Statistics show one-third of pregnancies end in spontaneous abortion or miscarriage. Sometimes it’s because of self-induced factors such as stress or ingesting dangerous substances. Spontaneous abortion may also occur due to low progesterone levels.
So, it’s highly advisable for people with a family history or showing symptoms of a miscarriage to take progesterone supplements. But what is progesterone, and what role does it play?
This article explains why progesterone supplements are good for expecting mothers.
What Is Progesterone?
When women ovulate, their bodies, specifically the ovaries, produce a hormone called progesterone. The role of progesterone is to make the uterus conducive for a potential pregnancy. It does this by forming a thick layer on your uterus which prevents you from rejecting foreign DNA(Sperm) and also gives the fertilized egg a surface for implantation.
In the first ten weeks after ovulation and subsequent conception, the ovaries will continue producing progesterone in enormous amounts to ensure a successful start to the pregnancy. From there, the placenta takes over the progesterone production in a lower quantity.
While the body naturally produces progesterone, some people don’t produce enough, prompting miscarriages. Thanks to the advancement in the medical world, women can now take progesterone supplements via pills or injections to help overcome the issue.
Benefits of Progesterone Supplements in Early Pregnancy
Progesterone supplements have changed the lives of many aspiring mothers. Some of the outstanding benefits include:
1. Support a Healthy Pregnancy.
Progesterone is produced throughout the pregnancy because it helps give the body the cues it needs to sustain a healthy pregnancy. For perspective, some people fail to produce milk because of low progesterone.
2. Prevents Miscarriages.
According to statistics, progesterone supplements significantly reduce the risk of a miscarriage for those with a history of the disorder. And even if you have never had one, but your body isn’t producing enough progesterone, the supplements can prevent spontaneous abortion.
3. Prevents Preterm Birth.
Some women have ample progesterone during the first trimester, but it decreases gradually to an unsustainable level. Taking progesterone supplements can help them prevent giving birth to premature babies.
Risk of Taking Progesterone
Most progesterone supplements are FDA-approved, and if you receive your dosage from a certified physician, there is little chance of it going wrong.
Some of the notable disadvantages include:
Masks Other Underlying Symptoms.
Patients need to undergo thorough examinations before receiving progesterone. If a patient has an ectopic pregnancy and takes progesterone supplements, the drug will mask the symptoms making it hard to administer treatment on time. Ectopic pregnancies may have deathly results for both the mother and child.
Increases Risk of Blood Clots.
Progesterone supplements increase the risk if you have underlying conditions that predispose you to developing blood clots. It is especially true if you are also taking estrogen pills, as the two are a deadly combo for creating blood clots.
Allergic Reactions.
Though rare, some people are allergic to progesterone supplements. The symptoms manifest as difficulty breathing, hives, vomiting, swelling, etc. Sadly, some doctors don’t test if you are allergic to the progesterone supplements before administering them. Thus, always ask your doctor to verify that you are not allergic.
Has Adverse Side Effects
Most people claim their morning sickness symptoms become heightened or even manifested for the first time, especially in the early days of taking progesterone supplements. Some common morning sickness symptoms include nausea, vomiting, headaches, fatigue, sweating, lack of appetite, etc.
Who Qualifies for Progesterone Supplements?
To qualify for progesterone administration, you need to satisfy certain qualities. Mostly because progesterone can be harmful if given to the wrong person and also to help gauge the correct dosage.
Some instances that require progesterone administration include the following:
When the Patient Shows Miscarriage Symptoms
If you start bleeding or have severe abdominal cramps during your pregnancy, it’s advisable to visit your doctor as soon as possible. Chances are, the bleeding might result from the shedding of the uterine wall, leading to spontaneous abortion. If the disorder is detected early enough, the doctor can prescribe progesterone to help prevent your issues from escalating to the point of affecting the pregnancy.
To Prevent Preterm Delivery
In the last trimester of pregnancy, you don’t need a lot of progesterone to sustain your pregnancy. But you risk having a premature baby if your body seizes to produce progesterone. If the baby has low chances of survival and other factors align, the healthcare professional can prescribe progesterone to help prevent premature delivery.
During the IVF Procedure
Progesterone starts being produced during ovulation to prepare the body for pregnancy. Thus, during IVF, the patient will need progesterone supplements during embryo transfer to compensate for the lack of it. Also, some studies show that it helps thicken the uterus lining to give the embryo a thick lining to implant on. But trials are ongoing to determine the validity of the latter.
To Treat Anovulatory Women
In layperson’s terms, anovulatory women are those whose bodies don’t produce the necessary hormones that trigger menstruation. So, their fertilized egg stays in the uterus for prolonged periods, producing several complications. But progesterone supplements can help them to release the egg after a few days.
Different Forms of Progesterone
Depending on your needs, and preference, you can get progesterone supplements in any of the four forms:
- Vaginal suppositories
- Vaginal inserts
- Vaginal gel
- Injections
Thus, review all the options with your doctor before deciding what will work for you. Keep in mind that some may have more risks than others.
Conclusion
Women’s bodies are meant to produce progesterone in high levels during the first trimester to help sustain the pregnancy, but that isn’t always possible. So, progesterone supplements are helpful for the small demographic of women who need them. And considering it’s pretty tricky and impossible to sustain a pregnancy to term without progesterone, progesterone supplements are a game changer.
