Progesterone is a pregnancy hormone that prepares your body for implantation. If you are going through IVF treatment, progesterone is even more significant to consider. It is a key to getting and staying pregnant.
During the IVF procedure, you may take various treatments and medications that can weaken the production of progesterone hormone. That’s why your hormone levels are periodically recommended to be monitored while undergoing IVF. So, let’s explore what progesterone hormone is and how it supports your pregnancy.
Progesterone Level for IVF
Progesterone level is a predictor of how successful the IVF outcome would be. However, the common requirement is 1200 mg/day, which is essential to improve the chances of success. During the procedure, you will go through different stages of processes, and each phase demands a certain level of progesterone hormone to test.
Progesterone and Its Role in Reproduction
Progesterone is nothing but a steroid hormone that plays a significant role in reproduction. They include:
Uterine Lining: Progesterone hormone is produced after ovulation, which thickens the uterine lining. This enlargement creates a supportive environment for a fertilized egg.
Supports Pregnancy: Once a woman gets pregnant, the production of progesterone hormone is elevated to support the developing fetus and help prepare the breast milk.
Prevent Uterine Contraction: Uterine contraction is typical to handle when the progesterone secretion is low. It may cause a body to reject the egg. To prevent the uterine muscles from contracting, your body needs sufficient progesterone levels.
Importance of Progesterone Levels in IVF
Progesterone is a must-have hormone for both natural conception and IVF treatment. But this is the case You will receive during your IVF journey.
During egg retrieval, many progesterone-producing cells are eliminated. This makes your body contain insufficient levels of progesterone to support pregnancy. Unfortunately, the low level of hormones reduces the chances of pregnancy rate.
You will be provided with different kinds of treatment and medications to prevent premature ovulation. But these powerful processes often impair your body’s ability to produce more levels of progesterone hormone.
In general, progesterone hormone is quite important for embryo transfer. As mentioned earlier, it is key to improve the chances of success rate. That’s why the healthcare providers prescribe increasing the progesterone to prepare the uterine lining and prevent miscarriage.
How Progesterone Levels are Measured
Here are the lists of simple steps involved in measuring progesterone hormone:
- The range of progesterone hormones is identified through collecting the blood samples from your vein using a small needle.
- It is collected into a test tube or vial.
- This is not very painful, yet some people may feel dizzy for a few minutes.
Signs and Symptoms of Low or High Progesterone
Consuming supplements or medications can manage low progesterone levels in your body. They are available in various forms, including gels, injections, capsules, or suppositories.
Initially, doctors examine your health in different aspects, like history of pregnancy loss, menopause symptoms, and causes of infertility. It helps them suggest appropriate supplements to improve the low progesterone level and prevent the patients from experiencing any kind of side effects.
In addition to medications, implementing healthy lifestyle changes helps maintain sufficient amounts of hormone levels. They include:
- Healthy foods that encourage hormone production
- Daily exercises and yoga
- Reducing stress and anxiety
- Improving sleep
- Avoid junk or processed foods that disrupt hormones
Supplementation and Management of Progesterone Levels
A progesterone is a key hormone that is significant during menstruation, pregnancy, and sperm production. Low levels of hormones cause heavy periods and other health issues. High progesterone levels don’t create any negative impact; however, in rare cases, they can be a symptom of adrenal or ovarian cancer.
Symptoms of low progesterone level:
- Difficulty in pregnancy
- Hot flashes
- Missed or irregular menstrual cycle
- Mood swings, depression, or anxiety
- Trouble sleeping
- Weight gain and bloating
- Breast tenderness
Symptoms of high progesterone level:
- Pelvic pressure and pain
- Severe nausea and bleeding
- Dark brown to blood-red vaginal bleeding
- Vaginal discharge containing soft, grape-like masses
Factors Influencing Progesterone Levels in IVF
Progesterone levels in your body can naturally fluctuate during every month of the menstrual cycle and ovulation. It is a common phenomenon that will not affect your pregnancy or fertility. Here are some significant factors that can negatively influence the progesterone level during IVF:
Certain Health Conditions: Some health disorders can directly affect fertility and progesterone hormone levels, such as PCOS, ovarian dysfunction, tumors, etc. It is advisable to consult your doctor and take appropriate medicine without getting severe.
Unhealthy Lifestyle: Lifestyle plays a paramount role in fertility and hormonal changes. In general, couples are advised to avoid excess stress, sedentary lifestyles, and unhealthy or processed foods. It can directly create hormonal imbalance and decrease progesterone level.
Medications: Consuming certain medications, like rings, birth control pills, or patches, can affect the natural production of progesterone hormone. Never intake any medicines or treatment that is related to your menstrual cycle and pregnancy.
Conclusion
Progesterone is a steroid hormone that regulates the menstrual cycle and pregnancy in a woman. That’s why a fertility specialist will initially analyze your hormonal level and prescribe supplements to achieve the higher pregnancy rates. Progesterone is important for a woman trying to conceive naturally or through fertility treatment.
FAQs
During embryo transfer, the progesterone level will be expected to be more than 25.1 ng/ml on that day. It supports patients to improve the chances of pregnancy in the IVF outcome and helps avoid birth defects in infants.
The progesterone level of individuals can significantly vary during the IVF cycle. If it is too high, it can negatively influence the uterine lining and reduce the chances of a successful pregnancy. It is important to consult your healthcare provider about the required progesterone level for your required IVF process.
Progesterone hormone is used for various purposes, including:
- Support implantation
- Reduce the risk of pregnancy and miscarriage
- Prepare the uterine lining.