Low progesterone is a primary cause of miscarriages. According to a study 753 infertile women participated in 62 percent had low progesterone, which was found to be the main cause of their infertility.
Progesterone aka pregnancy hormone needs to be at the optimal level for pregnancy to be maintained.
Progesterone deficiency is characterized by PMS and short cycles and is often referred to as a luteal phase defect.
What does this mean?
Luteal phase is the post ovulatory phase characterized by increased progesterone production which is also called the secretory phase. During this phase corpus luteum (the left over of the burst follicle which released an egg during the ovulation) is producing progesterone, which is preparing the endometrium (the inside lining of the uterus/womb) for implantation, should the egg become fertilized.
If there is not enough progesterone being produced to sustain implantation pregnancy is unlikely. This can also be attributed to abnormal thyroid function. The thyroid gland regulates your metabolism and plays a key role in fertility.
How does this lead to infertility?
Even though the woman can ovulate and the egg can be fertilized, the endometrium is not prepared for implantation due to the lack of progesterone furthermore even if implantation takes place, there is not enough progesterone produced to sustain pregnancy and miscarriage can occur.
What can you do?
1. Ensure you are getting enough macro and micronutrients from your diet. The key is nutrient rich and calorie poor diet, rather than the other way around. An example of nutrient rich calorie poor dish would be a big mix salad with lots of different raw and steamed vegetables, sprinkled with some nuts, cottage cheese and slices of organic chicken or beans if you are vegetarian. An example of nutrient poor and calorie rich dish would be a pizza. I think you get the idea!
2. For optimal progesterone production the body requires adequate intake of B-Complex vitamins, in particular vitamin B6.
3. The other key nutrient in progesterone production is magnesium.
4. Eat plenty of organic dark green leafy vegetables, almonds, eggs, meat, black strap molasses, seeds, nuts and beans. They are all good sources of B vitamins and magnesium. However you may need to supplement to get optimal therapeutic doses of each. If you eat non organically grown food, the likelihood of nutrient depletion of those foods is high.
5. Eat a serve of good quality organic protein, the size of you palm 3 times a day. Hormones are made of protein so you want to make sure you are getting plenty in your diet.
6. If you are a vegetarian, remember to combine your protein sources to get complete protein. Only animal sources of protein are complete i.e. contain all of the essential amino acids. Therefore to get all of the required amino acids combine the grains with nuts or beans. If you are an ovo-lacto vegetarian (you eat eggs and dairy), include organic eggs and cottage cheese in your diet as they are great sources of easily digestible protein.
As you can see hormones can be balanced in a gentle and natural way. The beauty of using a natural approach to any physical ailment is that you are not only correcting the issue at hand but strengthening your whole being as well.
Author Resource:-
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this text with it: Leading naturopath Iva Keene publishes the 'Boost Your Fertility Naturally' ezine with tips to get you pregnant ASAP. Get your Free Fertility Advice
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