PROGESTERONE TEST
Progesterone is a hormone that the human body produces in both men and women. However, it is mainly produced in the ovaries, which suggests that women tend to have more of it than men.
In men, progesterone is involved in the creation of sperm, or spermatogenesis. In women, it helps prepare the uterus for a fertilized egg. Progesterone helps a woman remain pregnant. The hormone also inhibits milk production during pregnancy. When in labor, the progesterone levels drop, to help trigger milk production.
To measure the level of progesterone in the blood, the doctor can order a serum progesterone test. The results can give them an indication of whether or not the patient is ovulating. In turn, this can help them diagnose and manage potential fertility problems.
Our doctor might also order this test if the patient is pregnant and they suspect she is at risk of ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage. Ectopic pregnancy happens when a fertilized egg attaches itself to the fallopian tube, abdominal cavity, or cervix, instead of the uterus. Miscarriage occurs when a fetus is lost during early pregnancy. Both situations cause low progesterone levels.
PREPARING FOR A PROGESTERONE TEST
To conduct a serum progesterone test, the doctor will collect a sample of the patient’s blood to send to a laboratory.
Possibly, the patient may be asked to take certain steps in preparation for the test. Some drugs, such as birth control pills and progesterone supplements, can affect the results of the test as such the doctor must be informed about all medications the patient may be taking.
Some drugs, such as blood thinners, can also raise the risk of complications from a blood draw. The patient may be asked to stop taking certain medications before the blood draw.
THE SERUM PROGESTERONE TEST
The doctor may collect a sample of blood in their office or send the patient to another facility to have the blood drawn. The person drawing the blood will start by cleaning an area of skin directly over a vein.
A needle will be inserted into the vein. Blood will be drawn through the needle into a vial or tube. The blood sample will be sent to a laboratory for testing.
WHAT THE TEST RESULTS MEAN
In the result, the serum progesterone level will be measured in nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL). Normal results can vary, depending on gender, age, menstrual cycle, and whether or not there is pregnancy.
If the patient is a woman who menstruates, the blood progesterone level should be low at the beginning of each menstrual cycle. The level should peak several days after ovulation. Then it should fall back to low levels, unless the patient is pregnant.
- Normal test results
In general, normal serum progesterone test results fall in the ranges listed below:
- Men, postmenopausal women, and women at the beginning of their menstrual cycle: 1 ng/mL or under
- Women in the middle of their menstrual cycle: 5 to 20 ng/mL
- Pregnant women in their first trimester: 11.2 to 90 ng/mL
- Pregnant women in their second trimester: 25.6 to 89.4 ng/mL
- Pregnant women in their third trimester: 48.4 to 42.5 ng/mL
- Abnormal test results
- The test results are considered abnormal if they fall outside the normal ranges. In some cases, a single abnormal test result reflects normal fluctuations in progesterone levels.
- Progesterone levels can fluctuate a lot, even over the course of a single day. In other cases, abnormally high or low progesterone levels may be a sign of an underlying health problem.
In addition to pregnancy, high progesterone levels can be caused by:
- congenital adrenal hyperplasia (disorders that affect the adrenal gland)
- adrenal cancer
- ovarian cancer
Low progesterone levels can be caused by:
- Miscarriage
- Fetal death
- Lack of periods
- Failure to ovulate
- Ectopic pregnancy
Concerned about low progesterone?
Progesterone is important during childbearing years. A woman may have trouble getting or staying pregnant without enough progesterone.
After one of the ovaries releases an egg, progesterone levels should rise automatically. In anticipation of receiving a fertilized egg, progesterone helps the uterus to thicken. The egg may not implant if the uterus is not thick enough.
Symptoms of low progesterone in women who aren’t pregnant include:
- Low progesterone may indicate ectopic pregnancy which can result in miscarriage or fetal death.
- Symptoms of low progesterone during pregnancy include spotting and miscarriage.
- Menstrual cycle Irregularities
- Mood swings, incl. anxiety or depression
- Headaches or migraines
- Low progesterone causes abnormal uterine bleeding in women without pregnancy. Irregular or absent periods may indicate the poor functioning of the ovaries and low progesterone.
- Pregnant women still need progesterone to maintain the uterus until the baby is delivered. During pregnancy, the body will produce an increased progesterone. The increase is what causes some of the symptoms of pregnancy, including breast tenderness and nausea. If progesterone levels are too low, the uterus may not be able to carry the baby to full term.
Without the complement of progesterone, estrogen may become the dominant hormone.
Dominant estrogen hormone may cause symptoms including:
- Gallbladder problems
- Fibroids
- Weight gain
- Decreased sex drive, mood swings, and depression
- Tenderness in the breast, fibrocystic breasts
- Irregular menstrual cycle, heavy bleeding
OUTLOOK
Our doctors can help with the understanding of the potential causes of abnormally high or low progesterone levels. They can also discuss appropriate steps to be considered as follow-up procedures. Depending on the results, the doctors may recommend additional tests or treatments.
