Can drugs containing progesterone prevent miscarriage?

Progesterone is a hormone that is the main ingredient in womb-boosting drugs. The administration of this drug aims to prevent miscarriage and overcome the factors that increase the risk. However, is it true that taking drugs containing progesterone alone is enough to prevent miscarriage?

Why is progesterone used to prevent miscarriage?

On average, about 1 in 8 pregnant women end up having a miscarriage. Although classified as a serious pregnancy complication, most cases of miscarriage are caused by unknown factors.

However, the amount of the hormone progesterone in the body of pregnant women is alleged to be one of the triggers. Progesterone is a hormone whose function is to thicken the uterine wall so that it is ready to support the growth and development of the fetus.

During early pregnancy, progesterone is produced by the corpus luteum found in the ovaries. After 10 weeks of gestation, progesterone production begins to decline because this hormone is now produced by the placenta.

Experts used to suspect that cases of miscarriage with no known cause actually occurred due to inadequate progesterone production in early pregnancy. Many doctors end up prescribing progesterone to pregnant women to prevent miscarriage.

Progesterone is given in the form of a compound booster that needs to be taken regularly. A number of early studies showed a decrease in the rate of miscarriage, but this still doesn't answer the real question.

Can progesterone reduce the risk of miscarriage?

Experts previously suspected that miscarriage was caused by a lack of progesterone production in early pregnancy. However, it turns out that there are also women who experience miscarriage even though their reproductive organs have produced enough progesterone.

They had a miscarriage because the fetus and placenta failed to develop. If the placenta does not develop, nothing produces progesterone. So, it is not certain whether low progesterone triggers a miscarriage or if it is miscarriage that causes low progesterone.

In addition, the research contained in The New England Journal of Medicine also found that progesterone could not prevent miscarriage. Progesterone is considered to only delay miscarriage, but not stop the process.

How to prevent miscarriage

Most cases of miscarriage can't be prevented. Especially when the cause is related to a genetic condition or even not known at all. The good news is, you can reduce the risk of miscarriage long before the pregnancy occurs.

Of course, not by taking womb-strengthening drugs, but in the following ways:

• Live a nutritionally balanced diet. This aims to prepare the body for pregnancy. Make sure you also consume more fruits and vegetables to meet your vitamin and mineral needs.
• Monitor body weight. Pregnant women do need to gain weight, but excess weight can lead to health problems that increase the risk of miscarriage.
• Control blood sugar. Uncontrolled blood sugar can lead to gestational diabetes during pregnancy. This complication is dangerous for the health of the mother and fetal development.
• Get active. Exercise is believed to reduce the risk of miscarriage. Choose safe, mild sports with minimal risk of injury, for example walking, jogging , or gymnastics.
• Not smoking and consuming alcohol.

Miscarriage is a pregnancy complication caused by many factors. The administration of progesterone in an obstetrician may not be enough to prevent miscarriage or reduce the risk.

The best way to prevent miscarriage is to prepare for the pregnancy as well as possible. At the very least, this method will help reduce the risk of miscarriage caused by pregnancy complications.

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