What are the advantages and disadvantages of using progesterone cream during pregnancy?
The advantage of progesterone cream during pregnancy is the improvement of the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and a reduction in chances to timely abortion. During the luteal phase, progesterone is responsible for preparing the body for successful pregnancy. Some obstetricians feel that strengthening natural progesterone in early pregnancy reduces the chances of abortion due to a short and weak luteal phase. However, the research certainly could not prove that the use of progesterone cream would prevent abortion. In addition, many side effects are associated with the use of progesterone.
Progesterone cream during pregnancy is often used to repair a shortened luteal phase, which can lead to early abortion. The luteal phase is the time during the menstrual cycle between the release of the egg called ovulation and menstruation. This is when progesterone is produced by corpus luteum or ovarian follicle that remained after the egg was released. Progesterone is responded to body preparation for fertilized eggs by increasing body temperature, ripening endometrial lining and obviousby releasing menstruation lining. If corpus luteum does not create enough progesterone, fertilized eggs will not either implant correctly or shed during menstruation, which will lead to abortion.
The shortened luteal phase is usually diagnosed by mapping basal body temperature, blood tests and endometrial biopsy. If the luteal phase is short, it is one way to treat the problem with progesterone. The body can absorb progesterone through the skin, so it is possible to improve the shortened luteal phase using local progesterone cream. Progesterone cream during pregnancy is usually initiated after ovulation and can continue during the first three months of pregnancy.
The disadvantages of using progesterone cream in pregnancy are inconsistency of research on the effectiveness of progesterone in the prevention of abortion. Reficting research studies have found that progesterone is beneficial and ineffective in the prevention of abortion.This inconsistency causes obstetricians to hesitate to prescribe or recommend using this hormone to treat a shortened luteal phase, instead turned to clinically proven drugs such as clomid.
Further contraindications for the use of progesterone cream during pregnancy are many side effects. The most common side effects are headaches, fatigue, mood swings and depression. Other less common side effects are joint and acne pain. After the first application of the progesterone cream, the woman should carefully monitor itchy rash, red and swollen skin or any other signs of allergic reaction. The use of cream should be stopped immediately and if an allergic reaction is observed, a doctor should be consulted.