Progesterone is a steroid hormone produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands. Known as the "sex hormone," it is responsible for preparing the lining of the uterus to receive a fertilized egg. Progesterone is crucial to the development of the fertilized egg and helps to maintain a pregnancy throughout the nine months of gestation. A deficiency in progesterone can prevent conception and have negative effects on a pregnancy, if not rectified.
How Progesterone Works
Progesterone levels are low in the initial phases of a woman's monthly cycle. However, once a mature egg is released into the fallopian tubes (ovulation), a part of the ovary called the corpus luteum begins to produce high amounts of progesterone. The increase in this hormone causes the blood vessels lining the uterus to grow, producing a fluffy, thick endometrial lining in which a fertilized egg can implant. Under normal circumstances, if no fertilized egg is present or implants within 10 days of ovulation, the ovary will stop producing progesterone. The sudden decrease in progesterone signals the body to shed the bloody lining of the uterus in the form of menstruation.
Causes of Progesterone Deficiencies
Sometimes the body does not produce enough progesterone to create a healthy endometrial lining or to properly maintain a pregnancy. According to the International Council of Infertility Information Dissemination (ICIID), this can occur when either the follicle that develops the mature egg or the corpus luteum fails to develop properly. In some cases, a progesterone deficiency can also be a sign of menopause.
Effects of a Progesterone Deficiency
A woman with a progesterone deficiency can have serious difficulty becoming pregnant or maintaining a pregnancy. If a woman does not produce adequate levels of progesterone after ovulation, a fertilized egg in her fallopian tube may not be able to implant itself in the endometrium layer of the uterus, as the lining may not be thick enough. Furthermore, if a woman produces adequate levels of progesterone initially, but the levels suddenly drop, the body will start to shed the lining, even if a healthy fertilized egg has already implanted itself in the endometrium. Natural-hormones.net warns that a substantial drop in progesterone during the first 10 to 12 weeks of pregnancy may result in a miscarriage.
Signs and Symptoms of Progesterone Deficiency
Womenshealthzone.com reports that having periods that are less or shorter than usual can be a sign of a progesterone deficiency. In addition, according to natural-hormones.net, early miscarriage, irregular periods, ovarian cysts, menstrual cramps, puffiness/bloating, breast tenderness and carbohydrate cravings may all be symptoms of progesterone deficiency.
Treatment for Progesterone Deficiency
Women diagnosed with progesterone deficiency (a simple blood test can reveal the problem) are often prescribed progestin, a hormonal substitute for progesterone. The MayoClinc.com reports that progestin can help properly regulate the menstrual cycle, build up the lining of the uterus and help maintain a pregnancy when a woman's body does not make enough progesterone on its own.
