Progesterone: Important Not Only during Pregnancy

Progesterone, just like estrogen, is one of the female sex hormones. It plays a crucial role, especially for women who want to have children, as it prepares the body for pregnancy. During menopause, the concentration of the hormone in the body drops sharply. This can lead to typical complaints such as irritability or sleep disorders. These are now increasingly alleviated by treatment with natural progesterone. Learn more about the effects and side effects of progesterone here.

Effect of progesterone

Progesterone is also called the corpus luteum hormone or corpus luteum hormone. It is produced mainly by the corpus luteum, but also by the placenta during pregnancy. Smaller amounts are also produced in the adrenal glands. Production is controlled by luteinizing hormone (LH). Together with estrogen, progesterone is responsible for regulating the female cycle. Progesterone is primarily associated with the female body, but men also have the hormone. In them, it is produced in the adrenal cortex and testicles. Among other things, it is important for good sperm motility as well as their ability to penetrate an egg.

Progesterone levels

In women, progesterone levels are subject to wide fluctuations. How high the level is depends, among other things, on whether or not pregnancy is present. During the first half of the cycle, the concentration is up to 0.3 micrograms per liter (µg/l). During the second half of the cycle, it can rise to up to 15.9 micrograms per liter. In men, a value of up to 0.2 micrograms per liter is considered normal. If pregnancy exists, progesterone levels are significantly higher than usual. During the first twelve weeks of pregnancy, the concentration must be at least 10 micrograms per liter for pregnancy to be maintained.

  • 1st trimester: 2.8 to 147.3 micrograms per liter.
  • 2nd third: 22.5 to 95.3 micrograms per liter
  • 3rd third: 27.9 to 242.5 micrograms per liter

In addition to pregnancy, progesterone levels may also be elevated in ovarian tumor, bladder mole, and adrenogenital syndrome.

Too little progesterone

If progesterone levels are too low, a so-called corpus luteum insufficiency is often the cause. In this case, the corpus luteum produces too little progesterone. In addition to corpus luteum insufficiency, underdevelopment of the ovaries, ovulation disorders and a cycle without ovulation are also possible causes. If too little progesterone is produced, cycle disorders often occur. Likewise, a desired pregnancy may not occur. Whether a woman produces too little progesterone can easily be determined by a doctor. To do this, the doctor takes two or three blood samples at intervals of three or four days after ovulation. If the levels in at least two of the blood samples are above 8 micrograms per liter, the corpus luteum can be assumed to be functioning normally.

Progesterone in pregnancy

If ovulation occurs in a woman, the corpus luteum subsequently produces more progesterone to promote growth and blood flow to the lining of the uterus. This ensures that the body is optimally prepared for the implantation of a fertilized egg and thus for the beginning of a pregnancy. If there is no pregnancy, the corpus luteum regresses. In the first weeks of pregnancy, the corpus luteum continues to produce more progesterone. Over time, however, this task is taken over more and more by the placenta. Progesterone prevents further eggs from being produced in the ovaries. Likewise, as pregnancy progresses, the hormone ensures that the mammary glands prepare to release milk. If progesterone levels are generally very low in women, this can make pregnancy difficult or even impossible. In addition, the risk of miscarriage increases within the first weeks of pregnancy. If the values are very low, additional administration of progesterone is therefore recommended. The hormone helps to support and maintain pregnancy.

Progesterone during menopause

During menopause, the concentration of progesterone in women slowly decreases until it is finally only about 0.2 micrograms per liter.This corresponds roughly to the hormone concentration in men. Likewise, less estrogen is produced, but the decline begins at a later point in time. The reduced progesterone concentration can lead to typical menopausal symptoms such as irritability and sleep disorders. These can be alleviated by hormone replacement therapy. However, this is not without controversy. That is why natural progesterone is increasingly being used to treat the symptoms instead.

Natural progesterone

Natural progesterone is – contrary to what the name suggests – a chemically manufactured product that is used to alleviate menopausal symptoms. The starting materials are usually extracts of the yam root. Natural progesterone is available in the form of capsules and creams, among others. In creams, the concentration of the hormone is significantly lower than in capsules. Since the gastrointestinal tract is bypassed, the dosage form is also much better tolerated. Studies indicate that natural progesterone has several advantages over synthetic progestins, such as those used in hormone replacement therapy. Most importantly, even long-term use is not thought to increase the risk of breast cancer. However, natural progesterone is broken down by the body relatively quickly. That is why the effect is sometimes insufficient to effectively relieve symptoms.

Side effects of progesterone

Which side effects can occur as a result of treatment with progesterone always depends on the dosage form. If progesterone is taken in the form of tablets, side effects such as fatigue or dizziness may occur. Rarely, abdominal pain and bloating may also occur. If taken vaginally, side effects may include fatigue, headache, indigestion, spotting, and a feeling of tightness in the breasts. If progesterone is used in excessive quantities, this can also cause side effects. Thus, weight gain as well as cycle irregularities may occur.