Progesterone in the menstrual cycle - how it affects the desire to have children and subsequent pregnancy

There are days when you feel completely balanced and energetic and then there are days when your mood is in the basement and you feel drained. Many hormones in your body are responsible for these moods, because they control your well-being. But not only that, your fertility is also controlled by hormones. In this article you will learn specifically what the hormone progesterone has to do with your moods and your unfulfilled desire to have children.

It is easy to explain that during the luteal phase, i.e. the cycle phase after ovulation, the so-called corpus luteum is formed in one of the two ovaries of the woman. This in turn is responsible for the production of progesterone. In addition, the corpus luteum hormone promotes the mobility of the sperm and makes it more likely that the egg will be fertilised.

Natural progesterone fluctuates during the menstrual cycle because the body is subject to hormonal fluctuations. This is perfectly normal and should be the case for every woman, as long as you feel well and your periods are regular, there is nothing to worry about. (Note: A regular cycle is defined as 24-36 days per cycle).

Luteal insufficiency is often the cause of an unfulfilled desire to have children and is a functional disorder of the ovaries. Luteal weakness can be caused by various disorders. Physical strain and physical stress or a lack of nutrients are often the triggering causes.
The following symptoms are very common in connection with luteal insufficiency:

• Headaches
• Uncontrolled weight gain
• Long/very heavy periods
• Depressed mood
• Early PMS symptoms
• No libido
• Formation of cysts
• PCOS

Progesterone is considered the most important female sex hormone because it prepares the lining of the uterus for implantation of the fertilised egg. If you notice that your body is behaving unnaturally and you have, for example, a racing heart, a feeling of heat or you feel weak, then a progesterone deficiency could possibly be responsible for this. This occurs when the hormone oestrogen takes over and there is a higher concentration of oestrogen in your body.

Typical oestrogen dominance can be seen in the perimenopause. This is the phase where the hormonal changes in women begin. This phase is characterised by hot flushes, sleep disturbances and a weaker menstrual period than before. During these years, the body is dominated by oestrogen and is weaker in the corpus luteum. This is completely normal and okay during these years. However, it should be examined if it occurs before the mid 40s.

If you want to have children and you have a progesterone deficiency or oestrogen dominance, this often leads to complications. This can lead to cycle disorders, which in turn can lead to an unfulfilled desire to have children. For this reason, it is recommended that you have your progesterone checked if you have had an unfulfilled desire to have a child for a long time.

The hormone progesterone is also very important during pregnancy, because it ensures that the lining of the uterus unfolds and is supplied with more blood. In addition, it helps to prepare the mother’s breasts for milk production.

Especially in the early stages of pregnancy, it can be very dangerous if progesterone levels are too low. The lack of progesterone leads to undesirable symptoms during pregnancy. Muscle and joint pain, and early PMS symptoms to name a few. In the worst case, it can even lead to a loss in the first few weeks. Often this happens even before you are aware that you are pregnant. For this reason, it is advisable to control the corpus luteum hormone if you wish to have a child, to prevent this from happening in the first place.

Have you been diagnosed with luteal insufficiency and would like to get pregnant? Don’t worry! A progesterone deficiency does not mean that it is impossible to get pregnant. Today’s medicine has many treatment options that can be prescribed and used, from hormone production medications to progesterone creams.

If you want to monitor your body closely to discuss this with your doctor, we recommend breathe ilo cycle tracker. This can help him/her to make a diagnosis more quickly.