If there is one hormone that plays the most important role in your pregnancy, it is progesterone. Progesterone is a female reproductive hormone that helps women conceive and aid in the baby’s development till childbirth.
If you wish to undergo IVF, your fertility doctor will definitely check your progesterone levels. You will also be administered several hormonal injections along with progesterone to increase your pregnancy success rate.
So, why is progesterone so important in IVF pregnancy? What are the factors that can influence your progesterone levels? Let’s learn about all this in this article.
Importance Of Progesterone Level For Embryo Transfer
Progesterone plays a significant role in embryo implantation and the healthy development of the baby, whether it is a natural pregnancy or IVF pregnancy. Below are some of the reasons why progesterone is important during your embryo transfer.
Progesterone helps thicken the endometrial lining
Your endometrial lining is one of the most common factors that determine the success or failure of your pregnancy. It is also one of the most common infertility issues.
During IVF, your doctor will give you progesterone medications. These medications will thicken your endometrium and prepare it for embryo implantation.
If the lining is not thick enough, the embryo won’t be able to implant properly, leading to IVF failure which can be identified by some of the symptoms. So, progesterone is important for embryo implantation and pregnancy.
Progesterone helps improve blood flow to the uterus
Progesterone can help relax blood vessels, thus improving blood flow to your reproductive organs. A good blood flow can help grow the uterine lining and can also provide the implanted embryo with the nutrients it needs to grow healthily.
As you can see, progesterone is required for both a successful embryo transfer and a successful pregnancy. The average progesterone level needed for pregnancy differs for each woman based on their condition.
Your fertility doctor will assess your condition and determine the dosage and duration of your fertility medications.
Factors That Can Influence Progesterone Levels
Progesterone is a hormone that is naturally produced by your body every month. During each menstrual cycle, your body will produce progesterone to prepare the endometrial lining for implantation.
If fertilization happens, your body will continue producing the hormone and support pregnancy. If there is no fertilization, the egg, and the endometrial tissue will be expelled during your periods. Your progesterone levels will also decrease.
Aside from the menstrual cycle, below are some other factors that can influence your progesterone levels and affect pregnancy.
Certain medical condition
Certain medical conditions like PCOS, ovarian dysfunctions, hormonal imbalance, tumors, etc., can affect progesterone secretion and affect menstrual cycle and fertility.
Unhealthy lifestyle
Consuming unhealthy foods, smoking, drinking, and leading a sedentary lifestyle can affect your hormone levels and disrupt progesterone secretion.
Certain medications
Birth control pills, rings, patches, etc., are used to either prevent a pregnancy or to stimulate menstruation. All these can affect progesterone pregnancy and affect pregnancy chances.
Need For Consulting Your Doctor
Insufficient progesterone can severely affect your chances of success in your IVF treatments. It is necessary to check for progesterone and other hormone levels in your body before starting your IVF treatments.
If there are issues with your hormone levels, discuss this issue with your doctor and understand what you can do to improve the situation. Remember, your doctor knows your body best and can give you effective medications to improve your condition.
Conclusion
Progesterone is an essential hormone that plays a significant role in embryo implantation and a successful pregnancy. If you have any concerns regarding your hormone levels or other issues, don’t hesitate to contact your fertility doctor for clarification.
Your doctor and other staff in the fertility hospital will stay with you till the end and help you overcome your issue and get pregnant.
There is no definite progesterone level one should have for embryo transfer. The level varies for each woman. The average progesterone level a woman might need for a successful pregnancy is about 22–31 ng/ml
You need an average progesterone hormone level of 22–31 ng/ml to successful implant the embryo and get pregnant. However, this is just an average amount and the progesterone you might need differs according to your specific body condition.
During IVF, your doctor will give you progesterone medications. These medications will thicken your endometrium and prepare it for embryo implantation.
If the lining is not thick enough, the embryo won’t be able to implant properly, leading to IVF failure. So, progesterone is important for embryo implantation and pregnancy.
