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How to Maintain Progesterone Levels during Pregnancy

A doctor examining a pregnant woman During pregnancy, a woman’s body goes through many changes to facilitate the growth and the development of the foetus. These include an increase in hormone levels as well. One of the hormones that rise to a significant extent once a woman is pregnant is progesterone. This hormone has a lot to contribute towards the health of both you and your baby throughout your pregnancy. What is Progesterone?
Progesterone is a hormone that is produced by the ovaries each month. This hormone prepares the uterus for an impending pregnancy. If the woman gets pregnant during the ovulation period, the level of progesterone will rise in order to facilitate the pregnancy process. Lower progesterone levels may affect the ability of a woman to conceive and put her at a higher risk of a miscarriage. 1. Mood Swings An increase in the level of progesterone has been linked to mood swings and depression. 2. Stuffy Nose Since progesterone is responsible for relaxing the muscles during pregnancy, unstable levels of the hormone may end up relaxing the smooth muscles of the nostrils as well. This can result in a stuffy nose. 3. Headaches A rise in the progesterone levels increases the flow of blood into the brain as they relax the blood vessels. This can result in migraines or severe headaches in women. 4. Constipation The hormone can also relax the intestinal muscles making it difficult for food to pass into the intestine, leading to constipation. 5. Breast Tenderness It can cause tenderness and sensitivity in your breasts. 6. Fatigue The hormone affects the central nervous system and causes extreme fatigue and an sleepiness. Low Progesterone Treatment during Pregnancy If you are trying to conceive, low levels of progesterone can make the process difficult for you. To combat this, doctors will advise various methods of treatment. Some of the common treatments for low progesterone during pregnancy are, Hormone Therapy – This is provided to expecting women to enable optimal lining of the uterus and increase the chances of carrying the baby to term. Creams and gels for topical application. Some of these can be used vaginally as well. Low progesterone levels that are causing fertility issues are treating using suppositories. Vaginal rings with hormone releasing mechanisms may also be used. These release hormones at a slower pace than the oral medication. Oral pills like Provera. It is important that you do not use any over the counter medicines to increase the level of progesterone as these tend to be less effective. Also, it is ideal to consult a doctor and seek the right prescription of medicines and supplements that you can consume. Home Remedies:- Here are a few home remedies that you can try to help raise your progesterone levels. 1. Increase the Amount of Vitamin B6 and Vitamin C in Your Diet The liver requires Vitamin B6 to break down oestrogen. Lack of Vitamin B6 will slow the breaking down of oestrogen and increase its level in the body. This can create a hormonal imbalance. Seafood, walnuts, whole grains, lean red meat, poultry, beans, spinach, potato, etc are rich in Vitamin B6. You will also need to consume Vitamin C. Studies show that taking 750 mg of Vitamin C on a daily basis for over six months can considerably increase the progesterone levels in the body. 2. Consume Foods Rich in Zinc Zinc is important to increase the production of progesterone in the body. The mineral zinc causes the pituitary gland to release hormones that stimulate the follicles in the ovaries. This leads to ovulation and the production of oestrogen and progesterone. Zinc is found in good quantity in foods like lean red meat, watermelon, dark chocolate, wheat germ, pumpkin, chickpeas, squash seeds, etc. 3. Eat Food Rich in Magnesium Magnesium is also important in maintaining a healthy amount of progesterone in the body as it promotes hormonal balance. You can add magnesium to your diet with dietary supplements of food rich in magnesium like black beans, pumpkin, okra, spinach, nuts, etc. It is also important that you manage your stress and indulge in activities to lower stress in your daily life. Chronic stress is known to affect the adrenal glands and lower the production of cortisol. Due to this, your body will begin converting progesterone into cortisol. FAQs:- 1. Can Low Progesterone Levels Lead to an Ectopic Pregnancy? Low progesterone levels may be indicative of ectopic pregnancy. A study found that all women who had ectopic pregnancies had progesterone levels lower than 22 ng/ml. However, out of all the patients with progesterone levels lower than 22 ng/ml, only 10 percent had ectopic pregnancies. According to the study, there is a good chance that your low progesterone levels will not lead to an ectopic pregnancy. 2. What is Meant by a False Positive Progesterone Level? A false positive progesterone level is when there is a rise in the level of progesterone in your body for a reason apart from pregnancy and ovulation. Some of the reasons why there might be an elevation in the progesterone level in your body are: Ovarian cancer Adrenal cancer Consumption of progesterone pills or suppositories Aongenital adrenal hyperplasia, which is a condition that affects the adrenal gland. It can also be due a laboratory error caused by a cross-reaction with other hormones 3. What If Progesterone Shows a False Positive Pregnancy HPT Test? A pregnancy test shows result based on the level of the hCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) hormone. This pregnancy hormone is not similar to the progesterone hormone and the level of progesterone in your body will not result in a false positive pregnancy test. 4. Can Low Progesterone levels during Pregnancy Lead to a Miscarriage? Low progesterone levels may be indicative of an ectopic pregnancy or also mean that your pregnancy isn’t viable. Progesterone levels lower than 6 to 10 ng/ml in your 6th week of pregnancy can put you at a high risk of miscarriage. The progesterone hormone is essential for a smooth pregnancy and it is important to ensure that your progesterone levels are optimal to avoid any pregnancy complications. Hence, it is recommended that you visit a doctor to measure your progesterone levels when you find out about your pregnancy. You will also need to continue to monitor the levels during early pregnancy and seek timely treatment in case of low progesterone levels.

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