Latest news with #progesterone
The Independent
11-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Why are women affected more by heatwaves? A doctor explains
Women are more affected by heatwaves due to differences in body fat, hormones, and how they regulate heat, a doctor has explained. Doctor Amir Khan told Lorraine on Friday (11 July) that when the hormone progesterone rises, it can increase women's core body temperature by up to 1°F. 'For women, that's the second half of their menstrual cycle, that's where progesterone is at its highest,' he said. He explained that women also don't sweat as much as men, as they rely on other cooling mechanisms to lower body temperature, such as bringing blood to the surface of the skin. 'Which are slower and less effective than sweat evaporating off your skin,' Dr Khan added. He said women also tend to have higher body fat percentages than men, making it harder for heat to escape.
Health Line
17-06-2025
- Health
- Health Line
What Causes White Discharge Before Your Period?
Vaginal discharge is the body's way of protecting the vagina from infections, and it can look different throughout your menstrual cycle. However, white discharge can have several other causes, as well. You may produce around a teaspoon of thick or thin, odorless mucus daily, and the color can change from white to clear to brown throughout your menstrual cycle. Your hormone levels can affect the color and consistency of this discharge. Learn more about why you might see white discharge before your period. What is white discharge? Discharge keeps the tissues in your vagina healthy and lubricated. The white discharge you may see before your period is known as leukorrhea. It's filled with fluid and cells that are being shed from the vagina and may even look slightly yellow at times. This part of your menstrual cycle is called the luteal phase. It's when the hormone progesterone peaks in your body. When estrogen is the dominant hormone, discharge tends to be clear, stretchy, or watery. Progesterone, on the other hand, turns it cloudy or white. Some people use discharge as a way to track potential fertility. This is known as a natural family planning strategy, or fertility awareness method. Thin, stretchy mucus is considered an indicator of your fertile window, as it happens around the time when your egg may be released. White, thick discharge occurs outside of your fertile window. That makes sense, as you most often see this type of mucus when you're no longer fertile, between ovulation and the start of your period. What else can cause white discharge before your period? While white discharge before your period can indicate typical reproductive system functioning, it can also have other triggers. Some may be nothing to worry about. But any discharge with a strong smell, a particularly thick texture, or irritation can be a symptom of an infection. Here are some other potential causes to consider. Birth control Birth control changes your hormone levels, which can lead to more discharge, particularly if your contraceptive contains estrogen. Pregnancy More discharge before your period is due can be an early indicator of pregnancy. That's because estrogen levels are high when you first become pregnant. It can be hard to tell this apart from your regular discharge, but it usually appears white or slightly yellow and may be sticky. Other indicators of early pregnancy include: missed period aching breast or chest tissue nausea tiredness needing to urinate more often Sexually transmitted infection (STI) Gonorrhea, chlamydia, and trichomoniasis are the STIs most likely to cause changes to your usual discharge. Chlamydia and trichomoniasis discharge may look white. However, along with gonorrhea discharge, they can also cause it to appear yellow or green. With chlamydia and gonorrhea, you may also experience other symptoms, such as: pelvic pain bleeding between periods and after penetrative vaginal sex pain when urinating Trichomoniasis can also cause irritation around the vagina and pain when urinating or having penetrative vaginal sex. Discharge associated with this STI may have a fishy smell, too. However, it's common for STIs to occur with no symptoms at all. Yeast infection (candidiasis) A yeast infection can also cause white discharge. Symptoms of a yeast infection can include: thick, white discharge that looks like cottage cheese itching and burning sensations in the vagina Antibiotic use, birth control pills, and pregnancy can all increase the risk of this common infection. Symptoms may be most noticeable right before you get your period, as the same hormonal changes that trigger a period can lead to a yeast imbalance in the vagina. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is an infection that occurs when the natural balance of bacteria in your vagina changes. Some risk factors that may increase your risk of BV include: being sexually active having a new sexual partner having an IUD using scented products in or around your vagina douching Discharge from BV tends to have a fishy smell, be gray or white, and look thin or watery. But half of the people affected have no symptoms. What discharge to expect throughout your cycle Vaginal discharge usually changes throughout your menstrual cycle. This can include: After your period: Dryness is common in the three to four days after your period ends. Follicular phase: After that, you may experience three to five days of white, cloudy, or sticky discharge. This occurs during the follicular phase when an egg is developing. Ovulation: During ovulation, it's common to have lots of clear, stretchy, or watery discharge. This 'egg white' discharge is thin and slippery, which is extremely helpful to sperm traveling to the waiting egg. After ovulation: Following ovulation, white discharge returns again as progesterone takes over as the primary hormone. You may see more of it than you do earlier in your cycle. But the amount slowly declines until it becomes thicker and stickier, almost like glue. On average, this mucus lasts for 11 to 14 days. Before your