Progesterone levels during pregnancy by week in the table and the reasons for deviations

It is essential to comprehend progesterone levels during pregnancy in order to keep an eye on the mother’s and the unborn child’s health and development. The hormone progesterone is essential for sustaining a healthy pregnancy, nourishing the lining of the uterus, and getting the body ready for labor. Monitoring its levels week by week can give valuable information about how the pregnancy is developing and assist in identifying any possible problems early on.

We’ll include a comprehensive table in this post that shows the average progesterone levels for every week of pregnancy. Both healthcare professionals and expectant parents will find this to be a useful resource. We will also look at typical causes of these expected level deviations and what they could mean for the pregnancy. This guide will provide you with clear and useful information, regardless of your curiosity about the process or your desire to better understand your own hormone levels.

An essential hormone for a healthy pregnancy and the growth of the unborn child is progesterone. The article outlines typical progesterone levels week by week and discusses how variations from these levels may point to possible health problems like a higher risk of miscarriage or placental difficulties. Pregnant women can better monitor their health and know when to see a doctor by being aware of these changes.

What is it?

Progesterone is a steroid hormone. It is also called a progestogen. It actively participates as an intermediary in the formation of other hormones, both sex hormones and corticosteroids. Progesterone helps the brain function normally, performing the functions of a neurosteroid. The hormone is present in both men and women, but in the female body, progesterone receives broader functions, combining with female sex hormones – estrogens. This hormone helps men in the implementation of the reproductive function – it affects the quality characteristics of sperm, providing them with greater mobility when passing through the path to the egg. For women, progesterone plays a vital role, allowing them to bear and give birth to a child.

Menstrual cycles are regulated by progesterone. A low hormone level can prevent ovulation from happening. It specifically affects the elasticity and general health of the skin in women.

Therefore, the skin starts to age and fade during menopause, a time when a woman’s body contains less of this substance. Sexual desire is guaranteed when the hormone levels are high enough.

Role in bearing a child

It is no coincidence that progesterone is called the pregnancy hormone. Without this substance, normal development of the embryo in the early stages would be impossible. After fertilization has taken place, the hormone takes on the function of protector and "guardian" of the future baby. It prepares the walls of the uterus for implantation of the fertilized egg, softens them, transfers them to the secretory stage. At the same time, progesterone causes thickening of the cervical mucus, tightly closing the entrance to the uterine cavity for both sperm and microbes. All these metamorphoses occur during the first 6-7 days after conception, while the fertilized egg has not yet completed its journey into the uterine cavity.

Every month, the entire process is carried out, regardless of whether fertilization has taken place. The next menstrual cycle and the hormone level start to decline if there isn’t a pregnancy as such.

The blastocyst will descend into the environment that has been ready for it if fertilization has taken place, where it will find it easier to attach (implant) and start developing quickly.

Progesterone then starts to carry out its defensive and protective properties. It suppresses the woman’s immunity to some extent so that it does not reject the embryo and is produced in large quantities. The female body is actually half-foreign to the embryo, and her immune system cannot overlook this. The immunosuppressive properties of progesterone aid in the preservation of the fetus.

Every woman is aware of the dangers associated with the uterine muscles being overly tight during pregnancy. This issue can be partially resolved with normal progesterone levels. It eases spasms, lowers the chance of miscarriage, and relaxes the smooth muscles of the female reproductive system. Progesterone concurrently promotes the uterus’s physical growth during the course of childbearing.

Progesterone "prohibits" the formation of breast milk during pregnancy. The woman needs to stockpile her vitamin and nutrient reserves because no one else needs it yet. As a result, lactation is momentarily stopped. After giving birth, the body receives a "signal" that lactation is no longer forbidden, and milk production starts when the progesterone level drops.

Before giving birth, the "pregnancy hormone" relaxes the pelvic ligaments and muscles to make it easier for the baby to pass through the birth canal. The hormone directly contributes to the development of specific embryonic tissues and has a profound impact on the woman’s nervous system throughout the whole pregnancy.

During the entire nine months of pregnancy, this crucial hormone increases the expectant mother’s appetite and encourages the buildup of body fat, thereby supplying the mother and child with nourishment. This explains why pregnant women’s waists get wider. Progesterone causes the flow of food through the intestines to slow down once more, giving the female body more time to absorb as many beneficial compounds, vitamins, and minerals as possible.

So, when this hormone levels are high enough, pregnancy can start, progress smoothly, and end without any issues. Reproductive functions may be adversely affected by a substance excess or deficiency, or by an imbalance in hormones.

How the analysis is done?

The concentration of progesterone in the body of a pregnant and non-pregnant woman is determined by a blood test, which is carried out using the ELISA method. If a woman has been unable to get pregnant for a long time, the doctor will definitely offer such an analysis, because a low level of the hormone when planning a pregnancy interferes with normal ovulation and implantation of the fertilized egg. For those planning a pregnancy, the doctor prescribes a day for donating blood depending on the duration and characteristics of the cycle. Usually the analysis is done on the 21-23 day of the cycle, but there may be exceptions. Thus, a woman who usually has very scanty periods may be prescribed a test from the 15th day of the cycle.

On any given day, expectant mothers can donate blood to find out their progesterone concentration. You should prepare in order to obtain more accurate results. A woman should abstain from smoking and alcohol consumption, limit her intake of food, and avoid physical activity 12 hours prior to her visit to the laboratory. A woman should cease taking any medications a few days prior to the event. If this isn’t feasible, you should let the lab technician know what drugs you take and how much of them.

Donating blood for progesterone shouldn’t be done right after an x-ray, fluoroscopy, or ultrasound. When you arrive at the procedure room in the morning, empty-handed, you should make sure that your health won’t "let you down" by ensuring that there isn’t any fever, intestinal illness, or respiratory symptoms that could point to ARVI or another infection.

• if an ectopic or frozen pregnancy is suspected;
• in case of threat of miscarriage;
• when planning pregnancy to establish the exact time of ovulation;

• in the treatment of infertility;
• in case of pathologies of the placenta in pregnant women (dynamic analysis allows monitoring the condition of the "baby"s place");
• when a woman has a cyst or tumor on the reproductive organs, especially if the pathology is combined with pregnancy;
• before implantation and after embryo transfer during IVF;
• to monitor the condition after the woman has been treated with progesterone drugs.

It is crucial for expectant mothers and healthcare professionals to comprehend progesterone levels during pregnancy. The hormone is essential for maintaining the uterine lining, promoting a healthy pregnancy, and getting the body ready for delivery.

Even though progesterone normal ranges differ from week to week, each pregnancy is different. Frequent monitoring can aid in the early detection of any possible problems, enabling prompt interventions if necessary.

Variations in progesterone levels may indicate a number of different conditions. High levels could be a sign of twins or other complications, while low levels might suggest the possibility of miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy. Always get advice from a healthcare professional to find out what your particular levels mean.

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