Is progesterone an estrogen?

Progesterone is a hormone secreted by the human body. This hormone is not estrogen, but a type of progestin. Its content will continue to increase during pregnancy. It is very important for the development of the fetus. Therefore, if the progesterone content is too low during pregnancy, it will cause fetal malformations. However, its effect is different from that of estrogen, and everyone should correctly distinguish the value of the two.

Progesterone is indeed a hormone secreted by the human body, but it is not estrogen. It is a type of progesterone, also known as progesterone, which is secreted by the ovaries. Progesterone and estrogen are two vital hormones for women. They are equally important but play different roles. For pregnant women, progesterone determines the health of the fetus.

As a progestin, progesterone can protect the female endometrium. For ordinary women, progesterone can generally make menstruation occur. In order to avoid menstruation during competitions, many female athletes use progesterone to advance menstruation. For pregnant women, progesterone can promote the production of the placenta and provide all-round support and protection for the growth and development of the fetus. When progesterone is secreted in excess, it will inhibit the production of oocytes through negative feedback regulation. If it works synergistically with estrogen, it can promote breast development and milk production.

For ordinary women, a lack of progesterone can cause irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, more blood clots during menstruation, and discomfort such as breast soreness and pain. In severe cases, it can cause infertility. For pregnant women, low progesterone is a very serious problem, which can cause miscarriage, premature birth and other problems.

If you are diagnosed with low progesterone, you must follow your doctor's advice and supplement with an appropriate amount of progesterone. Do not take or inject progesterone on your own, as this may cause serious consequences. As a hormone, progesterone may cause problems such as weight gain, edema, loss of appetite, acne, etc. after supplementation. This is a normal phenomenon, but if the side effects are too severe, you should contact your doctor in time to change the treatment plan.

The main physiological functions of estrogen are:

1) Promote the development of endometrium, increase muscle, increase blood flow, increase uterine contraction force, and increase the sensitivity of uterine smooth muscle to oxytocin.

2) Endometrial hyperplasia.

3) Relax the cervix, increase cervical mucus secretion, dilute the mass, and make it easier to pull into a thread-like shape.

4) Promote the development of fallopian tubes and enhance the amplitude of rhythmic contraction of fallopian tubes.

5) Proliferation and keratinization of vaginal epithelial cells and full development of labia.

6) Mammary duct hyperplasia, nipple and areola pigmentation.

7) Promote the development of other secondary sexual characteristics.

8) Estrogen is essential for the development of ovarian follicles. It plays a role in the development of primordial follicles into mature follicles and helps store cholesterol in the ovaries.

9) Controls the secretion of pituitary gonadotropin by regulating positive feedback in the hypothalamus.

10) Metabolism plays a certain role in promoting the retention of sodium and water. In fat metabolism, total cholesterol tends to decrease, β-lipoprotein decreases, and the ratio of cholesterol to phospholipids decreases, which is beneficial to the prevention of coronary artery atherosclerosis.

11) Epiphysis can promote the deposition of calcium in bones. Puberty under the influence of estrogen can close the bones. Osteoporosis occurs after menopause due to lack of estrogen.