Many women have problems getting pregnant, either due to diseases such as endometriosis or other fertility-related issues. Your doctor may recommend progesterone if you are planning to have a baby, but do you know what it is?
There is no greater dissatisfaction and frustration in the life of a woman who wants to become a mother, not to get pregnant despite her best efforts and attempts. Unfortunately, there are few times when we can control our bodies to make them do what we want, and motherhood is not one of them. It is therefore essential to understand the signs that our body sends us and to act accordingly in order to fight against possible diseases.
If you are planning to have a child with your partner, your doctor or gynecologist may recommend progesterone. This is a hormone that you have probably heard of before, but may not know the exact use. Still, it could really help you achieve your goals. We take stock.
See also: After childbirth, can you get pregnant again quickly?
What is progesterone and what is it used for?
Progesterone is a hormone that the endometrium needs to prepare to receive the embryo, as explained on the Toulouse University Hospital website. As the name suggests, progesterone (progestation) plays a fundamental role in the maintenance of pregnancy because it helps the endometrium to maintain the thickness necessary for implantation of the fertilized egg.
Depending on the condition of the woman, she can have different functions. For example, during the menstrual cycle, it is used to promote implantation of the fertilized egg and to prepare the uterus for pregnancy. In the meantime, during pregnancy, it helps the embryo, which then becomes a fetus, to develop. Finally, progesterone works during breastfeeding because it helps the breasts secrete breast milk.
Progesterone is secreted by the corpus luteum cells of the ovaries and the placenta. But many women do not produce enough, and this can endanger the health of the baby. This is why your doctor or gynecologist may recommend that you take progesterone. Please note, this is hormone treatment and should always be taken on prescription. It is indeed important to check whether it is necessary to take it, as its effects can be counterproductive.
Besides preparing the endometrium to accommodate the fertilized egg, progesterone is one of the most important hormones during pregnancy because it promotes the elasticity of body tissues so that they adapt to it. increase in volume of the baby. It also strengthens the mother's immune system and acts as a kind of mucous membrane protector that prevents possible miscarriage.
If the ovary only secretes a small amount of progesterone, it can make pregnancy difficult and lead to complications and premature delivery, with symptoms such as abdominal cramps and / or bleeding. In addition, in a study presented at the 35th congress of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), Dr Elena Labarta demonstrated that a low concentration of progesterone in the blood can decrease by 18% the probabilities of get pregnant.
Read also: Pregnancy: all those changes in your body that you should expect
How do I know if my progesterone level is low or normal?
Although there is a balance and usually there are no drastic changes, progesterone levels rise and fall over days, depending on the menstrual cycle, peaking during pregnancy or within days. preceding the rules.
However, some symptoms may indicate that progesterone levels are lower than desirable (reaching an amount close to 10 ng / ml). They are mainly manifested by a heavy and irregular period (although in many cases the doctor may choose to prescribe contraceptives such as the pill or the vaginal ring with which your period is regulated).
Unexplained weight gain, such as thyroid problems, low libido, cold hands and feet due to poor blood circulation, are also on the list of symptoms your body may react to in the weeks leading up to it. your menstrual cycle and may be linked to low levels of progesterone.
A drop in this hormone can also be a symptom of an ectopic pregnancy or a risk of miscarriage.
Also read: When to stop taking the pill to get pregnant?
How is progesterone administered during pregnancy?
Progesterone can be taken orally, in doses or tablets, which requires a prescription from your doctor or gynecologist, or it can be taken vaginally by inserting progesterone eggs into the vagina. In any case, both methods are scientifically recognized and perform the same function. They are, however, side effects that present some differences.
Although each body responds to the medication differently and some women may not have any symptoms after taking it, others may experience various side effects after taking the tablet orally. Symptoms may be nausea, dizziness, breast pain, vaginal bleeding outside of the menstrual cycle, difficulty walking, drowsiness, fluid retention, and general discomfort.
If you have any of these symptoms, you should see your doctor for a prescription for the insertion of progesterone eggs vaginally, as this may reduce these unwanted side effects. This method is in fact generally more effective than the previous one and just as easy to administer.
Ideally, you should insert this egg just before bed and with your bladder completely empty. Once you have removed the plastic wrap with very clean hands, you can insert it with an applicator or suppository, as if it were a tampon, so that the medicine is inserted as deep as possible so that it does not. not so.
Just like the eggs used to kill fungal infections like candidiasis, progesterone eggs leave a mark in your panties. This is not a bad sign at all, as it means that the medicine has dissolved inside you. You can use a panty liner to prevent stains.
With the exception of this stain, progesterone administered vaginally does not usually cause symptoms similar to those you might have if you take the tablets by mouth, although you may also have headaches, nausea , diarrhea or vomiting. If their condition worsens as you continue to take the hormones, talk to your doctor.