Progesterone norms by week of pregnancy: indicators, causes of deviations at different periods

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The female hormonal system affects the functioning of the whole organism. Needless to say, that during the planning and the beginning of pregnancy, special attention is paid to him? One of the main indicators that pay close attention to is the content of progesterone in the blood of a woman. To obtain complete information about the state of the hormonal system, tests are taken during the menstrual cycle in different phases, the most important of which are ovulatory and luteal, when the egg matures and implants.

The key role of progesterone is to help the fertilized cell to gain a foothold in the uterine cavity and develop in the mother's womb. There are certain norms, in case of deviation from which the probability of developing a successful pregnancy can be extremely small. What are the norms of progesterone by weeks of pregnancy, starting from the moment of conception? Why is this hormone so important for the female body, and what to do if its levels are low? Aboutsee this in the article below.

What is progesterone

Progesterone is produced by the corpus luteum, contributes to the creation of a special secretory layer in the body of the uterus, which allows the fertilized egg to gain a foothold on its surface. Under its action, the uterus becomes less sensitive to oxytocin, which is designed to stimulate the contractile function of the muscles, relaxing the muscle layer. In addition, progesterone is an important link in a whole chain of other important processes that are necessary to maintain a woman's normal hormonal levels.

When planning pregnancy, you need to be aware of what the progesterone norms should be by week of pregnancy. In particular, the first phase of the cycle is characterized by its growth, as the uterus is being prepared for implantation of the embryo. This hormone is actively involved in its growth, as well as in the formation of tissues of the developing embryo. At the end of pregnancy, progesterone helps to facilitate the birth process by softening the ligaments and promoting the divergence of the pelvic bones. In an unsuccessful attempt, when fertilization does not occur, its content in the body is noticeably reduced.

The role of the hormone during pregnancy

Because progesterone helps maintain pregnancy, it is not necessary to talk about its significance. With its deficiency, a woman may experience such unpleasant symptoms as toxicosis and pain in the lower abdomen, uterine bleeding. Therefore, it is important that progesterone is normal at the 8th week of pregnancy. This is a critical periodbecause the chances of miscarriage are extremely high.

This hormone avoids fetal death, reduces the risk of miscarriage and miscarriage. A decrease in hormone production can be triggered by a decrease in the functions of the corpus luteum.

It would seem that such a small gland, which, under other circumstances, is not given much importance. However, until 16 weeks of gestation, it takes on a major role in the production of progesterone. This period is due to the fact that by the end of the fourth month of pregnancy, the period of formation of the placenta ends. Until the onset of labor, she will be responsible for the production of progesterone and other hormones vital for the preservation and development of the fetus. It is also worth noting that, in addition to the above functions, the pregnancy hormone prepares the mammary glands for the future production of breast milk.

As determined in the blood

In most cases, determining the progesterone norm by weeks of pregnancy, especially the first month, is required to eliminate the need for a woman to prescribe additional medications. It should be understood that its content may be influenced by various factors. These include: taking oral contraceptives, stress, pregnancy, nutrition, and the phase of the menstrual cycle.

For those who are planning a pregnancy and monitor how hormones behave in the period before the onset of menstrual bleeding, it is recommended to take a blood test on the 22-23rd daycurrent cycle. Since, with successful fertilization, the corpus luteum continues to function, and therefore progesterone is also produced, the indicators should be within the normal range. In this case, you do not need to take separately drugs containing this hormone.

It is recommended to take a blood test on an empty stomach, in the morning. The sampling of biomaterial for research is carried out from a vein.

Norms and deviations

Since the cycle consists of several phases, the content of progesterone in each has its own differences. After the end of menstrual bleeding, the period of maturation of the egg begins. This phase is called follicular. The content of the hormone at this stage is very small. Before studying the norms and deviations, it is important to understand that they may differ if taken in different laboratories. This is due to the fact that each sets its own boundaries based on equipment and test materials. If we talk about the norm of progesterone at the 2nd week of pregnancy, then it is 12.0-18.2 nmol / l.

In the ovulatory phase, the maturation of the egg occurs, after which the active growth of the corpus luteum begins. It provokes the production of hormones that will help the embryo to be fixed in the body of the uterus during fertilization. An increase in progesterone levels will occur as long as pregnancy develops. Thus, by the growth of certain hormones (this also includes hCG), we can talk about the likelihood of successful conception. However, this is not the only reason why progesterone can increase.

It happens that in the blood of a woman it is found not a deficiency, but, on the contrary, an increased content of the hormone. Could this be a reason for the positive dynamics of the development of pregnancy? One option is that in this situation, a woman develops several babies inside the womb. This is undoubtedly a positive thing. The reverse side of the coin is not so pleasant and lies in the fact that the cause of the increased content of the hormone in the blood of a woman can be kidney failure or adrenal disease. The deviation of the value in the part of the upper limit is considered to be increased. What are the norms of progesterone by weeks of pregnancy in nmol? In the first trimester, the indicators range from 8.9 to 468.4. For the second trimester: the lower limit is 71.5, the upper limit is slightly lower than in the first trimester, up to 303.1 nmol / l, and in the third - from 88, 7 to 771.5 nmol/l.

