Progesterone is the hormone that controls menstruation and fertility. The presence of high progesterone levels in early pregnancy is common and doesn’t cause any harm usually. However, on the other hand, low progesterone levels aren’t a good condition. Let us now get a birds-eye view of how this important hormone does its functions and why it is vital during pregnancy.
What Is Progesterone?
It is a hormone that is naturally released in the ovaries of the body but can even be made in labs. It is useful for women to restart their menstrual periods that are stopped unexpectedly.
It is also helpful in treating abnormal uterine bleeding linked to hormonal imbalance besides treating severe symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
A change in progesterone levels may lead to irregular menstrual periods and menopausal signs. Progesterone is even needed for implanting a fertilized egg in the uterus and to maintain pregnancy.
Normal Progesterone Levels
A blood test helps in measuring progesterone levels. One should also not forget that the levels fluctuate all through the menstrual cycle.
The levels are counted in nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). The below progesterone levels chart lists normal progesterone levels for a matured female during different stages of pregnancy and the menstrual cycle.
| Stage | Progesterone level (ng/mL) |
|---|---|
| Pre-ovulation | < 0.89 |
| Ovulation | ≤ 12 |
| Post-ovulation | 1.8–24 |
| First trimester | 11–44 |
| Second trimester | 25–83 |
| Third trimester | 58–214 |
Coming to men, the need to test progesterone doesn’t usually arise unless there is some dysfunction of the adrenal gland. In men, the normal levels are less than 0.20 ng/mL.
Symptoms Of High Progesterone Levels In Early Pregnancy
The signs and symptoms of increased levels of progesterone which are normal during the final stages of the menstrual cycle are also identical to symptoms of pregnancy and include;
- Tenderness of breasts
- Food cravings
- Bloating
- Augmented nipple sensitivity
- Muscle aches and headaches
Causes Of High Progesterone Levels In Early Pregnancy
The high progesterone levels may be caused due to;
- Adrenal cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, a cluster of illnesses that affect the adrenal gland
How To Lower High Progesterone Levels In Early Pregnancy?
Although the presence of too much progesterone isn’t a cause of worry, lessening it is good as it can lead to sweating, mood swings, feelings of menopause, and place one at a high risk of breast cancer.
Here are ways to decrease high progesterone levels;
- Get at least an hour of exercise as studies have found that physical activity leads to lessening the high levels of progesterone.
- Do not smoke or use any kind of items that have tobacco as tobacco increases activity of the adrenal gland which can cause imbalances in hormone levels such as progesterone.
- Avoid taking caffeine in high quantities, usually, a cup of coffee is not harmful but abnormal consumption can be highly risky.
- Take vitamin B & Vitamin C foods regularly as they will check any imbalances in the body especially hormone imbalances.
- Get in touch with your doctor if you sense high progesterone levels as it can be a sign of some other condition that may need medical help. Answering the condition will automatically lessen progesterone levels.
- A few instances such as cancers may also be the cause so get a cancer screening test.
Low Progesterone Levels In Early Pregnancy
Apart from high progesterone levels, low progesterone levels in early pregnancy can also be seen. The causes include;
- Absence of periods
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Failure to ovulate
- Fetal death
- Miscarriage
Tips To Maintain Normal Progesterone Levels During Pregnancy
Eat healthy, if you have less progesterone eat more foods that increase progesterone levels.
Stress is one of the causes of abnormal progesterone levels as such do all the activities that lessen your stress so that there is proper progesterone in the body.
Over-exercising although good can also imbalance the progesterone levels so check if you are overdoing exercises.
The Takeaway
Despite having high or low progesterone levels there is nothing to panic about. With a proper lifestyle and healthy eating habits, a normal level of progesterone can be achieved. Instead of panicking ask the doctor what the test results mean. Doing so will help to understand the potential reasons for either high progesterone levels in early pregnancy or low progesterone levels. They may also suggest ways and means of getting normality in case of abnormalities.
Sudheendra is a passionate blogger for 8 years and holds a Degree in Journalism & Mass Communications. His writings particularly focus on health, medicine, diet & lifestyle. For him, everything that interlinks and relates to health & medical world entices him. His write-ups aim at educating people not by just giving facts but by infusing human touch.
