Study of hormonal levels: normal and pathological. Hormone tests: TSH, T4, AT to TPO. What tests do not need to be taken Mme ml to ng ml calculator

– a very important female sex hormone. It is produced by the corpus luteum and in the adrenal glands (in small quantities).

The role of progesterone in a woman’s body is great – it is on it that the conception and bearing of a child depends. From the moment of ovulation, the production of this hormone begins to increase, thanks to it the walls of the uterus become looser, the number of contractions decreases so that the egg has the opportunity to attach. Further production of the hormone by the corpus luteum is necessary to perform other, no less important, functions:

influence on the endometrium, which supports the embryo;
prevents the onset of menstruation;
stimulates the development of mammary gland structures that will produce milk;
influences the psycho-emotional state of a woman, develops the so-called maternal instinct.

In addition to its important role in female reproductive function, progesterone affects the body as a whole:

prevents the formation of fibrous cysts;
reduces blood viscosity;
controls sugar levels;
participates in fat metabolism.

The corpus luteum, which directly produces progesterone, is formed after the egg matures and leaves the follicle. The remaining membrane of the follicle is called the corpus luteum. Thus, progesterone begins to be produced on days 12–17 of the cycle. This time is called ovulation, which lasts only 24 hours. If the egg is not fertilized, it dies.

After ovulation, the luteal phase begins, at this time progesterone is produced up to 56 ng/ml - this is its maximum level, then if fertilization does not occur, it decreases.

If conception has occurred, the production of the hormone continues and rapidly increases - several hundred times.

This scheme works for natural fertilization; if the ECHO method is used, then in this case the woman does not form a corpus luteum, and accordingly, there is no required level of hormones. In this case, hormone therapy is prescribed until the progesterone level is reached and further throughout pregnancy.

Norm of progesterone by day of the cycle

In women, the rate of progesterone is determined depending on the day of the menstrual cycle. Each phase has its own value. Progesterone in the luteal phase reaches its maximum values - this indicates the beginning of ovulation and the preparation of the uterus for egg implantation. If during this period the hormone level is low and fertilization has occurred, a spontaneous miscarriage will occur. That is why women planning pregnancy should control the amount of progesterone in the second phase of the menstrual cycle.

A blood test is prescribed on day 22, but for a more detailed picture, doctors recommend taking it several times in a row to track the dynamics. What level of progesterone is considered normal? It should be noted that in women who take hormonal contraceptives, the indicators will differ significantly. The table shows standard indicators for each stage of the cycle:

If a woman is postmenopausal, then her hormone level should be from 0.32 to 2.51 nmol/l.

If conception occurs, then a rapid increase in the hormone occurs, and the pregnant woman will have the following indicators:

Two days before birth, the hormone level decreases sharply - to 2.3 nmol/l. This is necessary so that the uterus can contract and, thereby, stimulate labor. However, the amount of progesterone remains high - it is involved in stimulating milk production.

What is the effect of decreased and increased progesterone levels in women?

Lack of hormone levels primarily affects a woman’s reproductive system.

If the level of progesterone in the luteal phase is reduced, then the fertilized egg cannot attach to the walls of the uterus, dies and is released naturally along with the endometrium - this is menstruation.

If the amount of the hormone is reduced in the first trimester of pregnancy, a miscarriage occurs because the uterus contracts intensively and the endometrium is not sufficiently prepared to retain the amniotic egg. But if the problem is only in progesterone, then it can be solved with special drugs prescribed by the gynecologist.

The level of the hormone decreases due to the presence of the following problems in the body:

chronic stage of ovarian inflammation;
lack of ovulation;
irregular monthly cycle;
dysfunction of the corpus luteum;
adrenal gland diseases.

If the amount of progesterone decreases, this affects the level of estrogen - it increases and as a result the woman experiences:

sweating;
sleep disturbance;
weight gain;
swelling;
convulsions.

The estrogen level should be in the range from 11 to 191 pg/ml. In women during menopause – from 5 to 90 pg/ml.

An increase in progesterone levels in the body can be caused by the following reasons:

pregnancy;
uterine bleeding;
deviations in the development of the placenta;
due to the formation of a cyst in the corpus luteum;
pathology of the adrenal glands.

