Editing Progesterone (section)

===Levels===
[[File:Progesterone levels across the normal menstrual cycle in women.png|class=skin-invert-image|thumb|right|upright=2.25|Progesterone levels across the menstrual cycle in normally cycling and ovulatory women.<ref name="pmid16776638">{{cite journal | vauthors = Stricker R, Eberhart R, Chevailler MC, Quinn FA, Bischof P, Stricker R | title = Establishment of detailed reference values for luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, estradiol, and progesterone during different phases of the menstrual cycle on the Abbott ARCHITECT analyzer | journal = Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine | volume = 44 | issue = 7 | pages = 883–887 | date = 2006 | pmid = 16776638 | doi = 10.1515/CCLM.2006.160 | s2cid = 524952 }}</ref> The horizontal lines are the mean integrated levels for each curve. The vertical line is mid-cycle.]]

Progesterone levels are relatively low during the preovulatory phase of the [[menstrual cycle]], rise after [[ovulation]], and are elevated during the [[luteal phase]], as shown in the diagram above. Progesterone levels tend to be less than 2&nbsp;ng/mL prior to ovulation and greater than 5&nbsp;ng/mL after ovulation. If [[pregnancy]] occurs, [[human chorionic gonadotropin]] is released, maintaining the corpus luteum and allowing it to maintain levels of progesterone. Between 7 and 9&nbsp;weeks, the placenta begins to produce progesterone in place of the corpus luteum in a process called the luteal-placental shift.<ref name="pmid4688578">{{cite journal | vauthors = Csapo AI, Pulkkinen MO, Wiest WG | title = Effects of luteectomy and progesterone replacement therapy in early pregnant patients | journal = American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology | volume = 115 | issue = 6 | pages = 759–765 | date = March 1973 | pmid = 4688578 | doi = 10.1016/0002-9378(73)90517-6 }}</ref>

After the luteal-placental shift, progesterone levels start to rise further and may reach 100 to 200&nbsp;ng/mL at term. Whether a decrease in progesterone levels is critical for the initiation of [[labor (childbirth)|labor]] has been argued and may be species-specific. After delivery of the placenta and during lactation, progesterone levels are very low.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

