What Does Low Progesterone in Pregnancy Mean?
As we know, progesterone is a vital pregnancy hormone, secreted by the ovary. The most important functions of this hormone are to regulate the menstrual cycle in women, prepare the endometrial lining of the uterus for implantation of the fertilized egg, raise the basal body temperature after ovulation and increase the supply of glycogen and arterial blood to the lining of the uterus to provide proper nutrition to the baby. Progesterone is also responsible for preventing uterine contractions during pregnancy, so as to prevent miscarriage. The level of progesterone in the body rises rapidly during ovulation, and remains so if pregnancy occurs. If pregnancy or conception does not occur, then the level of this hormone drops significantly, which induces the shedding of the endometrium, or menstruation. As a drop in the level of progesterone triggers the shedding of the endometrial lining of the uterus, low progesterone during early pregnancy (the first 10 to 12 weeks) may result in miscarri
