Progesterone

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Progesterone is a steroid hormone that is involved in pregnancy, the menstrual cycle and embryogenesis in humans. Progesterone belongs to a class of hormones called progestogens. It should not be confused with progestins, because they are synthetically derived progestogens.

Progesterone is synthesized in the adrenal glands, gonads, brain and during pregnancy in the placenta. It prepares the lining of the uterus to receive the fetus and at the same time controls the normal course of pregnancy.

Progesterone and estrogen are produced in the ovaries. A small amount of progesterone is produced in the adrenal glands and testicles.

Progesterone functions

Progesterone plays a role as a precursor of estrogen and testosterone, as well as adrenal hormones, which regulate water-electrolyte balance, stress reactions, blood pressure.

Estrogens predominate during the first half of the menstrual cycle. After ovulation, the level of progesterone rises and it predominates in the second half of the cycle. If fertilization does not occur, the pituitary gland sends a signal to the ovaries to stop producing progesterone and menstruation occurs within 48 hours.

It is the progesterone produced by the corpus luteum that prevents the uterus from contracting during fertilization, as it does during menstruation. As a result, the egg remains intact. Progesterone makes the lining of the uterus soft and sponge-like, so that the fertilized egg can be successfully attached and implanted. It is absolutely necessary to maintain and support pregnancy.

Progesterone raises the basal temperature so that it can be measured with a thermometer and give information that ovulation has occurred. Progesterone maintains basal body temperature throughout pregnancy.

Complaints as a result of hormonal imbalance affect absolutely all organs and systems in the body. These complaints are very different - headache, water retention, chest pain and swelling, irritability, fatigue, impatience, anger, crying and many others.

Progesterone and estrogen determine a woman's neuropsychological status. The levels of these two hormones even affect the qualities of her character.

Benefits of progesterone

In general, the effects of progesterone can be summarized as follows:

Progesterone helps the womb to mature, preventing the formation of excess tissue; has a good diuretic effect, which mobilizes fluids / thus reduces bloating and water retention /; improves the effect of thyroid hormones, speeding up metabolism; has an anticoagulant effect on the blood; improves mood; increases libido and sexual desire; prevents the development of breast and uterine cancer.

Progesterone stimulates the formation of new bone tissue, which is a preventive measure against osteoporosis. It prevents excessive growth in the breast tissue, which is a good prevention against fibrocystitis.

Progesterone levels

The quantity progesterone in the female body depends on which day of the menstrual cycle ovulation occurs / release of the egg from the ovary /. The beginning of the cycle is considered to be the first day of menstruation. From this day until ovulation, folliculins are released from the ovary, which cause the lining of the uterus to grow. After ovulation at the site of the ovum appear the so-called. yellow body. This is exactly what determines the hormone progesterone.

Progesterone is the hormone that stimulates the formation of masculine qualities in the female character. Most progesterone accumulates if ovulation occurs immediately after menstruation.

If ovulation occurs on the seventh to ninth day of the menstrual cycle, then the amount of progesterone is at optimal levels. It is thanks to this that a woman is attractive, sensual and feminine.

If ovulation occurs in the last days of menstruation, progesterone is not released at all. Both estrogen and progesterone levels fall sharply during menopause. Progesterone drops much more sharply than estrogen hormones.

Progesterone deficiency

In the presence of estrogen dominance, progesterone deficiency is observed. Depending on the degree of imbalance, the affected woman may experience one or more of the following symptoms: breast tenderness and premenstrual pain; heavy menstruation and menstrual headache; irregular menstruation.

Other adverse events are fibrocystitis; nervousness; loss of sexual desire; frequent headaches; increased urination; infertility; nervousness and panic attacks; increase in cholesterol and blood pressure; breast cancer; dry eyes; autoimmune diseases; insomnia and sleep problems; osteoporosis.