Why Progesterone Matters For Pregnancy?
Pregnancy can seem like a normal life stage for many women, but in reality, the experience is incredibly complex and incorporates many stages. More importantly, certain steps taken before conception are integral to a successful pregnancy later on. Most people assume that pregnancy is just about a sperm successfully fertilizing an egg. Yet, hormonal balances in a woman’s reproductive system are just as influential in helping prime the uterus for critical stages ahead of conception. One specific component is progesterone. Although present in both men and women, the hormone is critical for a woman’s reproductive cycle throughout gestation, and especially in early pregnancy.
Why progesterone matters
Even though progesterone is found in both genders, the hormone oversees different functions and is produced in multiple locations throughout the body. For all humans, production occurs in the adrenal glands, while women have supplemental creation in the ovaries, and for men in the testes. During pregnancy, the placenta also produces progesterone. In both sexes, progesterone supports sleep cycles, cardiovascular function, bone health, and emotional stability. For women specifically, the hormone is credited with influencing the menstrual cycle as well as pregnancy progression.
The menstrual cycle-conception link
Conception can’t occur without proper progesterone levels in women, which rise and fall throughout the menstrual cycle. The cycle is divided into 4 stages that are specifically triggered by hormone levels. For example, ovulation causes progesterone levels to rise, but for this event, the hormone is produced in the corpus luteum after the follicle releases an egg. Higher progesterone causes a thickening of endometrium lining in the uterus to prepare for potential implantation. If fertilization doesn’t occur, hormonal levels drop, and the menstrual cycle continues as normal.
When pregnancy occurs
If an embryo forms after ovulation, the corpus luteum continues producing progesterone. The uterine lining also maintains thickness to prepare for implantation. After that step, the hormone now influences key steps that will directly impact pregnancy viability. Essential functions such as the development of additional blood vessels and relaxing the uterine muscles to prevent contractions are essential to prevent miscarriage, which has the highest risk of occurring during the first trimester.
Why progesterone matters
Beyond simply preparing the uterus for pregnancy and maintaining uterine lining thickness, progesterone performs several other important functions. The high hormonal levels prevent the ovaries from releasing additional eggs during the pregnancy. Similarly, the substance suppresses uterine contractions, ensuring that a woman doesn’t go into labor prematurely.
Supporting early pregnancy
Progesterone isn’t the only hormone that influences pregnancy, but the specific substance is credited with key critical roles. For example, the release of vital nutrients that an early embryo needs is due to the hormone. Likewise, progesterone prevents a woman’s immune system from treating the fetus’s DNA as a foreign threat and acting accordingly. Additionally, placenta development is due to this hormone, which also acts as a producer of the substance. For women with a history of miscarriages or pregnancy complications, doctors might prescribe progesterone supplements to improve stability.
