What is progesterone?

Progesterone is produced in the corpus luteum during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle (the last of the phases, begins after ovulation and ends just before menstruation. It usually lasts fourteen days) and during pregnancy. Together with oestrogen, it is the most important female sex hormone.

It is also produced in the adrenal cortex and testes, as well as in the placenta and central nervous system. Progesterone acts on cells that have receptors progesterone. Elevated or decreased progesterone can interfere with basic bodily functions.

What are the functions of progesterone?

Progesterone produced during the luteal phase allows implantation of the embryo in the mucosa uterus. It is also responsible for the correct maintenance of pregnancy and influences cervical mucus -. reduces its permeability to sperm.

Decrease in progesterone levels results in the exfoliation of the endometrium (menstruation). The woman then enters the beginning of the follicular phase, which lasts about fourteen days (if your cycle lasts about 28 days) and ends on the day of ovulation. Progesterone levels then rise, indicating the release of the egg cell. Progesterone in the normal range also reduces the contractility of the uterine muscle. Overall - is responsible for the correct implantation of the fertilised egg cell. Its action are also controlled by other hormones - mainly luteinizing hormone which is produced by the pituitary gland. (1)

Progesterone standards

The concentration of progesterone in women is constantly changing. It depends mainly on the phase of the cycle of the menstrual cycle, i.e. the follicular, perovulatory and luteal periods. Therefore, the correct progesterone levels are as follows:

Progesterone standards in women

● follicular phase from 0.28 to 0.72 ng/ml;

● perovulatory phase from 0.64 to 1.63 ng/ml;

● luteal phase from 4.71 to 18.0 ng/ml.

During the last phase, the progesterone norm is significantly higher than the previous phases. During the phase The luteal corpus luteum is formed in the ovary. This is when the cells of the endometrium in the The woman's body accumulates nutrients that are essential for the initial the period after fertilisation of the ovum and implantation of the embryo. (2)

Progesterone below normal

Symptoms of low progesterone levels can include menstrual disorders, i.e. lack of menstrual periods, amenorrhoea (menorrhagia) and infrequent menstruation (oligomenorrhoea). Women with low progesterone levels are also more likely to find painful menstruation (dysmenorhea). During dysmenorrhoea there are increased blood loss of more than 80 ml or bleeding may last more than seven days. Painful menstruation is characterised by excessive uterine contraction activity. Women are then accompanied by severe lower abdominal pain. Infrequent menstruation is, as the the name suggests, the sporadic occurrence of menstruation. The absence of menstruation, on the other hand, can be also a consequence of systemic disease or dysfunction of the reproductive system. With each disorder should be seen immediately by a gynaecologist. (3)

Below-normal progesterone can also cause excessive hair loss and dry skin. Low progesterone is very detrimental to women who want to get pregnant.

Progesterone above normal

Elevated progesterone levels usually manifest as swelling, varicose veins and water retention in the body. This can result from various disorders, for example liver failure, polycystic ovarian syndrome, adrenal-gonadal syndrome and cancer of the adrenal gland or ovaries. High progesterone can also be indicative of the occurrence of cysts on the ovaries.

Progesterone standards - research

Progesterone testing is performed by means of a blood draw from the ulnar vein.

Preparation for progesterone testing

You should report to the collection centre on an empty stomach in the morning.

Furthermore, the timing of examinations in women must be correlated with medical indications and the phase of the menstrual cycle:

The standard progesterone norm test is performed from day 2 to day 5 of the cycle of the follicular phase;
Ovulation monitoring is checked between days 12 and 14 of the cycle;
The assessment of the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle is performed around day 21 of the cycle.

Testing of the progesterone standard is reimbursed by the National Health Fund. It can also be done commercially with a charge of around 50-60 PLN. You usually wait one day for the results. Afterwards, it is essential to consult a general practitioner, who will make a diagnosis and provide appropriate treatment.

Bibliography:

1. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/268474825.pdf

2. http://yadda.icm.edu.pl/baztech/element/bwmeta1.element.baztech-article-BPL2-0020-0043

3. https://www.mp.pl/pacjent/objawy/253859,zaburzenia-miesiaczkowania

Authorisation of content:

Dr Blanka Malczewska - specialist gynaecologist-obstetrician from the InviMed clinic in Gdynia