Progesterone - a steroid hormone that regulates the function of the human reproductive system. Its concentration is higher in the female body, but also requires the male progesterone. For tests to determine the level of this hormone is often necessary for women in cases where there are problems in conceiving or carrying a pregnancy, as well as for some other reasons.
Why get tested
Progesterone is needed female body for the normalization of the menstrual cycle, and in the case pregnancy - normal fetal development, or prevent it from fading spontaneous abortion. Normally, women develop this hormone occurs in different amounts throughout the cycle.
In the male, progesterone affects the reproductive function, maintains a balance between testosterone and cortisol. Its level in a healthy representative of the stronger sex in their lifetime is almost unchanged, but slightly decreases with age. Progesterone test pass in the following cases:
- If you encounter difficulties with conception and diagnosis of infertility.
- When menstruation disorders (dysfunctional bleeding, pain, irregular cycle, etc...) And amenorrhea - absence of menstruation in women of reproductive age for 6 months or more.
- To assess the functioning of the corpus luteum (in women).
- For the forecast of normal pregnancy in its planning. It prevents the possibility of complications.
- At the beginning of the first trimester. Revealed a risk of miscarriage or the consolidation of the ovum outside the uterus.
- Prenatal care may be needed. Periodically assesses the state of the placenta and fetus.
- To confirm the diagnosis in cases where there are symptoms of a pathological condition of the ovaries in women, testes - male.
- If you suspect a thyroid disease and adrenal glands in both sexes.
- To assess the natural ovulation and effectiveness of its stimulation procedures.
- When treating drugs with progesterone. Periodically assess its effectiveness.
- The presence of a patient with a history of miscarriages in infectious diseases, autoimmune and endocrine nature.
Take the progesterone necessary for analysis and if there is suspicion of prolonged pregnancy. The following symptoms indicate the level of progesterone abnormalities: obesity, problem skin, swings mood, chest pain, abdominal distension, pregnant - the appearance of edema and increase in blood pressure.
How to prepare for the study
Proper preparation for taking a blood test to progesterone plays an important role, otherwise the results will turn out distorted. Donate blood from a vein in the morning you need to this time after the last meal took 8-12 hours. Up to 1 day before the study excluded sex, alcohol and tobacco. It is desirable at this time not to abuse the sharp, sweet and fatty foods, stop strong tea and coffee. A person who can not survive without smoking should stop smoking for at least 1-2 hours.
3 days should also stop taking medications such as antibiotics and hormones, if this is impossible - to put in the doctor's reputation, outstanding direction for analysis. For 24 hours before blood sampling excluded psycho-emotional and physical stress, in Vol. H. jogging and sports training. Before taking in a laboratory it is recommended to first calm down and relax for 20-30 minutes to donate blood in a good mood.
Children under 5 years of age should donate blood progesterone after drink on an empty stomach a glass of clean water without gas. Liquid yield in small portions over an hour before blood sampling. Children over 5 years old need to be prepared for analysis as well as adults. A blood test for progesterone level can not be performed after ultrasound and X-ray studies.
Fasting or not
Properly tested for progesterone can be in the morning after an overnight fast. The night before, it allowed only a light supper. In the morning before breakfast analysis can not turn drinking juices, fruit drinks, and other beverages containing fruit sugar and additives.
The only non-carbonated water can be used as a drink.
If to be tested in the morning, skipping breakfast, it is not possible, permitted blood sampling during the day or evening, but in this case the blood should take on an empty stomach. On the day of delivery allows the use of low-fat diet food, and after the last of its admission to the blood sample must be at least 6 hours.
How to get tested
Before the manipulation of the patient must be put in a laboratory informed about the beginning of their menstrual cycle or menopause, pregnant woman indicates her life. At irregular menstruation doctor may prescribe multiple studies. The patient takes blood from a vein, after which the whey is released from the biological material, and immunochemical method defined progesterone levels.
Day cycle is selected depending on the intended diagnosis. If the gynecologist suspected pathology of the ovaries or adrenal glands, the analysis For 1-3 day of menstruation. In the case of diagnosis of another study carried out for 6-8 days after ovulation established, which corresponds to 21-23 day of a 28 day cycle.
