Progesterone is one of the sex hormones. It is a so-called steroid hormone and the most important of the progestins. Progesterone plays a particularly important role during pregnancy.
What is progesterone?
Progesterone belongs to the female sex hormones, although it is also present in the male body. The main role of progesterone is to prepare the female body for pregnancy. But progesterone also has important tasks in the male organism. For one thing, it is responsible for the motility of sperm and also ensures their ability to penetrate the egg. Progesterone is therefore an important sex hormone, without which reproduction would not be possible.
Production, manufacture, and formation
The production of progesterone occurs in the body at various sites. In women, it is produced mainly during the second phase of the menstrual cycle in the corpus luteum. This prepares the body for a possible pregnancy or makes fertilization of the egg possible in the first place. The concentration of progesterone is therefore highest during the entire female cycle on the fifth to eighth day after ovulation. During pregnancy, progesterone is mainly produced by the placenta. Small amounts of progesterone are also produced in the adrenal cortices. This is the case in both women and men. In men, progesterone is additionally produced in the testes, more specifically in the intermediate Leydig cells, which are located in the testis.
Function, effect and properties
Progesterone is in important sex hormone whose main function is to enable reproduction. Without progesterone, the female body would not be able to become pregnant, but the male’s sperm would not be able to fertilize an egg either. Progesterone is therefore indispensable for our reproduction. In the female body, progesterone causes the lining of the uterus to change shortly after ovulation, making it easier for a fertilized egg to implant. In the male body, progesterone is responsible for the function of the sperm; only through progesterone do they become mobile and have the ability to penetrate the egg. If no fertilized egg nests in the uterus, the progesterone level in the female body drops and this then triggers menstrual bleeding. Progesterone thus controls a large part of the female cycle. But it also has other functions, for example, it is involved in bone formation in the body. For this reason, it is successfully used today in the treatment of osteoporosis. In addition, progesterone is also absolutely necessary for the formation of other hormones. Among other things, cortisol is produced in the body from progesterone. Progesterone is also important for our skin. It is responsible for the lifespan of skin cells, for the formation of collagen and thus important against wrinkles. Progesterone is also called the “hormone of inner serenity”. Since in high concentration during pregnancy it provides balance and a carefree mood, it came to this name.
Diseases, ailments and disorders
If there is a deficiency of progesterone in the body, this can have many effects. An insufficient concentration of progesterone naturally disrupts hormone metabolism. In women, this is most noticeable in the form of an irregular menstrual cycle. Mood swings, sleep disturbances, nervousness and irritability can be the result of progesterone deficiency. This can even lead to depression if the deficiency lasts longer. But progesterone also has an influence on body weight. A deficiency of progesterone can lead to obesity, in which fat is stored mainly in the abdominal area. During menopause in women, the progesterone in the body decreases. For this reason, many of the previously mentioned symptoms are seen in many women during this time. In addition, low progesterone levels also cause hot flashes and hair loss. However, progesterone can also be present in the body in too high a concentration. Although this occurs rather rarely, it also has an effect on the body or gives indications of a disease. This is always the case during pregnancy. In addition, too much progesterone can also indicate a tumor on the ovary. An underactive thyroid gland can also cause an excessively high progesterone level in the body.Since estrogens and progesterone are regulated in interaction, hypothyroidism can result in a slower metabolism with too little estrogen and too much progesterone in the body. Other signs of too much progesterone can include frequent fatigue, migraines, and a huge decrease in female libido.
