Fertility, Infertility and Natural Progesterone

The levels of progesterone in a woman’s body rise and fall dramatically with her monthly cycles. At ovulation, the production of progesterone rapidly rises from 2-3mg per day to an average of 22mg per day, peaking as high as 30mg per day a week or so after ovulation.

After ten or twelve days, if fertilisation does not occur, ovarian production of progesterone falls significantly. It is this sudden decline in progesterone levels (as well as estrogen levels) that triggers a period (menstruation), and another menstrual cycle will begin.

If pregnancy occurs, progesterone production increases and the shedding of the lining of the uterus is prevented, preserving the developing embryo. As pregnancy progresses, progesterone production is taken over by the placenta and its secretion increases gradually to levels of 300-400mg per day during the third trimester.

During pregnancy, rising progesterone levels prevent the premature shedding of the uterine lining (pro-gestation). If progesterone levels drop due to inadequate progesterone production, then a premature delivery could result, or bring about a miscarriage in the early trimesters.

Progesterone also influences the development of the breasts during pregnancy in preparation for producing milk after the birth. It has an impact on ligaments and muscles throughout the body as well, essentially to allow the suppleness and expansion necessary for giving birth. This also accounts for some of the problems which may be experienced during pregnancy - backache, constipation, and low-blood-pressure, for example.

Although the data are not entirely clear, it appears that progesterone may also have an effect on transport time of the ovum in the fallopian tube, and it may make the ovum more susceptible to sperm penetration.

Dr. Katharina Dalton is one of the many scientists and doctors who have discovered that progesterone in the natural form protects the fetus from miscarriage.

Her studies many, many years ago lead her to conclude that preeclampsia (also called toxemia, characterized by high blood pressure, swelling � particularly of the hands and face � and protein in the urine) could show up in the middle months, and that when given progesterone, the results were excellent and statistically significant.

You may be concerned about the safety of using progesterone supplementation in early pregnancy. There is no accurate figure, but well over a million children worldwide have been subjected to such therapy during their mother’s pregnancies.

There has never been any pattern of birth defects reported in patients so treated. However, there can be no guarantees that there will be no birth defects since 2% of all births are associated with some sort of birth defect (usually mild). But, there is no reported increase in the rate of birth defects with progesterone therapy prescribed in early pregnancy.

To protect the foetus the body secretes ten to fifteen times more progesterone during pregnancy than at other times. Dr. Lee tells us that the placenta becomes the major source of progesterone. per day during the third trimester. What a great protection we have during pregnancy with this incredible hormone! And with no known dangerous side effects.

Women with a history of ‘high risk’ pregnancies are encouraged to continue progesterone supplementation up until delivery. However, the late Dr Lee warned us that should we decide to stop applying progesterone, make sure we wean off our dose ever so gradually.