The influence of a woman's age on progesterone levels

With age, women's hormonal levels change completely - the production of some hormones, including progesterone, decreases, while others increase. With the onset of menopause, the ratio of estrogen and progesterone changes. Estrogen stimulates the activity of various body systems, and progesterone seems to restrain it. If an imbalance occurs, women experience so-called hot flashes. In this case, the condition is characterized by:

increased excitability;
frequent mood changes;
disruption of the sweat glands;
pain in the mammary glands;
weight gain.

The production of hormones decreases during menopause due to the attenuation of ovarian function. Fewer and fewer eggs mature, there is no ovulation, and progesterone is not produced. But this does not mean that its level in the blood decreases to zero - the required amount is produced by the adrenal glands if their function is not impaired.

How to take a progesterone test

To determine your progesterone level, you need to take a blood test. But before taking the test, you need to consult a gynecologist - he will tell you how to choose the right day. Many people prescribe analysis on the 20th day of the cycle, but this is not entirely true, because the following points need to be taken into account:

the onset of the ovulation phase. If the menstrual cycle is normal, then it begins on the 15th day, counting from the first day of the onset of menstruation, and if the cycle is unstable, it is necessary to measure the basal temperature. Every day the temperature in the rectum is recorded, and when a sharp decrease is noted, and the next day an increase, this indicates the onset of ovulation;
You can take the test 4 days after ovulation;
It is better to record the dynamics of changes in indicators - take several days in a row, starting from 15 to 23. This is the only way to record the phase growth of hormone production and compare the results with the normative ones;
take it in the morning, on an empty stomach, and it is better not to eat at all for 12 hours before the expected time of blood sampling.

It must be remembered that if during the period of testing you feel unwell and are treated with various drugs, the results may be unreliable. In this case, they should be retaken a month later or after the end of treatment.

How to decipher the analysis results

Levels of the hormone progesterone are measured in nanograms (0.000001 milligrams) in one milliliter of blood. According to another system, nmol is nanomole (10 -9 mol) per liter. Standard indicators are most often given in nmol/l. Therefore, the question often arises about how to convert ng/ml to nmol/l. It's not difficult at all, you just need to use the formula:

1 ng/ml * 3.18 = 1 nmol/l.

For example, a patient’s test result showed a hormone level in the blood of 22.4 ng/ml. Substituting the result into the formula, you get:

22.4 ng/ml * 3.18 = 71.23 nmol/l.

Considering that blood sampling is carried out during the luteal phase, and the progesterone norm on the 21st day of the cycle is 16.2–85.9, this result may indicate normal function of the corpus luteum and ovaries - there are no deviations.

Bibliography

Obstetrics. Clinical lectures: textbook with CD / Ed. prof. O.V. Makarova. - M.: GEOTAR-Media, 2007. - 640 pp.: ill.
Anatomically and clinically narrow pelvis. Chernukha E.A., Puchko T.K., Volobuev A.I. 2005 Publisher: Triad-X.
Non-developing pregnancy. Radzinsky V.E., Dimitrova V.I., Mayskova I.Yu. 2009 Publisher: Geotar-Media.
Miscarriage. A textbook for students, residents, graduate students, and students of FUVL.A. Ozolinya, T.N. Savchenko, T.N., Sumedi.-Moscow.-21s.-2010.
Intrauterine infection: Management of pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. UMO stamp for medical education. Sidorova I.S., Makarov I.O., Matvienko N.A. 2008 Publisher: MEDpress.
Preeclampsia: theory and practice. Ailamazyan E.K., Mozgovaya E.V. 2008 Publisher: MEDpress-inform.
Obstetric tactics for breech presentation, Strizhakov A.N., Ignatko I.V., M.: Dynasty, 2009.

Obstetrician-gynecologist, gynecologist-endocrinologist

Hello Olga

Laboratories may report hCG test results during pregnancy in different units of measurement, for example, mIU/ml, mIU/ml, mIU/ml, ng/ml and others.