Progesterone levels are low in children and postmenopausal people.<ref>{{cite web |title=Progesterone Historical Reference Ranges |author=NIH Clinical Center |date=16 August 2004 |publisher=United States National Institutes of Health |url=http://cclnprod.cc.nih.gov/dlm/testguide.nsf/Index/CB26894E1EB28DEF85256BA5005B000E?OpenDocument |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090109072721/http://cclnprod.cc.nih.gov/dlm/testguide.nsf/Index/CB26894E1EB28DEF85256BA5005B000E?OpenDocument |archive-date=9 January 2009 |access-date=12 March 2008}}</ref> Adult males have levels similar to those in women during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle.
{{clear}}
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible" style="text-align:left; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; border:none;"
|+ class="nowrap" | Endogenous <noinclude>[[progesterone (medication)|progesterone]]</noinclude><includeonly>progesterone</includeonly> production rates and plasma progesterone levels
|-
! Group !! {{abbr|P4|Progesterone}} production !! {{abbr|P4|Progesterone}} levels
|-
| [[Prepuberty|Prepubertal]] children || {{abbr|ND|No data}} || 0.06–0.5&nbsp;ng/mL
|-
| [[Puberty|Pubertal]] girls<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Tanner scale#Definitions of stages|Tanner stage I]] (childhood)<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Tanner scale#Definitions of stages|Tanner stage II]] (ages 8–12)<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Tanner scale#Definitions of stages|Tanner stage III]] (ages 10–13)<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Tanner scale#Definitions of stages|Tanner stage IV]] (ages 11–14)<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Tanner scale#Definitions of stages|Tanner stage V]] (ages 12–15)<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Follicular phase]] (days 1–14)<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Luteal phase]] (days 15–28) || &nbsp;<br />{{abbr|ND|No data}}<br />{{abbr|ND|No data}}<br />{{abbr|ND|No data}}<br />{{abbr|ND|No data}}<br />&nbsp;<br />{{abbr|ND|No data}}<br />{{abbr|ND|No data}} || &nbsp;<br />0.22 (<0.10–0.32) ng/mL<br />0.30 (0.10–0.51) ng/mL<br />0.36 (0.10–0.75) ng/mL<br />1.75 (<0.10–25.0) ng/mL<br />&nbsp;<br />0.35 (0.13–0.75) ng/mL<br />2.0–25.0&nbsp;ng/mL
|-
| [[Premenopause|Premenopausal]] women<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Follicular phase]] (days 1–14)<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Luteal phase]] (days 15–28)<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Oral contraceptive]] ([[anovulation|anovulatory]]) || &nbsp;<br />0.75–5.4&nbsp;mg/day<br />15–50&nbsp;mg/day<br />{{abbr|ND|No data}} || &nbsp;<br />0.02–1.2&nbsp;ng/mL<br />4–30&nbsp;ng/mL<br />0.1–0.3&nbsp;ng/mL
|-
| [[Menopause|Postmenopausal]] women<br />[[Oophorectomy|Oophorectomized]] women<br />[[Oophorectomy|Oophorectomized]] and [[adrenalectomy|adrenalectomized]] women || {{abbr|ND|No data}}<br />1.2&nbsp;mg/day<br /><0.3&nbsp;mg/day || 0.03–0.3&nbsp;ng/mL<br />0.39&nbsp;ng/mL<br />{{abbr|ND|No data}}
|-
| [[Pregnancy|Pregnant]] women<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;[[First trimester]] (weeks 1–12)<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Second trimester]] (weeks 13–26)<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Third trimester]] (weeks 27–40)<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Postpartum]] (at 24 hours) || &nbsp;<br />55&nbsp;mg/day<br />92–100&nbsp;mg/day<br />190–563&nbsp;mg/day<br />{{abbr|ND|No data}} || &nbsp;<br />9–75&nbsp;ng/mL<br />17–146&nbsp;ng/mL<br />55–255&nbsp;ng/mL<br />19&nbsp;ng/mL
|-
| Men || 0.75–3&nbsp;mg/day || 0.1–0.3&nbsp;ng/mL
|- class="sortbottom"
| colspan="5" style="width: 1px; background-color:#eaecf0; text-align: center;" | '''Notes:''' Mean levels are given as a single value and ranges are given after in parentheses. '''Sources:''' <noinclude><ref name="pmid945344" /><ref name="Chernecky_Berger_2012">{{cite book|vauthors=Chernecky CC, Berger BJ|title=Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures - E-Book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dWHYcOJK-cgC&pg=PA908|date=31 October 2012|publisher=Elsevier Health Sciences|isbn=978-1-4557-4502-9|pages=908–|access-date=23 August 2023|archive-date=27 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227031646/https://books.google.com/books?id=dWHYcOJK-cgC&pg=PA908#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Becker_2001">{{cite book|vauthors=Becker KL|title=Principles and Practice of Endocrinology and Metabolism|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FVfzRvaucq8C&pg=PA940|year=2001|publisher=Lippincott Williams & Wilkins|isbn=978-0-7817-1750-2|pages=889, 940|access-date=23 August 2023|archive-date=27 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227031703/https://books.google.com/books?id=FVfzRvaucq8C&pg=PA940#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Josimovich2013b" /><ref name="KeepUtian2012">{{cite book|vauthors=van Keep P, Utian W|title=The Premenstrual Syndrome: Proceedings of a workshop held during the Sixth International Congress of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology, Berlin, September 1980|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0IAJBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA51|date=6 December 2012|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=978-94-011-6255-5|pages=51–52|access-date=1 February 2016|archive-date=14 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114025337/https://books.google.com/books?id=0IAJBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA51|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="StraussBarbieri2009">{{cite book|vauthors=Strauss JF, Barbieri RL|title=Yen and Jaffe's Reproductive Endocrinology: Physiology, Pathophysiology, and Clinical Management|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NudwnhxY8kYC&pg=PA807|year=2009|publisher=Elsevier Health Sciences|isbn=978-1-4160-4907-4|pages=807–|access-date=23 August 2023|archive-date=10 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110014157/https://books.google.com/books?id=NudwnhxY8kYC&pg=PA807|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Bajaj_Berman2011">{{cite book|vauthors=Bajaj L, Berman S|title=Berman's Pediatric Decision Making|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NPhnHrDQ1_kC&pg=PA160|date=1 January 2011|publisher=Elsevier Health Sciences|isbn=978-0-323-05405-8|pages=160–|access-date=23 August 2023|archive-date=11 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111143033/https://books.google.com/books?id=NPhnHrDQ1_kC&pg=PA160|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Lauritzen1988">{{cite book | vauthors = Lauritzen C | chapter = Natürliche und Synthetische Sexualhormone – Biologische Grundlagen und Behandlungsprinzipien | pages = 229–306 | trans-chapter = Natural and Synthetic Sexual Hormones – Biological Basis and Medical Treatment Principles | editor1 = Hermann P. G. Schneider | editor2 = Christian Lauritzen | editor3 = Eberhard Nieschlag | title = Grundlagen und Klinik der Menschlichen Fortpflanzung | trans-title = Foundations and Clinic of Human Reproduction | language = de | year = 1988 | publisher = Walter de Gruyter | isbn = 978-3110109689 | oclc = 35483492 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=v4HvAQAACAAJ | access-date = 23 August 2023 | archive-date = 1 October 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231001111615/https://books.google.com/books?id=v4HvAQAACAAJ | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="LittleBilliar1983">Little, A. B., & Billiar, R. B. (1983). Progestagens. In Endocrinology of Pregnancy, 3rd Edition (pp. 92–111). Harper and Row Philadelphia. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?cluster=2512291948467467634 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222083312/https://scholar.google.com/scholar?cluster=2512291948467467634 |date=22 February 2022 }}</ref></noinclude><includeonly>See template.</includeonly>
|}

