![]() Between weeks 6-9 of pregnancy, the placenta takes over from the ovaries as the main producer of progesterone. The cells that make up the placenta, known as trophoblasts, are able to convert cholesterol from the mother’s bloodstream into progesterone. Stimulating the endometrium to grow and become thickened, producing the decidua (a unique organ that supports the attachment of the placenta) and allowing implantation of the embryo.Īs the placenta forms and grows, it develops the ability to produce hormones.Stimulating glands in the lining of the womb (the endometrium) to produce nutrients that sustain the early embryo.Increasing blood flow to the womb by stimulating the growth of existing blood vessels.At this early stage, progesterone has many different functions which are vital to the establishment of pregnancy, including: During the first few weeks of pregnancy, progesterone produced from the corpus luteum (a temporary endocrine gland of the ovaries) is sufficient to maintain pregnancy. High levels of progesterone are required throughout pregnancy with levels steadily rising until the birth of the baby. The role of progesterone and oestrogen during pregnancy Human chorionic gonadotrophin passes through the mother’s blood to the ovaries to regulate the levels of the pro-pregnancy hormones, oestrogen and progesterone. This is because rising levels of human chorionic gonadotrophin causes more blood to flow to the pelvic area and kidneys, which causes the kidneys to eliminate waste quicker than before pregnancy. It is partly responsible for the frequent urination often experienced by pregnant women during the first trimester. Human chorionic gonadotrophin can be detected in the urine as early as 7-9 days after fertilisation and is used as an indicator of pregnancy in most over-the-counter pregnancy tests. This hormone continues to be produced in large quantities during pregnancy. This hormone enters the maternal circulation and allows the mother to recognise the embryo and begin to change her body to support a pregnancy. ![]() When an egg is fertilised, it travels though the female reproductive tract and implants into the womb around 9 days after it was fertilised, releasing a hormone called human chorionic gonadotrophin in the process. The early stages of pregnancyįollowing conception, a new embryo must signal its presence to the mother, allowing her body to identify the start of pregnancy. Initially, the ovaries, and then later, the placenta, are the main producers of pregnancy-related hormones that are essential in creating and maintaining the correct conditions required for a successful pregnancy. ![]() In response to this, the target tissue or organ functions in a way that ensures pregnancy is maintained. Hormones travel around the body, usually via the blood, and attach to proteins on the cells called receptors – much like a key fits a lock or a hand fits a glove. ![]() Hormones act as the body’s chemical messengers sending information and feeding back responses between different tissues and organs. The correct balance of hormones is essential for a successful pregnancy. ![]()
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