Adaora Ukoh Gynaecologist says low progesterone causes miscarriage, infertility

Ukoh told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja that if a woman doesn’t have enough progesterone it would be difficult for pregnancy to occur.

She described progesterone as one of the hormones in a woman’s body that stimulates and regulates various functions such as the ovulation and menstrual cycle.

The expert also explained progesterone as a female sex hormone produced mainly in the ovaries following ovulation each month which is crucial in menstrual cycle as well as maintaining pregnancy.

According to her, progesterone is one of the steroid hormones secreted by the corpus luteum, a temporary endocrine gland that the body produces after ovulation during the second half of a woman’s menstrual cycle.

She added that fertility and menstruation are largely controlled by hormones such as progesterone and if it becomes low could reduce the chances of having a normal menstrual cycle as such leads to infertility.

“Women who have low progesterone will have abnormal menstrual cycles and also have difficulty conceiving because the progesterone does not trigger the proper environment for a conceived egg to grow.

“Those that succeed in getting pregnant are at higher risk of miscarriage or pre-term delivery because the hormone progesterone helps maintain pregnancy.

“If you have low progesterone it will be difficult to become pregnant as well as staying pregnant,’’ she said.

However, Ukoh said that treating the condition could start from introducing hormone therapy in order to increase progesterone as well as thicken the uterine lining.

She suggested oral medications, creams and gels that could be used in the vagina in order to help promote the level of progesterone.

Ukoh also recommended the intake of vitamins such as B and C as well as consuming foods rich in zinc such as shellfish to help treat the condition.

She further enjoined women with the condition to avoid stress, noting that cortisol are released when stressed, which reduces the level of progesterone.

The expert however advised women trying to conceive who have liver disease and blood clots among others, to avoid the use of hormone therapy.