Beginning of pregnancy

In the normal course of pregnancy, the level of hormones should correspond to the gestational age of the fetus, in particular, this applies to progesterone and hCG. The norms for weeks of pregnancy can be studied in the laboratory, where tests will be taken. To effectively assess the indicators and track them in dynamics, the clinic should not be changed. Do not despair if the result obtained differs from the established limit. Even if progesterone in the blood is low, it can be raised. As for hCG (a hormone that indicates the presence and proper development of the embryo), its numbers should only grow. The rate of progesterone by weeks of pregnancy in nmol / l by the end of the first month is approximately 18.5.

Decrease in indicators may indicate the risk of termination of pregnancy. It is possible to correct the situation only by taking timely measures to eliminate the cause of the decrease in the hormone, for example, by prescribing medications. Dosage and duration of administration is determined by the attending physician.

First trimester

Considering the norms of progesterone by weeks of pregnancy in nmol / l, one can notice a tendency to its growth. If in the first or second week the indicators range from 38.15 to 57.8, then already a month later (in the fifth or sixth week) they are 59.1-69 nmol / l. By the end of the second month of pregnancy, the numbers can range from 64.8 to 75 nmol / l. The upward trend can be traced throughout all nine months.

The experience of foreign doctors shows that the advisability of prescribing additional drugs that will compensate for the lack of progesterone may be due to:

• Pregnancy through IVF.
• History of spontaneous miscarriages.
• Luteal phase deficiency.
• Lack of corpus luteum.

If fertilization and implantation of the fetal egg occurred naturally and the pregnancy is proceeding normally, then it is not required to additionally control the content of only progesterone in the blood. It will be much more effective and more revealing to control the level of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the blood of a woman, best of all in dynamics. It is recommended to take the analysis no more than once every 2-3 days. The numbers should doublespeaks of the successful development of the embryo.

Consequences of hormone deficiency

If, as a result of the analysis, it turns out that the indicators do not reach or do not correspond to the norm of progesterone at the 4th week of pregnancy, then there is a possibility of a miscarriage. Due to hormone deficiency in the fetus, intrauterine growth retardation may also occur. These consequences can be predetermined if a woman plans pregnancy in advance. Doctors recommend that couples who have not been able to conceive naturally for a long time due to a progesterone deficiency should have a control blood test for 2-3 months. It allows you to determine the phase of the cycle in which additional drugs are required, and the duration of the course.

If progesterone deviates from the norm at the 5th week of pregnancy, doctors can diagnose a threat to pregnancy. Some associate the deterioration of well-being in the second phase of the cycle precisely with changes in the hormonal background of a woman. She may also feel swelling of the abdomen and chest, notice that there has been a jump in weight. Mood swings, irritability, which is attributed to premenstrual syndrome, is also associated with a decrease in progesterone in the blood.

Increased hormone levels

It is possible to independently determine the compliance with the progesterone standards at the 7th week of pregnancy or at another time, for this it is enough to take a blood test. However, you should not try to choose your own medications. Duringconsultation with a doctor, you need to evaluate your well-being, since this is also a very significant point. In particular, with an increased content of progesterone, a pregnant woman may experience blurred vision, fatigue, and depression.

It is also worth paying attention to the fact that large laboratories set standards not by weeks of pregnancy, but by trimesters. Therefore, it is worthwhile to clarify in advance how information will be provided in the transcript of the analyzes.

Communication between progesterone and hCG

Recently, there is often a recommendation from a doctor about the need to take additional drugs to compensate for the insufficient production of progesterone. However, this is ineffective in the short term. A he althy body can cope on its own in order to preserve the embryo. If it does not have internal deviations, then most likely the pregnancy will pass without deviations. For those who want to reassure themselves and take tests to make sure of this, it is worth knowing: the progesterone rate at the 3rd week of pregnancy may be within the lower limit. The main thing is that the hCG indicator tends to increase. This is the key to a successful start to pregnancy.

When planning a pregnancy, it is important to control the processes that take place inside, but the main thing in this matter is not to overdo it. If there is a delay in the onset of menstrual bleeding, the first thing a woman does after a rapid pregnancy test is to take a blood test for hCG. Most antenatal clinic doctors do not eventhey will offer to check the progesterone content of a woman, so for many pregnant women this study is not mandatory. The exception is those who previously had problems with the body's production of its own progesterone. As a rule, the first tests begin to be taken at 1-2 weeks of delayed menstrual bleeding, normally progesterone at the 6th week of pregnancy (here we are talking about the obstetric period) is 18.57 nmol / l.

Second and third trimesters

In the second trimester, the level of hormones is determined using prenatal screening. This control analysis is carried out at 16-18 weeks of pregnancy, according to the norms of progesterone in nmol / l at this time is 124-177. The test also examines the level of AFP, free estradiol and hCG. Screening allows you to identify the likelihood of a child being born with pathologies or genetic abnormalities. However, its results are not final, and if there are deviations, the doctors refer the expectant mother for additional consultation to narrow specialists.

The third screening is an ultrasound, cardiotocography. A separate blood test for hormone levels, including progesterone, is not required. As for the latter, if the doctor determined the need to control its content in the blood, then at the beginning of the third trimester the indicators are in the range of 270-326 nmol / l (29-30 weeks of pregnancy), and closer to the date of birth, the fortieth week, it will grow to 421-546 nmol/l.

It is important to understand that any deviations inblood counts should be commented on by the attending physician. No correspondence consultations will allow you to adequately assess the situation and select the appropriate treatment regimen.