Progesterone is a female sex hormone that plays a crucial role in every woman’s menstrual cycle, fertility, and overall emotional wellbeing.
Often referred to as the ‘pregnancy hormone’, progesterone prepares the endometrium for the potential of pregnancy after ovulation and triggers the lining to thicken to accept a fertilized egg - making it easy to see why it’s such a key player in your menstrual cycle [1].
See also: Low Progesterone Symptoms | Your Quick Guide
What does progesterone do to a woman’s body?
Progesterone is essentially the ‘chemical messenger’ that travels through the blood and helps prepare the uterus for a potential pregnancy after ovulation, but that’s not all it’s responsible for! Progesterone also [2]:
- Regulates the menstrual cycle
- Thickens the lining of the uterus to prepare for a fertilized egg
- Maintains the uterine lining throughout pregnancy
- Develops breasts and helps with breastfeeding
- Regulates mood, weight, sex drive, and water-salt balance
How do I check my progesterone levels?
If you want to know more about your progesterone levels, you can do so by taking a visit to your doctor for a hormone test or from the comfort of your own home with an at-home lab test.
The LetsGetChecked Progesterone Test monitors progesterone levels on Day 21 of your menstrual cycle. By examining progesterone in the blood, the test can indicate whether you’re ovulating normally. You will receive your online results within 5 days and medical support will be available to give answers to any questions you may have.
You should consider testing your progesterone levels if:
- You are trying to get pregnant
- You have irregular or painful periods
- You have been diagnosed with endometriosis
- You have been diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- You are going through menopause
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