Symptoms of Low Progesterone in Pregnancy
An essential hormone during pregnancy, progesterone is produced before you even conceive, with levels rising throughout your pregnancy until right before you give birth. Watch for symptoms of low progesterone during pregnancy in order to get prompt treatment and minimize your chances of developing potential complications.
Other People Are Reading
-
Symptoms
-
The most common symptoms of low progesterone during pregnancy include unusual vaginal spotting and cramping in the early gestational weeks. Other normal events, such as implantation of the fertilized egg in the lining of the uterus, can also cause these symptoms, so it is important to consult your doctor if you experience these symptoms.
Progesterone's Role in Pregnancy
-
According to the American Pregnancy Association, progesterone is essential to maintaining a healthy pregnancy since it keeps the uterus from contracting and decreases the body's production of prostaglandins.
-
Significance
-
Low progesterone during pregnancy is associated with the development of certain pregnancy complications, including miscarriage (spontaneous loss of pregnancy) and preterm labor (labor before week 37 of pregnancy).
Diagnosis
-
If you suspect you have low progesterone during pregnancy, your doctor will typically conduct a blood test to check your body's progesterone levels.
Treatment
-
According to the Alan E. Beer Center for Reproductive Immunology and Genetics, treatment for symptoms of low progesterone during pregnancy consists of progesterone supplementation, typically done through at least the sixteenth week of pregnancy. Progesterone supplementation can be done vaginally, through injection or orally; vaginal suppositories are usually the preferred method since they allow the progesterone to stay in the blood the longest.
-
