Progesterone & Hormone Balancing
Where Is Progesterone Produced?
Progesterone is produced in the corpus luteum post-ovulation or after a follicle in the ovary produces a mature ovum. The corpus luteum is composed of the follicular granulosa cells and follicular theca cells ( the outer shell of the follicle), its cells convert cholesterol into progesterone. After progesterone has circulated in the blood it is then metabolized by the liver and secreted through the urine as PdG.
Question: I wonder if there is a link here between indivduals with high cholesterol and progesterone?
Testing
Progesterone is best tested 7 days post-ovulation, elevated progesterone is a sure sign that ovulation has occurred. - 5ng/ml or higher confirms ovulation but progesterone needs to be 10ng/ml to mantain hormonal balance.
Significance
Progesterone has many functions:
During your menstrual cycle it is responsible for thickening the endometrium in prep for a fertilized egg
Aids in sleep and reduces sleep apnea occurrence of sleep apnea
Assists with menopause hormonal regulation
Increases your overall energy by stimulating your thyroid and speeding up the metabolism.
Progesterone can help increase your mood, acts as a natural anti-depressant, deters anxiety, assists with mood swings, and even relieves postpartum depression.
Question: During postpartum how soon does progesterone regulate in the body?
During Pregnancy:
Produces the hormone relaxin for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy which softens the joints of your pelvis to ensure a smooth vaginal delivery - after the initial 12 weeks, the corpus luteum degenerates into the corpus albican and the placenta takes over the function of producing progesterone.
Blood supply increases to supply oxygen and nutrients to a growing baby
Uterus increases and also the myometrium ( the outer muscle of the uterus) relaxes to protect pregnancy from being ousted early.
The corpus luteum has a role in control of blood pressure, the hormone relaxin is a vasodilator ( dilates blood vessels )and prevents elevated blood pressure. Those without a corpus luteum are at higher risk of pre-eclampsia which raises blood pressure to a possible fatal rate for carrier and baby.
Question: Black women are 60% more likely to develop pre-eclampsia, is this due to a lack of progesterone or absence of corpus luteum, if so why?