During an assisted reproduction treatment, leading a healthy lifestyle is essential. In many cases, certain levels of vitamins and hormones are essential for pregnancy to occur. This is what happens, for example, with progesterone, better known as the pregnancy hormone.
WHAT IS PROGESTERONE?
Progesterone is a steroid hormone that belongs to the group of progestogens, that is, the hormones responsible for maintaining pregnancy.
Specifically, progesterone is synthesized by the ovaries of women after ovulation. This phase is very important to make the endometrium receptive so that the embryo can adhere to it and give rise to a pregnancy. During pregnancy, its function is to maintain the uterine tissue in optimal conditions, until the moment of delivery.
WHAT HAPPENS IF PROGESTERONE LEVELS ARE LOW?
If progesterone levels drop during the fourth week of the menstrual cycle, this causes shedding of the endometrium in the form of menstruation. That is, as there has been no implantation or pregnancy, the endometrium has to be removed so that it can regenerate again in the next menstrual cycle.
FOODS TO REGULATE PROGESTERONE LEVELS
- Foods rich in zinc: in this group, we can find seeds, nuts, legumes, or mushrooms.
- Vitamin B: foods such as bananas, avocado, corn, or oatmeal.
- Omega 3: oily fish, shellfish, olive oil, avocado, among others.
- Rich in antioxidants: fruits and vegetables with vitamin C, green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, watermelon, or legumes.
As we have mentioned before, this hormone is key for the expected pregnancy to occur. The Ovoclinic medical team recommends having progesterone levels in the blood between 1 ng/mL and 20 ng/mL, although it will always depend on the moment of the cycle in which we find ourselves and the case of each patient.
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