Progesterone is a hormone from the group of progestins. It is produced in the ovaries in the corpus luteum (in the corpus luteum) and increases during the luteal phase (corpus luteum phase) – on the 5th-8th day after ovulation (ovulation) is the maximum serum level – and during pregnancy. Progesterone is responsible for nidation (implantation of the fertilized egg) and also serves to maintain pregnancy. It is stimulated for release by luteinizing hormone (LH).
Progesterone exhibits a cycle-dependent rhythmicity with an increase in concentration during the luteal phase.
The procedure
Material needed
- Blood serum
Preparation of the patient
- Not necessary
Disruptive factors
- None known
Normal values women
| Cycle | Normal values in ng/ml |
| Prepubertal | 0-2 |
| Follicular phase | < 0,1 |
| Ovulation | 1-2 |
| Luteal phase, early | > 5 |
| Luteal phase | > 12 |
| Postmenopausal | < 1 |
Normal values pregnancy
| Pregnancy date | Normal values in ng/ml |
| 1st trimester (third trimester of pregnancy) | 10-50 |
| 2nd trimester | 20-130 |
| 3rd trimester | 130-423 |
Normal value men
| Normal value in ng/ml | 0,3-1,2 |
Indications
- Suspected hormonal imbalances
- Sterility diagnostics
Interpretation
Interpretation of increased values
- Physiological increase in the luteal phase (corpus luteum phase) and during pregnancy.
- Adrenogenital syndrome (AGS) – autosomal recessive inherited metabolic disease characterized by disorders of hormone synthesis in the adrenal cortex. These disorders lead to a deficiency of aldosterone and cortisol.
- Bladder mole – malformed placenta, which can lead to carcinoma.
- Corpus luteum persistence – non-regression of the corpus luteum and thus further production of progesterone.
- Ovarian tumors (ovarian tumors) such as chorionic epithelioma, theca cell tumor.
- Condition after drug hyperstimulation (oocyte maturation therapy).
Interpretation of decreased values
- Anorexia nervosa (anorexia nervosa)
- Corpus luteum insufficiency – Lack of hormone production by the corpus luteum.
- Hypogonadism (hypofunction of the gonads).
- Climacteric (menopause in women)
- Castration (ovariectomy bds.) – elimination of the gonads (for example, by surgery, ie ovary removal).
Further notes
- When interpreting the measured values, the cycle phase must always be taken into account, i.e. it is always necessary to specify the cycle day on the day of blood sampling or the first day of the last menstrual period.
- To clarify the luteal function, two to three progesterone determinations at intervals of two to three days in the second cycle phase may be useful.