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Progesterone in the blood
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Progesterone promotes the proliferation of the mucous membrane of the uterus, facilitates the implantation of a fertilized egg. Progesterone is synthesized by a yellow body, and during pregnancy, the placenta becomes its main source. Measurement of the concentration of progesterone in the blood is performed to confirm or exclude ovulation during the menstrual cycle.
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Progesterone concentration in serum
|
Age |
Progesterone, nmol / l |
|
Women: |
|
|
Follicular phase |
0.5-2.2 |
|
Ovulation phase |
3.1-7.1 |
|
Luteal phase |
6.4-79.5 |
|
Menopause |
0.06-1.3 |
|
Pregnancy: |
|
|
9-16 weeks |
32.6-139.9 |
|
16-18 weeks |
62.0-262.4 |
|
28-30 weeks |
206.7-728.2 |
|
Prenatal period |
485.8-1104 |
|
Men's |
0.4-3.1 |
The main target organ of progesterone is the uterus. The hormone causes a secretory transformation of proliferatively thickened endometrium, thereby ensuring its readiness for implantation of a fertilized egg. Moreover, progesterone carries an important control function in the gonadotropin-gonadal steroids system and causes stimulation of the heat center. This causes an increase in body temperature by 0.5 ° C in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle after ovulation.
Until the end of the LH peak, the concentration of progesterone remains extremely low. Nevertheless, simultaneously with the peak of LH in the middle of the cycle, there is a small but significant increase in the concentration of progesterone, followed by a decrease. In parallel with estradiol, the level of progesterone begins to rise again in the second half of the cycle. This means that the luteinization is completed. By the end of the cycle, the concentration of progesterone again falls and reaches the values of the first, follicular phase, in which the effect of the yellow body is practically absent. This sharp drop in the concentration of progesterone causes menstrual bleeding.