The human body is built with many organs and systems that work in a manner. This enables humans to live and strive regarding the condition and environment. The complexity of the human body still holds mystery despite thousands of years of research and studies has been done to fully understand the way the human body works. One thing for sure, even the smallest part of the body such as hormones play a big role in a human life. In this article, we will be learning about one of the many hormones known as progesterone and what happens when this hormone is low.

            When hormone progesterone level is low, doctors will recommend therapy or treatment to restore the normal level. Drugs such as Duphaston 10 mg is among the common drugs used to help tackle this issue. What exactly is progesterone hormone? Progesterone is a natural hormone that plays a role in the female reproductive system. Progesterone is produced by the ovaries, placenta and the adrenal glands. It plays an important role in regulating the menstrual cycle and maintaining early pregnancy. Hence, a person with a progesterone deficiency will have problems with menstrual cycle and ability to get pregnant or maintain pregnancy.

               By knowing what progesterone is, you probably can guess what happens when the hormone is at a low level. Low progesterone level can definitely cause irregular menstrual cycles and difficulty conceiving. Low progesterone can be temporary but when it occurs for a long period constantly, this can be suspected as progesterone deficiency. In a natural state, progesterone is low during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle but if the progesterone continues to become low even outside of the normal menstrual cycle, this could be a sign of progesterone deficiency.

            The common symptoms of low progesterone are the irregular periods. Other includes abnormal uterine bleeding and pregnancy issues such as abdominal pain, recurrent pregnancy loss, early labour and ectopic pregnancy. Low progesterone level could also lead to severe symptoms during the menstrual cycle such as mood changes, weight gain, bloating and breast tenderness. Some even report frequent migraine episodes.

            There are many causes that could be responsible for low progesterone. It could be due to the hormone fluctuation during menstruation or menopause, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and low level of thyroid hormones (hypothyroidism). It could also be caused by usage of certain birth control, chronic stress and women with low body fat or overweight/obesity. In rare cases, it could be caused by inflammation, auto-immune disease, nutrition problems and certain cancers.

                   To know if a person has progesterone deficiency, blood tests can give insight on the level of the progesterone hormone in the body. In general, normal serum progesterone test results shows 1ng/mL for postmenopausal women and women at the beginning of the menstrual cycle, 5 to 20 ng/mL for women in the middle of menstrual cycle and pregnant women with 11.2 to 90 ng/mL. Hence, the number below of the normal ranges means low level of progesterone. It is worth noting that the normal range for progesterone can slightly differ according to the women’s menstrual cycle and the test done. Apart from blood tests, saliva tests and urine tests can give insight on a woman’s progesterone level and can be done at home.

            Since low progesterone levels do affect women in many ways, especially for those looking forward to pregnancy, treating this condition will help them have a better chance for bearing children. Treatment also helps to alleviate symptoms that always are bothersome during the menstrual cycle or pregnancy. In general, doctors will recommend prescription of progesterone in the form of oral but in some cases, patients may even receive progesterone in the form of topical cream or gel especially if the person is unable to tolerate oral progesterone. Vaginal or progesterone injection is usually given to prevent preterm birth in pregnant women. Prescription of vitamin supplements may improve progesterone level.

            It is important to treat low level progesterone because it does not only cause symptoms that are discomforting but also affect the woman’s life both mentally and physically. Having a good level of progesterone helps to improve fertility and provide chances for a healthy pregnancy.

            Without a doubt, women with low progesterone level should be treated. To leave it untreated or unattended by a doctor will result in catastrophe in future especially those wanting to have their own child. Women should never self-treat hormone issues as it is a complex issue and best understood by medical practitioners. Hormone therapy is available in many forms. Do discuss with your doctor on what is the best choice. Should there be side effects, never stop using the medication and notify your doctor about the issues. It is best to talk with a healthcare provider whenever you think you have medical conditions affecting menstruation or pregnancy. Should there be any enquiries or questions regarding hormonal problems, always talk to a doctor and never self-diagnose or treat by yourself.

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