Blood-tests Explained


Disclaimer:

This website is intended to assist with patient education and should not be used as a diagnostic, treatment or prescription service, forum or platform. Always consult your own healthcare practitioner for a more personalised and detailed opinion

Progesterone


At a Glance

Why Get Tested?

To help determine the cause of infertility, track ovulation, help diagnose an ectopic or failing pregnancy, monitor the health of a pregnancy, monitor progesterone replacement therapy, or help diagnose the cause of abnormal uterine bleeding

When to Get Tested?

At specific times during a woman's menstrual cycle to determine whether/when she is ovulating; during early pregnancy when symptoms suggest an ectopic or failing pregnancy; throughout pregnancy to help determine placenta and fetal health; periodically when a person is receiving progesterone replacement therapy; when a woman has abnormal uterine bleeding

Sample Required?

A blood sample drawn from a vein in your arm

Test Preparation Needed?

None

The Test Sample

What is being tested?

Progesterone is a steroid hormone whose main role is to help prepare a woman's body for pregnancy. It works in conjunction with several other female hormones. This test measures the level of progesterone in the blood.

On a monthly basis, the hormone estrogen causes the lining of the uterus, the endometrium, to grow and replenish itself, while a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH) leads to the release of an egg from one of two ovaries. A corpus luteum then forms in the ovary at the site where the egg was released and begins to produce progesterone. This progesterone, supplemented by small amounts produced by the adrenal glands, stops endometrial growth and readies the uterus for the possible implantation of a fertilized egg.

If fertilization does not occur, the corpus luteum degenerates, progesterone levels drop, and menstrual bleeding begins. If a fertilized egg is implanted in the uterus, the corpus luteum continues to produce progesterone, with the egg forming a trophoblast that produces human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). After several weeks, the placenta replaces the corpus luteum as the main source of progesterone, producing relatively large amounts of the hormone throughout the rest of a normal pregnancy.

Progesterone is also produced in males but at a much lower level. Its function involves the development of sperm.

How is the sample collected for testing?

A blood sample is obtained by inserting a needle into a vein in the arm.

Is any test preparation needed to ensure the quality of the sample?

No test preparation is needed. The patient's last menstrual period and trimester of pregnancy should be noted.

The Test