What is this test?
This is a test used to help check for possible causes of infertility, monitor or detect a failing pregnancy as well as tracking fertility treatments. This measures progesterone levels in the blood.
 
Sample required
Blood.
 
Patient preparation
None, however early morning samples are preferred and for women, the date of your last menstrual period or trimester of pregnancy should be noted.
 
Turn-around time (How long does it take?)
5 Hours.
 
Basis of the Test
After ovulation, a corpus luteum 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.While men have small amounts of progesterone in their blood, progesterone is usually not tested in men, unless specific adrenal diseases are suspected. Progesterone does not have an established role in males.