Typically, hCG levels are measured in special units - mIU/ml- milli international units in 1 milliliter (in international designation - mIU/ml- milli-international units per millimeter).

honey/ml means the same as mIU/ml, only U are just units, and IU are international. That is, 1 mIU/ml = 1 mIU/ml

ng/ml (ng/ml)- these are nanograms per milliliter.

ng/ml x 21.28 = honey/mL or mIU/ml

mIU/ml or honey/m l / 21, 28 = ng/ml

Different laboratories report different hCG levels, depending on the units of measurement and the sensitivity of the methods used to determine hCG levels. When assessing the results of an analysis, you must rely only on the standards of the laboratory performing the analysis!

Sincerely,

Written Disclaimer

The information presented in this message should not be considered medical advice and cannot replace the advice of a physician. This message was written exclusively for the “Women’s Health” forum of the CIR Clinics and Laboratories website and is not intended for copying or distribution in any form without the written permission of the author. The author does not bear any responsibility for any consequences resulting from the use of the information contained in this message.

Progesterone is often called the pregnancy hormone, since it is most actively synthesized after fertilization of the egg. During the period of bearing a child, this hormone maintains the uterus in a relaxed state, preventing its contractions and, accordingly, miscarriage or premature birth.

In non-pregnant women, this steroid is produced in smaller quantities, but, nevertheless, its role in maintaining women's health is no less important than during pregnancy.

The level of progesterone in women directly depends on age, period of the menstrual cycle and stage of pregnancy. In this topic, we would like to invite you to understand what progesterone is, what its norm and functions are in the body, and also what changes in its level may indicate. In addition, we will tell you in detail how to determine the amount of progesterone in the blood of women and how to prepare for such a study.

Progesterone is a steroid hormone that is synthesized in the female body mainly by the ovaries and placenta, as well as in small quantities by the adrenal cortex.

In non-pregnant women, progesterone is responsible for reproductive health, namely the regular occurrence of the ovulatory period and menstruation. In pregnant women, progesterone allows them to carry a child to term.

To better understand how progesterone is produced and when it is best to determine it in the blood, we suggest first understanding what the menstrual cycle is.

The menstrual cycle is a sign of puberty in women, which indicates that a woman can perform reproductive functions.

The normal duration of the menstrual cycle is from 25 to 33 days. This period is usually divided into four phases, namely:

What is the role of progesterone in the female body?

Progesterone in women performs many tasks, among which are the following:

preparing the organs of a woman’s reproductive system for pregnancy;
ensuring the normal course of pregnancy and childbirth;
ensuring successful implantation of an egg fertilized by a sperm into the endometrium of the uterus.
stopping the rejection of the decidual layer of the uterus, thereby preventing the appearance of menstruation;
adaptation of the nervous system during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding;
maintaining a relaxed state of the uterus while bearing a child in order to prevent miscarriage or premature birth;
increased sebum secretion;
conversion of lipids into energy;
participation in the development of the glandular apparatus of the mammary gland;
preparing the mammary gland for lactation;
reducing the risk of fibrous cysts in the mammary glands;
participation in maintaining normal blood glucose levels;
regulates blood sugar levels;
increased blood pressure;
providing libido;
ensuring the formation of maternal instinct, etc.

The progesterone level in the blood test results is reflected in the form of nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml) or nanomoles per liter (nmol/l). To convert ng/ml to nmol/l, you need to multiply this number by 3.18.

As we have already mentioned, progesterone levels in women directly depend on the age and day of the menstrual cycle, and during pregnancy, on the period. Also, the amount of progesterone in the blood is affected by taking oral contraceptives, so this must be taken into account when deciphering the results.

Progesterone levels in non-pregnant women

As you can see, the trend is quite accurately demonstrated in how the level of progesterone depends on the phase of the cycle, with the maximum level of the hormone corresponding. Therefore, the most accurate analysis will be carried out from the 19th to the 23rd day of the menstrual cycle.

In postmenopause (menopause) the rate is less than 0.6 nmol/l.

Progesterone levels in pregnant women

The second table also shows us that progesterone levels increase with pregnancy. The highest levels of the hormone are in the last trimester, as this is necessary to prevent premature birth, as well as prepare the birth canal for delivery and the mammary glands for lactation.

The interpretation of a blood test for progesterone should be carried out exclusively by a specialist obstetrician-gynecologist, who will necessarily take into account the characteristics of the course and duration of pregnancy.

Progesterone test: how to prepare and when should you take it?

Blood test to determine progesterone levels prescribed to women in the following situations:

The progesterone test does not require any special preparatory measures; you just need to avoid eating food 8 hours before blood sampling.

