What is Progesterone?
Progesterone is a steroid hormone produced in a woman's body that has beneficial effects on maintaining the levels of estrogen, cholesterol, blood sugar, and many other metabolic functions.
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Progesterone in the body helps correct the balance and function of estrogen in the body. If the estrogen level becomes too high, it can lead to estrogen dominance, which causes fatigue, bloating, retention of water, and weight gain.
It can also increase the risk for cancer, particularly endometrial cancer. Women facing menopause are particularly susceptible, because the production of progesterone declines dramatically during this phase of life.
Many women suffering from the harsher symptoms of menopause consider hormone replacement therapy or HRT. There are many natural and synthetic products on the market, including progesterone creams and patches, in which synthetic or natural progesterone is absorbed through the skin, or suppositories, which specifically target vaginal progesterone production. Also, certain foods and supplements, such as flax seeds , contain phytoestrogens, which can help regulate the hormonal balance.
The ovaries produce progesterone to help prepare the uterus for pregnancy. During a normal menstrual cycle, it is typical that the progesterone levels will increase during ovulation and decrease during menstruation. Usually during ovulation, progesterone levels can reach between two to 20 ng/ml (nanograms per milliliter), then drop to less than one ng/ml. This fluctuation is normal in a woman who is not pregnant.
During pregnancy, the progesterone levels should increase drastically, and by the first trimester the woman should have a progesterone level between nine to 47 ng/ml, usually above 16 ng/ml is considered best. By the second there should be a progesterone level of 17 to 147 ng/ml, and by the third trimester anywhere from 55 to 220 ng/ml.
Because there is so much difference in progesterone levels from woman to woman, it is difficult to say what a normal progesterone level is. However, a consistently low progesterone level can result in such things as endometrial cancer, infertility, bloating, and weight gain.
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