22-23, and with an irregular cycle, the dates are prescribed exclusively by the doctor. All hormone tests are taken exclusively in the morning on an empty stomach.

Hormone levels during pregnancy

The content of progesterone in a woman’s body during pregnancy is unstable and varies depending on the timing of the pregnancy. Summary of normal progesterone levels during different trimesters of pregnancy

Trimester Normal (nmol/l) 1 From 8.90 to 468.5 2 From 71.50 to 303.2 3 From 88.70 to 771.50

Norm of progesterone in pregnant women by week

Week Normal (nmol/l) 5 – 6 18.57 (plus or minus 2.00) 7 – 8 32.98 (plus or minus 3.56) 9 – 10 37.91 (plus or minus 4.10) 11 – 12 42.80 (plus or minus 4.61) 13 – 14 44.77 (plus or minus 5.15) 15 – 16 46.75 (plus or minus 5.06) 17 – 18 59.28 (plus minus 6.42) 19 – 20 71.80 (plus or minus 7.76)

Week 21 - Week 22 75.35 (plus or minus 8.36) Week 23 - Week 24 79.15 (plus or minus 8.55) Week 25 - Week 26 83.89 (plus or minus 9.63) Week 27 – week 28 91.52 (plus or minus 9.89) Week 29 – week 30 101.38 (plus or minus 10.97) Week 31 – week 32 127.10 (plus or minus 7.82) Week 33 – week 34,112.45 (plus or minus 6.68) Week 35 - week 36 112.48 (plus or minus 12.27) Week 37 - week 38 219.58 (plus or minus 23.75) Week 39 - week 40,273 .32 (plus or minus 27.77)

Progesterone for IVF

An important condition for successful IVF is the satisfactory condition of the endometrium. The level of progesterone in this case is one of the main factors influencing the endometrium and, accordingly, the possibility of pregnancy. It is measured on the day for which the ovulatory dose of hCG is prescribed.

Studies have shown that progesterone levels in the body of more than 3.4 nmol/l reduce the chances of pregnancy during IVF. The reason is the premature transformation of the endometrium in such conditions. Therefore, in order not to waste energy and money in vain, it is important to first stabilize the level of progesterone in the body.

Treatment

The necessary treatment for high or low levels of progesterone in the body can only be prescribed by a doctor based on the collected medical history and studies performed. Under no circumstances should you prescribe medications on your own, because uncontrolled use of hormonal drugs will only worsen the situation.

How to maintain hormone levels?

Restoring normal progesterone levels for a pregnant woman should be strictly under the supervision of a doctor. However, there are general recommendations for maintaining the level of progesterone in the body for all women, including pregnant women:

• maintaining an adequate daily routine with at least 8 hours of sleep at night; • reviewing your diet with the obligatory exclusion of preservatives and harmful foods, as well as enrichment with vitamins E and C; • use only purified water; • caution in using hair dye; • maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle.

It is important to remember that any hormonal imbalance can negatively affect not only your reproductive function, but also your quality of life in general. Therefore, at the first appearance of symptoms of abnormalities, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Diagnostic methods

Determining the level of this component in a pregnant woman is an important study that can have a beneficial effect on the course of pregnancy and protect the fetus from many troubles.

To determine this, you will need to take a blood test. The ideal time to conduct the study is considered to be 22-23 days of the cycle. The main condition is the onset of ovulation, that is, it is best to donate blood after the egg leaves the follicle.

In case of an irregular menstrual cycle, in order to obtain reliable data, it is better to take the test several times in one month.

Determining progesterone levels requires special preparation; only in this case will it be possible to get a clear picture.

Rules for preparing for analysis:

Stop eating 8 hours before sampling. In other words, the analysis is done only on an empty stomach.
Stop taking hormonal contraceptives at least 2 weeks before the blood draw.
Avoid sexual intercourse for 2 days.
No physical activity for 3 days before the analysis.
A gentle diet that excludes the consumption of fatty, spicy and fried foods.

It should also be taken into account that blood cannot be donated after undergoing fluorography, ultrasound, MRI and various types of rectal examinations.

Restrictions on the use of these medications↑

Various diseases and pathological conditions may be restrictions on medical abortion.

Suspicion or diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy.
Long-term treatment with glucocorticosteroids as part of anti-inflammatory therapy or to maintain hormonal balance.
Treatment with anticoagulants and hemorrhagic disorders.
Inflammatory gynecological diseases in the acute stage.
Large uterine fibroids.
Extragenital developmental pathologies in severe forms.

Manifestations after taking drugs in tablets:

Menstrual-type bleeding may be observed for up to a week, and a control ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs must be repeated 7–10 days after taking the tablets to prevent complications.
Complications may arise during abortion.

Interpretation of results and normal indicators

A gynecologist should analyze the data obtained. In this case, the specialist will take into account the duration of pregnancy or the phase of the menstrual cycle. Depending on these indicators, the results may vary significantly.

During pregnancy, the level of progesterone levels will change with the duration of pregnancy. Some doctors focus on a month of pregnancy, others on a week. The table below shows normal hormone concentrations for non-pregnant women, as well as levels depending on the trimester of pregnancy.

Progesterone test results are not always presented in ng/ml. In this case, if the data is obtained in nmol/l, then to recalculate the resulting number should be multiplied by 3.18.

