The level of progesterone in the blood is not constant. It fluctuates depending on the time of day. Its highest concentration in the blood is observed in the morning. In women, indicators change during the menstrual cycle. To correctly interpret the results, you need to know what day to take a progesterone test.
What is progesterone?
Progesterone is a steroid hormone that is present in women and men. It is produced by the adrenal cortex and ovaries, and during pregnancy by the placenta. Progesterone prepares the uterus for implantation of a fertilized egg, relaxes its walls, promotes the closure of the cervix, swelling of the mammary glands. Because of its primary functions, it is sometimes referred to as the pregnancy hormone or the female hormone. Men produce little progesterone.
Why take a progesterone test
Low or high levelprogesterone can be the cause or consequence of various disorders of the body. The doctor prescribes a progesterone test in the following cases:
- identifying the causes of infertility in men and women;
- threatened miscarriage;
- menstrual irregularity;
- before the IVF procedure;
- during pregnancy planning;
- suspected adrenal disease;
- women's hair;
- overweight.
An analysis of progesterone may also be needed for newborns to diagnose a hereditary disease - hyperplasia of the adrenal cortex.
When is the best time to get tested
Female hormones change throughout the menstrual cycle. Therefore, it is important to know on which day the progesterone test will show the correct result.
The menstrual cycle in women is divided into three phases:
- follicular;
- ovulatory;
- luteal.
The highest levels of progesterone in a non-pregnant woman are observed in the third phase. It starts around the 15-17th day of the cycle and ends with menstruation. An analysis for the hormone progesterone should be taken during the period of its maximum production.
The average length of a woman's menstrual cycle is 28 days. In this case, the peak of progesterone production falls on the 21st-22nd day. It is at this time that you need to go through the procedure. On which day of the cycle will a progesterone test show the correct result if the duration is more or less than the standard 28 days? In thatIn this case, the doctor individually calculates the day when the hormone level will be the highest.
For example, with a cycle duration of 26 days, it is better to schedule a progesterone test on the 19-20th day of the cycle, with a 35-day cycle - on the 27-29th day.
How to get tested
Progesterone test is taken in the morning on an empty stomach. The last meal should be 8 hours before the procedure. Blood is taken from a vein. To get a reliable result, the day before the test, you need to follow some restrictions:
- exclude spicy, s alty, fatty foods from the diet;
- do not drink alcohol, coffee and strong tea;
- refuse sex;
- avoid stress and exercise;
- don't get an ultrasound, MRI or x-ray.
If the patient is taking medication, it is necessary to inform the doctor before taking the test. Some drugs can raise or lower blood levels of progesterone. If necessary, the doctor will temporarily stop taking medications to obtain more accurate test results. When it is not possible to stop therapy, the readings will need to be interpreted according to the patient's medications.
Pregnancy progesterone test
If the pregnancy is going well, then the doctor has no reason to prescribe a blood test for hormones to the expectant mother. Therefore, this procedure is not mandatory. But when a doctor suspects a pathology in a woman or fetus, a blood test for progesterone is necessary.
On the offensivePregnancy progesterone levels increase throughout the duration. This hormone is necessary for the normal development and preservation of the fetus. Insufficient progesterone levels during pregnancy are dangerous. It can lead to fetal hypoxia or even miscarriage.
Signs of low levels of the named hormone during pregnancy:
- increased uterine tone;
- pain in the lower abdomen;
- bleeding;
- headache;
- flatulence.
If a woman has several of the described symptoms, the doctor may suspect progesterone deficiency. To confirm the diagnosis, it is necessary to take an analysis and determine the level of the hormone. If progesterone is below normal, the doctor will prescribe drug therapy.
Low progesterone early in pregnancy could be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy. If the hormone levels stop growing, this may indicate a missed pregnancy.
Progesterone levels during pregnancy can also be higher than normal. In this case, a woman may suspect kidney failure, adrenal dysfunction. In multiple pregnancies, elevated progesterone is normal.
Progesterone levels
Progesterone levels for men are normally between 0.32 and 0.64 nmol/L.
For non-pregnant women of reproductive age, progesterone norms are:
- in the follicular phase - from 0.32 to 2.25 nmol/l;
- in the ovulatory phase - from 0.46 to 9.41nmol/L;
- in the luteal phase - from 6.95 to 56.63 nmol/L.
If a woman takes hormonal contraceptives, then for her other norms for the level of progesterone in the blood:
- in the follicular phase - no higher than 3.6 nmol/l;
- in the ovulatory phase - from 1.52 to 5.45 nmol/l;
- in the luteal phase - from 3.01 to 66.8 nmol/l.
When menopause occurs, progesterone levels are normally no higher than 0.64 nmol/L.