period: The mucus right before your period may also look yellow. In the days after your period, you may also have brown discharge, which is usually old blood leaving your body. Spotting with blood or brown discharge around the time of your expected period may be an indicator of implantation in early pregnancy. If your period's late and you see spotting, it's a good idea to take a home pregnancy test. When to talk with a healthcare professional Discharge may be nothing to worry about before your period, particularly if it's clear, white, sticky, or slippery. But there are also times when your discharge may be due to an underlying health condition. For example, a thick white discharge accompanied by itching may mean you have a yeast infection. Yellow or green discharge may also mean infection, such as BV. It's best to talk with a healthcare professional if you're experiencing: pain, burning, or other discomfort in and around the vagina rash or sores with or without discharge cottage cheese-like or frothy discharge strong or fishy vaginal odor bleeding between periods or after sex Some STIs can also affect discharge and lead to serious health complications, such as infertility, if left untreated. If you notice a change, it's best to talk with a healthcare professional as soon as possible. At your appointment, they may ask questions about your symptoms, medical history, and general lifestyle, including any products you use near or in your vaginal area. They'll also likely perform a pelvic examination and swab your vagina, testing the discharge then and there or sending it to a lab for more complex testing. If vaginal discharge has an underlying cause, you may need treatment. Treatment may involve a combination of antibiotics and lifestyle changes, but the treatment depends on the underlying cause. The bottom line Vaginal discharge is natural throughout the menstrual cycle. However, other health issues, such as infections, can affect the color, texture, and even the smell of the discharge. Monitoring what it usually looks like can help you quickly notice any changes needing medical attention. If you may have an infection, it's best to talk with a healthcare professional. They may recommend testing to determine the source of your discharge. Once they know the underlying cause, they can recommend treatment.
The Sun
11-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Taking common contraceptive pill long-term could increase your risk of life-threatening brain tumour, scientists warn
TAKING a progesterone-only contraceptive pill for more than five years is linked to an increased risk of a life-threatening brain tumour, say scientists. Desogestrel is a synthetic progestogen hormone used in oral contraceptives, specifically the progestogen-only pill (POP) or mini-pill. 1 While it offers several benefits beyond preventing pregnancy, such as regulating the menstrual cycle, reducing heavy or painful periods, new research suggests taking it continuously for more than five years is linked to a small increased risk of developing an intracranial meningioma. An intracranial meningioma is a tumour that develops from the meninges, the layers of tissue that cover the brain and spinal cord. These tumours are typically benign (non- cancerous) and slow-growing. But they can be life-threatening depending on size, location, and growth rate. The tumours are more common in older women, but previous studies lack information on the specific type of progestogen used - and risk has not been measured for continuous, current, and long term use. In the study from France published by The BMJ, researchers set out to assess the real-life risk of the brain tumour and short-term (less than a year) and prolonged (one to seven or more years) use of oral contraceptives containing desogestrel 75µg, levonorgestrel 30µg, or levonorgestrel 50-150 µg combined with oestrogen. Their findings were based on data from the French national health data system (SNDS) for 8,391 women who had undergone surgery for intracranial meningioma in 2020-2023. Each case was matched to 10 control women without meningioma of the same age and area of residence. The results showed a small increased risk associated with use of desogestrel for more than five continuous years. An increased risk wasn't found for shorter durations or when desogestrel had been discontinued for more than one year. Women taking fat jabs need 'effective contraception' - as health chiefs warn of serious harm to unborn babies The risk was greater in women older than 45 and after prolonged use of one of the known high risk progestogens before desogestrel. Although the researchers added the risk disappeared one year after stopping taking the pill. It was estimated that 67,000 women would need to use desogestrel for one woman to need surgery for intracranial meningioma, and 17,000 women if current use was for more than five years. No increased risk was found for levonorgestrel, alone or combined with oestrogen, regardless of duration of use. The researchers suggested desogestrel be discontinued if an intracranial meningioma is identified and patients monitored rather than undergoing immediate surgery. Desogestrel safety Desogestrel, when used as a progestogen-only pill (POP), is generally considered safe and effective, but it has some potential side effects and risks. But it's important to discuss any concerns with a healthcare professional. Highly effective When taken correctly, it's more than 99 per cent effective in preventing pregnancy. No protection against STIs The POP doesn't protect against sexually transmitted infections, so it's essential to use condoms for STI protection. Important to take regularly You need to take it at or around the same time every day, without breaks between packs. Possible side effects Ovarian cysts Some users might develop small, fluid-filled cysts on their ovaries, which are generally not dangerous and often resolve on their own. When to seek medical advice
Health Line
10-05-2025
- Health
- Health Line
How Do Cholesterol and Progesterone Affect Fertility and Pregnancy?