Determine when ovulation has occurred, by using specific tests, which are sold over the counter or with regular morning measurement of basal body temperature. These actions are necessary to do the patients, the cycle is greater than or less than 28 days. Analysis of progesterone during pregnancy is carried out according to indications in any convenient day woman.
The best time to check the level of the "female" hormone - from 08:00 to 10:00 am, so during these hours in the blood is observed the highest concentration of it per day. Most correctly to be tested for progesterone in this period, because the hormone concentration standards are set for him.
For example, if the level of progesterone corresponds to the lower limit of normal, when blood sampling after 10:00 it can fall even lower, which would lead to incorrect diagnosis and fruitless treatment. If the gynecologist assigns follow-up study, it should be carried out in the same laboratory, t. To. In the other can be used other methods, chemical reagents and standards of performance.
how do
In standard situations, laboratory results of the handed over analyzes issued on the day after blood collection in writing. The analysis itself to progesterone is 2-3 hours, and the finished result can get your hands on if necessary earlier.
Norm
The women at the beginning of the menstrual cycle, progesterone is produced in small amounts by the adrenal cortex. This happens because in this period, the egg grows and matures only in the ovarian follicle, the body is no need to prepare for pregnancy, progesterone and it is not needed. The first phase of the cycle lasts from 1 day before ovulation and menstruation called follicular, progesterone is normal for her - 0,34-2,25 nmol / l.
After oocyte maturation grown follicle bursts, and ovulation. The egg moves to the uterus, and in the place where the ruptured follicle, formed t. N. corpus luteum. This formation is the main source of progesterone all the luteal phase, or the second half cycle. The sharp rise in the blood concentration of hormone occurs in about 10 hours before ovulation, caused by the need to prepare for a possible female organism to pregnancy and is 0,47-9,1 nmol / l.
The level remains high throughout the ovulation period, which lasts 12-36 hours. Reducing the concentration of the hormone before 6,9-56,6 nmol / L indicates that conception has occurred. In this case, the luteal phase of the cycle begins, ending menstruation.
If a woman becomes pregnant, the progesterone levels continue to gradually grow to 37-38 weeks, ie. A. Hormone is essential for the full gestation and proper development of the fetus.
1-12 week he is 8,9-467,5 nmol / L, 13-28 - 72-303,4 nmol / L, 29-40 - 88,9-771,6 nmol / L. Progesterone levels in women after menopause falls below 0.63 nmol / L. For men are considered normal values within 0,36-0,62 nmol / L.
What to do with deviations
If the analysis showed that the concentration of progesterone is higher or lower than normal, it means that not everything is in order in the human body. Learn transcript figures obtained in a laboratory study, you need to with your doctor. Make the correct diagnosis and treatment can only be a specialist.
progesterone levels below normal is dangerous for those who are planning a pregnancy or are already preparing to become a mother. Hormone deficiency in pregnant women may be designated threat of spontaneous abortion, placental insufficiency, intrauterine growth retardation, perenashivanie pregnancy. Non-pregnant women may suffer the following pathologies:
- the persistence of the follicle where the egg can not escape it, leading to infertility;
- uterine bleeding at the absence of ovulation;
- low activity of the corpus luteum;
- chronic inflammation of internal genital organs;
- lack of ovulation and menstrual bleeding;
- headaches and dizziness;
- unstable psycho-emotional condition - increased irritability, aggressiveness.
In men with low progesterone developing hypogonadism (primary or secondary) - reduced production of androgens. Increased progesterone concentration is characterized by the following conditions of pregnant women:
- disorders of embryonic development of the fetus in t. h. molar pregnancy;
- inhibited the maturation of the placenta;
- dysfunction fetoplacental complex.
Increased concentration of "female" of the hormone in nonpregnant women may indicate ovarian tumors, renal insufficiency, tumor or adrenal hyperplasia, taking medicines containing progesterone, men - testicular tumor pathology or adrenal.