During pregnancy, the level of progesterone depends on the term and gradually increases.
| Pregnancy term | nmol/L | |
| 1st trimester | 1-6 weeks | 38, 15 – 69 |
| 7-14 weeks | 64, 8 – 127 | |
| 2nd trimester | 15-24 weeks | 124 – 247, 1 |
| 25-33 weeks | 197 – 402, 8 | |
| 3rd trimester | 34-40 week | 381, 4 – 546 |
Elevated progesterone
Progesterone relaxes ligaments, tendons and smooth muscles of internal organs. During pregnancy, this is necessary to relieve tension from the uterus, allow it to stretch and not squeeze the fetus. However, progesterone cannot act pointwise. At the same time, muscle tone also decreases in other organs, for example, the gastrointestinal tract.
If there is no pregnancy, and progesterone is elevated, its long-term effect on the body can lead to negative consequences. Relaxed muscles of the stomach and intestines slowlypromote food through the gastrointestinal tract, which causes fermentation, bloating and flatulence. Reduced tone of ligaments and tendons can lead to increased injury.
Increased progesterone disrupts metabolic processes in the body. The result is increased appetite and weight gain. Prolonged exposure to elevated progesterone in the body can trigger the development of diabetes.
During pregnancy, progesterone suppresses a woman's immunity so that the mother's body does not reject the fetus. If there is no pregnancy, then high levels of the hormone can cause frequent colds.
High progesterone provokes stretching of the walls of blood vessels and an increase in their permeability. Fluid from the bloodstream seeps into the tissues of the body, leading to swelling, a common problem in pregnant women.
Elevated progesterone stimulates the sebaceous glands, which can cause skin rashes - acne.
If the level of progesterone exceeds the norm, this may indicate some malfunctions in the body. High levels of the hormone can be a symptom of the following diseases:
- adrenal dysfunction;
- neoplasms in the female reproductive system;
- kidney failure;
- liver failure;
- cysts of the corpus luteum;
- ovarian cancer.
Low progesterone
The most dangerous low progesterone during pregnancy. The body is not ready for bearing and preserving the fetus. The fertilized egg is rejected. If a woman hasa history of miscarriage, then when planning a new pregnancy, she needs to be tested for progesterone. With low levels of the hormone, a medical adjustment of its level will be required.
If a woman is not pregnant, low progesterone can cause the following symptoms:
- pain in the lower abdomen during menstruation;
- menstrual irregularities;
- emotional instability;
- headaches;
- sleep disorders;
- constant fatigue and weakness;
- hair loss.
The causes of low progesterone are very different. Only a doctor, after examining the patient, can determine what is wrong and prescribe treatment.
Possible causes of low progesterone:
- oncological diseases;
- complications after abortion;
- chronic inflammatory diseases of the female reproductive system;
- kidney failure;
- endocrine system disorders;
- corpus luteum insufficiency;
- true over-pregnancy;
- strong stress;
- pathologically low body weight;
- too much exercise;
- taking certain medications (antibiotics, painkillers, hormonal contraceptives).
Hormone correction
Progesterone is amenable to drug correction. Its concentration in the blood can be both increased and decreased. But such a treatment tactic is not always justified, since it does not affect the cause of the pathology. High or low progesterone is oftenconsequence of acute or chronic diseases. The doctor must find out the true cause of the deviation from the norm, make a diagnosis.
During the treatment of the disease that caused the hormonal failure, drug therapy may be prescribed to correct progesterone.
High Progesterone Treatment
With increased progesterone, a special diet has a positive effect. Revising the diet can reduce the level of the hormone in the blood and relieve unpleasant symptoms. The diet involves the rejection of fatty foods, sweets, beans, nuts, sunflower seeds and pumpkins. Lean meats, fat-free dairy products, and vegetables should be preferred. Peppermint tea has the ability to lower progesterone.
Drugs used to lower progesterone:
- Mifepristone is a synthetic drug used for medical abortion in early pregnancy. Mifepristone blocks progesterone, its concentration in the blood drops sharply.
- "Clomiphene" is a hormonal antiestrogenic drug. Can lower progesterone in less than a week.
- "Tamoxifen" is a synthetic hormonal agent with a pronounced antitumor effect. Used for some types of cancer and also lowers progesterone.
Treatment for low progesterone
With low progesterone, stress and heavy physical exertion should be avoided. You need to be examined by a gynecologist and endocrinologist to diagnose diseases that cause hormonal failure. I knowtreatment, the doctor may prescribe to the patient drugs that increase the level of progesterone, such as Duphaston, Utrozhestan, Crinon, Iprozhin and others.
Important! All drugs that increase or decrease progesterone should be taken only as directed by a doctor. Do not self-medicate!