Cholesterol and progesterone play vital roles in the human body. One major role is reproduction. Both are hormones that may affect fertility, pregnancy, and miscarriage. Cholesterol and progesterone are important hormones that have multiple effects on the body. Though they work through different mechanisms, each is involved in reproduction. Your levels of cholesterol and progesterone can affect both fertility and pregnancy. What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is an important part of cell membranes and is also used to produce steroid hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone. Cholesterol is made in the liver. The liver also produces lipoproteins that transport cholesterol in the blood. These lipoproteins are LDL and HDL. LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) is cholesterol that LDLs carry, and HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) is carried by HDLs. The body typically has higher levels of LDL cholesterol than HDL cholesterol. LDL cholesterol, along with other types of non-HDL cholesterol, is the type of cholesterol doctors are typically referring to when they say 'high cholesterol.' It's rare to have too much HDL cholesterol, but it can happen. What is progesterone? Progesterone is an important hormone with many functions in the body, particularly those related to the reproductive system. Progesterone is a type of hormone called a steroid hormone. All steroid hormones are derived from cholesterol. The body uses cholesterol as a building block to create progesterone. This process involves enzymes. First, cholesterol is converted into pregnenolone using the enzyme P450scc. Then the enzyme 3β-HSD turns this into progesterone. Progesterone can be produced in different parts of the body, such as the: It's also thought to be produced in the brain. How do cholesterol and progesterone affect fertility? In the middle of the menstrual cycle, the corpus luteum produces progesterone to help prepare the body for the implantation of a fertilized egg. Progesterone keeps the uterus lining thick and stimulates the development of new blood vessels ready for egg implantation. This means when the egg is fertilized, it can implant and will have a supply of blood vessels that nutrients can travel through. In males, the adrenal glands produce progesterone to aid sperm development. Imbalances in cholesterol can have a knock-on effect on progesterone, as cholesterol is required for the synthesis of this hormone. How are cholesterol and progesterone involved in pregnancy? During pregnancy, cholesterol levels increase to support fetal growth and development and enable the pregnant person to produce healthy breast milk. Maternal blood cholesterol may increase by 30% to 40%. Since cholesterol is used to produce progesterone, this rise is to allow more progesterone to be produced. If cholesterol levels get too high, however, hypercholesterolemia may occur. In pregnant people, this is known as gestational hypercholesterolemia or maternal hypercholesterolemia. An imbalance of blood lipids (dyslipidemia) can be dangerous for both the pregnant person and the unborn child and may cause cardiovascular effects. How do cholesterol and progesterone affect miscarriage? According to a 2019 study, the regulation of cholesterol and progesterone metabolism may have a role in miscarriage. During pregnancy, cells called extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs) create a blood supply to the fetus. Problems with this cell type have been linked to complications in both the pregnant person and the fetus. The 2019 study looked at human EVTs from first-trimester placental tissues. Researchers found that the way cholesterol levels are regulated is different in these cells, and the levels of cholesterol are higher. The study also shows that these EVTs can secrete progesterone. Lower levels of cholesterol were found to decrease the amount of progesterone produced by these cells. Additionally, an enzyme involved in producing progesterone was found to be lower in EVTs that had been associated with spontaneous abortions. This suggests that the issues with progesterone metabolism may have a role to play in early miscarriages.
Times
07-05-2025
- Health
- Times
Contraceptive ‘mini pill' linked to asthma attacks in younger women
The progesterone-only contraceptive pill may be linked to a higher risk of potentially life-threatening asthma attacks in younger women, research has suggested. Researchers from Imperial College London have found that women taking the so-called 'mini pill' had a 39 per cent increased risk of asthma attacks compared with women who had never taken the contraceptive. The mini-pill is a once-daily contraceptive pill taken by approximately 3.1 million women in Britain each year. • Why are so many women turning away from the pill? The research could provide an answer as to why women have a higher rate of severe asthma compared with men, the researchers said. Chloe Bloom, a clinical senior lecturer in respiratory epidemiology at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London,