In cases where the cycle duration is slightly longer (32-35 days), the analysis is performed on the 28th or 29th day of the cycle.

The regularity of menstruation plays an important role when choosing the time to take a blood test for progesterone. Therefore, when drawing blood, the nurse will definitely clarify when your last period began and how long your cycle is.

A blood test for progesterone during regular menstruation is carried out in the morning strictly on an empty stomach on the 21st day of the menstrual cycle, if its duration is 28 days. You can also conduct this study on the 22nd day or even the 23rd day, but the most objective results will still be on the 21st day of the menstrual cycle, since at this time the hormone level reaches its peak.

If you have an irregular menstrual cycle, a progesterone test is performed several times. When choosing a date for donating blood, you need to focus on ovulation, which is determined by rapid tests or by measuring basal temperature. In this case, the study is carried out on the 6-7th day after ovulation.

During menopause or during pregnancy, a blood test for progesterone is taken any day.

At your preliminary consultation with the doctor who is referring you for this study, you must inform him about taking any medications, as this may affect the objectivity of the results.

Blood test results for progesterone may be lower or higher than normal.

Progesterone is higher than normal: what are the reasons?

When progesterone is higher than normal levels, experts call this condition hyperprogesteronemia.

Causes of elevated blood levels of this hormone Non-pregnant women of childbearing age may have the following conditions:

If progesterone in the blood is too high, then A woman experiences symptoms such as:

fast fatiguability;
causeless weight gain;
increased sweating;
arterial hypertension;
dysmenorrhea;
acne;
flatulence;
increased sensitivity and soreness of the mammary glands;
emotional lability.

Lack of progesterone: what are the causes?

A decrease in the amount of this hormone in the blood is called hypoprogesteronemia.

The causes of such hormonal imbalance may be the following conditions:

Symptoms of hypoprogesteronemia:

infertility;
frequent miscarriages in the first trimester;
dysfunctional uterine bleeding;
dysmenorrhea;
unauthorized termination of pregnancy or premature birth;
post-term pregnancy;
placental insufficiency.

An obstetrician-gynecologist diagnoses and treats excess or deficiency of progesterone in women.

Regardless of whether the hormone in the blood is increased or decreased, you first need to find out why the hormonal imbalance occurred. To do this, a woman must undergo a comprehensive examination, the scope of which is prescribed by the attending doctor.

Almost always, a test is prescribed that simultaneously determines the level of estrogen and progesterone in the blood, since such a study is more informative.

When the cause of hypo- or hyperprogesteronemia is known, the treating doctor will prescribe treatment. For example, in case of cysts or tumors, surgical treatment is carried out, and in case of renal failure, kidney function is normalized, etc.

If there is an excess of progesterone, the basis of treatment is to eliminate the cause, because this is the only way to normalize the level of this hormone.

In case of progesterone deficiency, including during pregnancy, drugs from the group of progestins (Utrozhestan, Ingesta, Duphaston, Progesterone and others) are prescribed, which contain progesterone and are available in the form of injection solutions or tablets. Doses of drugs are selected strictly individually, depending on the results of the analysis.

breast tumors of any quality;
liver pathology;
metrorrhagia.

Progestins are also used with caution, under the supervision of the attending physician, in patients with diabetes mellitus, kidney failure, epilepsy, bronchial asthma and migraine.

In addition to drug treatment, regardless of the level of the hormone in the blood, All patients need to adhere to certain principles, namely:

eliminating stress;
limiting physical activity;
proper and healthy nutrition;
active lifestyle;
rejection of bad habits.

Thus, we can conclude that progesterone is one of the most important female hormones that are responsible for reproductive function, the normal course of pregnancy and preparation for childbirth. But, despite the importance of this hormone, in no case should you take medications containing it on your own, as this can have dangerous consequences for women’s health.

Why does a doctor often ask patients to take thyroid hormone tests rather than do an ultrasound? Which hormones should be tested first, and which tests are a waste of money? Dr. Anton Rodionov, in the book “Deciphering tests: how to make a diagnosis on your own,” talks in detail about what each thyroid hormone shows, about the norms of TSH, T3 and T4, and about the treatment of hypothyroidism and thyrotoxicosis.

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