====Ranges====
Blood test results should always be interpreted using the reference ranges provided by the laboratory that performed the results. Example reference ranges are listed below.

{|class="wikitable" align="center"
!rowspan=2| Person type !!colspan=3| [[Reference range for blood test]]
|-
! Lower limit !! Upper limit !! Unit
|-
| Female - menstrual cycle ||colspan=3| (see diagram below)
|-
| rowspan=2| Female - postmenopausal || [[less than|<]]0.2<ref name=nih2009>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150701024923/http://cclnprod.cc.nih.gov/dlm/testguide.nsf/0/CB26894E1EB28DEF85256BA5005B000E?OpenDocument Progesterone Reference Ranges], Performed at the Clinical Center at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda MD, 03Feb09</ref> || 1<ref name=nih2009/> || [[nanogram|ng]]/[[millilitre|mL]]
|-
| <0.6<ref name="mass-converted">Converted from mass values using molar mass of 314.46 g/mol</ref> || 3<ref name="mass-converted"/> || [[nanomole|nmol]]/[[litre|L]]
|-
| rowspan=2| Female on [[oral contraceptive]]s || 0.34<ref name=nih2009/> || 0.92<ref name=nih2009/> || ng/mL
|-
| 1.1<ref name="mass-converted"/> || 2.9<ref name="mass-converted"/> || nmol/L
|-
| rowspan=2| Males [[greater than or equal to|≥]]16 years || 0.27<ref name=nih2009/> || 0.9<ref name=nih2009/> || ng/mL
|-
| 0.86<ref name="mass-converted"/> || 2.9<ref name="mass-converted"/> || nmol/L
|-
| rowspan=2| Female or male 1–9 years || 0.1<ref name=nih2009/> || 4.1<ref name=nih2009/> or 4.5<ref name=nih2009/> || ng/mL
|-
| 0.3<ref name="mass-converted"/> || 13<ref name="mass-converted"/> || nmol/L
|}

{{Hidden begin|toggle=left|title=Reference ranges for the blood content of progesterone during the menstrual cycle}}
[[File:Progesterone during menstrual cycle.png|thumb|upright=4|left|Progesterone levels during the [[menstrual cycle]].<ref name="Häggström2014">{{cite journal|year=2014|title=Reference ranges for estradiol, progesterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone during the menstrual cycle|journal=WikiJournal of Medicine|volume=1|issue=1|doi=10.15347/wjm/2014.001|issn=2002-4436| vauthors = Häggström M |doi-access=free|s2cid=88035135 }}</ref>
<small><br />• The ranges denoted '''By biological stage''' may be used in closely monitored menstrual cycles in regard to other markers of its biological progression, with the time scale being compressed or stretched to how much faster or slower, respectively, the cycle progresses compared to an average cycle.
<br />• The ranges denoted '''Inter-cycle variability''' are more appropriate to use in non-monitored cycles with only the beginning of menstruation known, but where the woman accurately knows her average cycle lengths and time of ovulation, and that they are somewhat averagely regular, with the time scale being compressed or stretched to how much a woman's average cycle length is shorter or longer, respectively, than the average of the population.
<br />• The ranges denoted '''Inter-woman variability''' are more appropriate to use when the average cycle lengths and time of ovulation are unknown, but only the beginning of menstruation is given.</small>]]{{Clear}}
{{Hidden end}}