What is progesterone?
Along with estrogen, progesterone is a major reproductive hormone that plays an important role in a woman’s menstrual cycle. It triggers a number of physiological effects central to female fertility and to getting pregnant. Progesterone is manufactured by the corpus luteum. The corpus luteum (or “luteal body”) is what remains of the collapsed ovarian follicle once ovulation takes place. Once the egg is released by the ovarian follicle into the fallopian tube, the ovarian follicle becomes the corpus luteum and begins to release progesterone into a woman’s system. Following ovulation, this increase in progesterone helps further build the uterine lining during the endometrial “secretory stage”. The reproductive function of this process is to prepare the uterus so that a fertilized egg can successfully implant (bind to the mother’s womb). In addition to supporting this process of implantation, progesterone may provide additional “pregnancy help” by reducing the chances of contraction in th
Progesterone is naturally secreted by the ovary in the second two weeks of the menstrual cycle in reproductive age ovulating women. Progesterone or progesterone-like substances called progestogens or progestins are also ingested by women in birth control pills, menopausal hormone replacement therapy, or just sometimes to induce a menstrual period or regulate abnormal bleeding problems if menses are skipping or bleeding is irregular or prolonged. Progesterone has been used also as therapy for PMS syndrome and for women with infertility or frequent pregnancy loss. Many magazine articles have described the benefits and hazards of estrogens in women, but progesterone effects are much less known. A recent symposium, Fraser IS, Lobo R (eds and cochairs):Update on progestogen therapy. J Reprod Med 1999;44:139-232. brought together much of the current knowledge about progesterone administration for different purposes and helps answer some questions that many women may be interested in. Progest
Progesterone is a steroid hormone made by both men and women. In women, it is made the corpus luteum of the ovary and in smaller amounts by the adrenal glands. In men, is produced in adrenal and testicular tissue. Progesterone is produced in the body from cholesterol and is a precursor to most of the other steroid hormones, including cortisol and testosterone. Simplified pathway for biosynthesis of hormones (graph opens in new window) 2 What is progesterone made from? The Progesterone USP used in natural hormone replacement therapy (NHRT) is made from a substance called diosgenin, which is most often extracted from wild yam (Dioscorea villosa). In a laboratory process, diosgenin is transformed into progesterone, identical with the human hormone. Some companies are selling diosgenin, which they label as “wild yam extract” claiming that the body will then convert it into hormones as needed. While this can be done in a laboratory, there is no evidence that this conversion takes place in t
