Progesterone in pregnancy: what it is, what it is used for, side effects
Introduction
If you're pregnant for the first time and are just starting to learn about the technical terms surrounding pregnancy, you've no doubt heard about the role of progesterone in pregnancy .
If you want to know what it is and what its effects are, all you have to do is continue reading this article.
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What is progesterone?
Before we delve into the details of the role of progesterone in pregnancy, let's look at what we're talking about when we talk about it.
Progesterone is a steroid hormone . It is a precursor, in turn, of several other hormones, from those present in the adrenal cortex to androgens.
During the first part of pregnancy, its production is the responsibility of the corpus luteum.
This is the temporary endocrine gland that develops from the ovarian follicle and gives its name to a specific phase of the cycle, the luteal phase, which begins after ovulation.
With the beginning of the second part of gestation and the regression of the corpus luteum, the placenta takes over the production of progesterone during pregnancy.
Synthesized from cholesterol, progesterone has among its tasks that of maintaining the uterus in conditions that favor the physiological development of the embryo.
What is progesterone used for during pregnancy?
We can now go into detail about the importance of progesterone in pregnancy .
Its functions include, as already mentioned, the creation, in the uterus , of an environment favorable to the implantation, adhesion and growth of the embryo.
Another type of hormone, estrogen, also contributes to carrying out this very important task.
The Role of Progesterone in Pregnancy from Conception to Delivery
After conception , progesterone in pregnancy contributes to increasing the receptivity of the endometrium, thus promoting embryo implantation.
It also helps maintain an adequate level of softness of the uterine walls , a fundamental aspect for protecting the embryo and avoiding contractions.
As the pregnancy progresses, first the trophoblast and then the placenta take care of keeping the walls of the uterus relaxed, effectively preventing the occurrence of premature birth.
As the time of delivery approaches, progesterone levels in pregnancy decrease.
This is an essential step in a hormonal shift that has two main purposes: preparing the uterus for labor and improving the level of maturity of the puppy's lungs.
Side effects
Also known as the quiescent hormone - this nickname is due to its contribution to the slowing down of various functions of the body - progesterone in pregnancy can cause various side effects.
Among these we can mention heartburn , reduced intestinal efficiency , tiredness , and low blood pressure.
It should also not be forgotten that yes, progesterone during pregnancy increases nausea.
There is no need to despair because, as the sweet wait progresses, its effects are counterbalanced by the increase in estrogen.
Why is progesterone prescribed during pregnancy?
At this point, you're probably wondering why progesterone is prescribed during pregnancy (almost certainly, you've heard about its supplementation from some friend who is already a mother).
The use of progesterone supplementation during pregnancy to prevent the threat of miscarriage or to reduce the risk of preterm birth has been the focus of a heated debate within the scientific community for years now.
Noteworthy, for example, is this English study published in 2015 which, analyzing the data of 836 women with a history of recurrent unexplained miscarriages, discovered that progesterone therapy during the first trimester of pregnancy did not lead to a significantly higher rate of live births.
The general orientation is to administer progesterone, especially through ovules or creams so as to minimize systemic side effects, in the following cases:
Threatened abortion in women with a history of recurrent miscarriages;
risk of premature birth in mothers with abnormal shortening of the cervix and absence of uterine contractions;
expectant mothers with a history of preterm birth, premature rupture of the membranes and spontaneous abortions during the second trimester of pregnancy.
The duration of therapy depends on the initial indications.
In case of threatened miscarriage , the tendency is to continue until the twelfth week of pregnancy.
After this limit, in fact, the placenta is considered capable of autonomously supervising the synthesis of the hormone.
The situation is different when dealing with a woman with a medical history of recurrent miscarriages or premature births.
In such cases, supplementation can be proposed from the sixteenth to the thirty-sixth week of pregnancy.
The case of women undergoing assisted reproduction therapies is unique and requires maximum personalization of the therapy, with the administration of progesterone from before pregnancy.
