Progesterone is a hormone that's found in both males and females. It plays an important role in the reproductive system. Like other hormones, progesterone levels both affect and are affected by other hormones and the organs that make and respond to such levels in a constant feedback system.
Function of Progesterone
Progesterone works in conjunction with estrogen to prompt ovaries to produce eggs, to prepare the lining of the uterus for possible conception and implantation and then to help maintain an implanted embryo and fetus in the first trimester.
Definition of Progesterone Deficiency
As described on HealthyWomen, age-related fluctuations in the level of progesterone are normal and predictable. For example, women of child-bearing age can expect their normally functioning ovaries to produce progesterone at a level that will increase the uterine lining during a certain phase of the menstrual cycle. Then, as a woman's reproductive years come to a close, naturally, the amount of progesterone her body produces slows, usually gradually over as many as 10 years. When a woman's body produces less progesterone than is considered normal and average for her age, this may be called a progesterone deficiency.
Fertility-Related Effects
Lower than normal progesterone levels may result in fertility problems. Low progesterone can result in disordered ovulation, one of the most common causes of female infertility. Often, the first sign is when a woman has difficulty getting pregnant; however, some women may already be experiencing irregular or absent menstrual periods. Polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, is a specific type of ovulatory disorder that may result in low progesterone levels.
Pregnancy-Related Effects
After conception has occurred, normal progesterone levels continue to rise over time during early pregnancy. One of the signs of an early pregnancy that will likely miscarry is low progesterone levels. Ectopic pregnancies, that is, conceptions that are located outside of the uterus, also can be detected by levels that are lower than normal.
Postpartum-Related Effects
Progesterone plays a part in lactation, so low levels might result in breastfeeding difficulties. Women with PCOS are noted by Lisa Marasco, MA, IBCLC of La Leche League International to experience difficulty producing milk after giving birth, possibly related to the decreased progesterone levels that are common with PCOS.
Determining a Deficiency Exists
Along with symptoms that will vary according to a woman's age, progesterone levels can be easily tested using a blood sample. Lab Tests Online describes the test, its uses and how results can be read. Progesterone tests are relatively common both to diagnosis fertility problems and to monitor the health of a pregnancy.
