Background

• Progesterone is a steroid hormone produced in the ovaries, placenta (during pregnancy), and adrenal glands, and it is involved in the female menstrual cycle, the maintenance of pregnancy, and embryogenesis (the formation and development of a baby).
• Progesterone levels are relatively low before ovulation, rise after ovulation, and are elevated during the luteal phase, which is the phase of the menstrual cycle that starts at ovulation and ends the day before menstruation. Progesterone testing is done to help find causes of infertility, to determine ovulation, to assess the risk of miscarriage, to monitor the function of the ovaries and placenta during pregnancy, and to help diagnose problems of the adrenal glands and some types of cancer.
• Estrogen, another hormone, and progesterone work together in the body. Estrogen and progesterone combinations are commonly used in hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in postmenopausal women.
• Progesterone may benefit women with menorrhagia (abnormally heavy and prolonged menstrual bleeding) and may serve as a treatment for premature birth prevention. Progesterone is also often used as a conception aid.
• Progesterone has been examined for its effects in a variety of conditions, including breast pain, cognitive performance, endometriosis (condition in which uterine tissue grows outside of the uterus), menopausal symptoms, pre-eclampsia, and premenstrual syndrome. However, strong evidence is currently lacking.

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