Progesterone

Overview:

Progesterone is produced by the corpus luteum, the structure left behind in the ovary after an egg is released, and it prepares the lining of the uterus to support a pregnancy. Levels are low in the first half of the menstrual cycle and rise substantially after ovulation, which is why a sample taken about seven days before the expected period is used to confirm that ovulation has occurred. If pregnancy occurs, progesterone continues to rise; if not, it falls and the period follows. Timing relative to the cycle is essential to interpreting the result.

Categories:

Hormone

Biomarkers:

1 biomarker