Progesterone - Vitality Medical Center

What is progesterone?

Progesterone is a key hormone that plays an important role in the female menstrual cycle and pregnancy. Here's an overview:

Functions of Progesterone

• Prepares the body for pregnancy each month by building up the uterine lining (endometrium)
• Helps maintain pregnancy if fertilization occurs by supporting the uterine lining and early embryo development
• Involved in breast development during puberty and pregnancy
• Impacts basal body temperature patterns during the menstrual cycle
• Works together with estrogen in a cyclical pattern

Key Details About Progesterone:

• A steroid hormone produced mainly by the corpus luteum in the ovaries during the second half of the menstrual cycle
• Also produced in smaller amounts by the adrenal glands and placenta during pregnancy
• Levels rise after ovulation, peak in the mid-luteal phase, and then drop before menstruation
• Works via progesterone receptors throughout the female reproductive tract

What Causes Progesterone Level Changes?

The cyclic fluctuations in progesterone levels are controlled by complex interactions between the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and ovaries through the actions of key hormones like GnRH, LH, FSH, and estrogen.

Here's a simple overview:

• Follicle growth → Estrogen rise → LH surge → Ovulation → Corpus luteum forms → Progesterone release

If pregnancy occurs, the corpus luteum continues releasing progesterone. If not, it degenerates causing progesterone withdrawal and menstruation.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit Vitality Medical Center.