progesterone

Hemorrhoids, also known as piles, are an unpleasant, but not unavoidable pregnancy symptom, many expectant mothers experience. They are a type of varicose vein found in your rectal area, which means they are basically swollen rectal blood vessels caused by the excess pressure placed on your vena cava by your ever expanding uterus and your […]

It is quite likely that during your pregnancy you will experience a nosebleed at least once. Don’t worry, this is a completely normal pregnancy symptom that is harmless, though it can be quite an inconvenient and unpleasant experience. Like varicose veins and hemorrhoids, nosebleeds are the result of extra progesterone in your body which relaxes […]

One of the most uncomfortable, annoying and unfortunately common pregnancy symptoms is heartburn. Luckily, it is completely harmless, but that doesn’t mean you don’t want to avoid it. You may have never suffered from heartburn before, but chances are that once you are more than 20 weeks pregnant you will begin to experience heartburn, which […]

FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) is a fertility hormone produced by your pituitary gland. FSH plays a very important role in conception as it sets up the whole process each month during your menstrual cycle, together with LH. FSH’s main responsibility is the growth and maturation of your ovarian follicles, without which you would not be […]

LH (luteinising hormone), also known as lutropin, is an important fertility hormone which affects your ability to ovulate. It is produced in the pituitary gland and is the hormone ovulation tests measure to determine when you will be ovulating. LH has an important role throughout your entire menstrual cycle. In the first two weeks of […]

Prolactin (PRL), also known as the luteotropic hormone (LTH), is the milk hormone which plays an important role in preparing your body for breastfeeding. Prolactin is mainly produced in your pituitary gland and in response to increased estrogen levels, its levels increase between 10 and 20 times during pregnancy. Prolactin’s first and foremost function during […]

Testosterone, like estrogen and progesterone, is an important fertility hormone and your testosterone levels can greatly influence your ability to conceive and maintain a pregnancy. Testosterone is produced in your ovaries and adrenal glands and increases in your body at low levels during your pregnancy, however it is important that these levels are neither too […]

Progesterone is a very important pregnancy hormone that is always at work in the female body, but during pregnancy its role becomes even more important. Progesterone is also known as the pro-pregnancy hormone, because without it your placenta and uterus cannot support your pregnancy. It has an important role not only during your pregnancy, but […]

We know this is probably not a new hormone for most mums-to-be, because it’s always busy at work in the female body. However, during pregnancy this hormone ups its game and does even more than normal. Estrogen is actually a group of 3 hormones: estrone, estradiol and estriol (which the placenta produces). All three are […]