At the same time, we must not forget about the different sensitivity of the tests used to conduct the study. For more reliable information, this factor should also be taken into account.

For a more detailed consideration of the issue, you can analyze the table of progesterone levels depending on the week of pregnancy.

The concentration of the hormone increases every week. In this case, a deviation from the listed indicators should be a reason for additional examination of the woman, since there is a high probability of a threat to the life and development of the fetus.

Progesterone for IVF

What are the consequences of a lack of progesterone?

Insufficient progesterone production will have a negative impact even at the stage of conception. Indeed, without this hormone, a woman’s ability to fertilize and maintain pregnancy is significantly reduced.

Low progesterone can result from such phenomena as:

inflammatory processes in the genital organs;
hormonal imbalances;
ectopic pregnancy;
frozen pregnancy.

Progesterone deficiency can cause miscarriage.

As already mentioned, the hormone is essential for the normal development of the fetus. Otherwise, the following unpleasant phenomena may occur:

oxygen starvation;
developmental delay;
development of defects.

If progesterone deficiency is diagnosed, the pregnant woman will have to undergo a course of treatment.

Drugs used↑

For medical termination of pregnancy in the early stages (with development up to 6 weeks), the following drugs are used in combination:

"Mifepristone" ("Mifegin", "Mifolian", "Pencrofton", "Ginestril" "Mifeprex") suspends the functioning of progesterone receptors (progesterone is a hormone that promotes the normal development of the embryo during pregnancy). Increases the contractility of the muscular layer of the uterus, increasing the sensitivity of the latter to prostaglandins.
"Misoprostol" ("Mirolut", "Cytotec") - an analogue of prostaglandin E1, activates myometrial contractions, after which the fertilized egg is expelled from the uterine cavity, thereby causing pregnancy failure.

These products are available in tablets and have certain dosages. First, they take Mifepristone, and then, after a day or two, they drink Misoprostol.

How to deal with shortages

In order to notice the problem in time, a woman needs to closely monitor her health throughout the 9 months of pregnancy. An insufficient amount of progesterone will definitely reveal itself.

Symptoms of progesterone deficiency during pregnancy:

Spotting bloody discharge from the vagina. They pose a serious threat because they can signal the threat of interruption.
Pain in the lower abdomen of a pulling and aching nature.
An increase in oily skin and hair indicates that male hormones predominate.
Too painful breasts.

If these signs are detected, the woman should undergo a blood test for progesterone. If the diagnosis is confirmed, then she will have to take hormone-containing medications.

This is done in a hospital setting if there is a serious threat. In milder cases, it can be taken at home, but only with strict adherence to the indicated dosage.

The most popular means of maintaining the required level of progesterone are Utrozhestan and Duphaston.

In especially severe cases, when emergency adjustment of the hormone concentration is required, specialists prescribe progesterone injections. To do this, a 1% solution of oil progesterone is administered daily or every other day until the situation begins to improve.

How to maintain normal progesterone

All decisions to restore hormone levels during pregnancy using medications should be made only by the attending gynecologist, simultaneously with an endocrinologist. However, the expectant mother can also take the necessary measures to maintain hormone levels in a natural way. You should drink and cook only with filtered water, you should use only glass containers in the microwave, you should not buy products packaged in plastic, and if you do have to do this, you need to remove the product from the packaging as soon as possible. You need to reconsider your daily routine so that you get at least 8 hours of sleep at night. Eating foods containing large amounts of vitamins C and E, neck and shoulder massage, special breathing exercises in the fresh air, avoiding chemical hair dyeing - all this will help maintain progesterone levels naturally. If the level of progesterone is normal, then planning a pregnancy and further bearing the baby will take place without difficulty. Only every pregnant woman must remember that after successful conception she is already responsible not only for her health, but also for the health of her unborn baby, therefore it is necessary to follow all medical recommendations and carefully monitor her condition.

Reasons for deviations

Lack and excess of progesterone during pregnancy leads to complications. The violation can be detected using laboratory tests and during monitoring of the woman’s condition. Temporary deviations from the norm are caused by the following pathological conditions:

drug therapy (including hormonal therapy);
developmental disorders of the placenta;
chronic form of adrenal hyperplasia;
insufficient kidney activity.

Reduced

The appearance of nagging pain in the lower abdomen, bleeding (even minor) during pregnancy are symptoms of spontaneous abortion. One of the reasons for miscarriage is low progesterone concentration. The pathological condition is often associated with insufficiency of the corpus luteum.

In some cases, a sharp decrease in hormone levels occurs. Possible reasons for this phenomenon:

frozen, ectopic pregnancy;
threat of self-abortion;
disorders of intrauterine development of a child.

Elevated

An increase in the amount of pregnancy hormone also poses a danger to the mother and fetus. Deviation from the norm is associated with the following pathological conditions:

adrenal diseases;
corpus luteum cyst;
kidney dysfunction;
dysfunction of the placenta.

Multiple pregnancy and progesterone levels

Up to 10 weeks, the concentration of the hormone during the development of several embryos at once remains the same as during normal pregnancy. At later stages, an increase in the level of the active substance is observed. There are cases when in women pregnant with twins, its content remains within the normal range.