What Your Progesterone Blood Test Results Mean

Ever feel bloated, irritable, or have breast tenderness right before your period? These symptoms—along with many others—relate to a hormone called progesterone.

This hormone plays a vital role in a woman's body, especially during menstruation and pregnancy. But what exactly are progesterone levels in your menopause chart, and how do they fluctuate throughout your cycle?

Knowing what to expect can give you valuable insight into your overall health and well-being. This time, we're exploring normal ranges, how they change during your cycle, and the potential implications of abnormal levels.

What is progesterone?

Progesterone comes from the adrenal cortex and the ovaries, which is why it's essential for regulating menstruation and supporting pregnancy. Exceptionally high or low levels in your chart can have various health implications that require a professional's expertise. [1]

The hormone takes care of an embryo's development, as the rise in its levels signals the body to prepare for a potential pregnancy. If you don't conceive, progesterone declines, resulting in a period.

» Explore how your period affects blood test results

Why do progesterone levels fluctuate?

Progesterone levels in your chart naturally rise and fall throughout your cycle, peaking in the second half. This fluctuation continues during perimenopause and then drops significantly after menopause. The more they decline, the worse symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats become. [3]

In premenopausal women, high progesterone relates to challenges with thinking, memory, and learning—also called cognitive outcomes. They may also see a rise in body temperature that can disrupt sleep. On the other hand, low levels can increase estrogen, causing irregular periods and spotting. [4]

Reference range for a progesterone test

A simple progesterone test—also known as P4—can check your levels. But understanding what they mean can be tricky. Doctors need to consider other health factors and put the results in a context. Plus, insurance coverage makes getting the test paid for a hurdle.

Doctors usually display progesterone test results against a reference range. If you see that your levels fall above or below that scope, consult your healthcare practitioner because they may indicate a medical concern.

The reference range for progesterone differs by multiple factors like menstrual cycle phase at the time of the test, hormonal contraceptive use, and menopausal status. [6]



» Discover a surprising way birth control affects your hormones 

Progesterone in premenopausal women

Progesterone levels rise and fall naturally throughout the menstrual cycle. They're the lowest during the early follicular phase—menses—and peak during the seven to eight-day luteal stage.

The peak in progesterone during the luteal phase triggers the thickening of the uterine lining to prepare for a potential fertilized egg to implant. It also prevents muscle contractions in the uterus. The levels in the body decline In the absence of pregnancy, resulting in a menstrual period. [1]

Hormonal contraceptive use stabilizes thes peaks and dips by curbing the increase of the hormone during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. This effect leads to more consistent progesterone throughout the entire cycle. [6]

What do low levels mean? 

Low progesterone levels in premenopausal women can contribute to a surge in estradiol—as these two hormones are intimately connected. They also play a part in the thickening of the uterine lining before it sheds, heavy or irregular periods, and spotting. [1]

What do high levels mean? 

Research shows that high progesterone levels in premenopausal women relate to increased anxiety. [3,7] The hormone's peak during the luteal phase prepare the female body for pregnancy, which may intensify the need to generate a safe and supportive environment.

Prolonged increased progesterone may relate to endometrial hyperplasia—a condition where the lining of the uterus is abnormally thick. Consult a healthcare professional if you notice high levels in your chart since they can indicate underlying medical conditions. [1]



» Balance testosterone and estrogen by measuring SHBG

Progesterone in peri- and postmenopause

Progesterone levels tend to decline in perimenopausal women. During these years, they're often in flux as menstrual cycle happen less regularly. The effect continues until the onset of menopause—when a woman doesn't have a period in the course of 12 months.

The flux in progesterone during perimenopause indirectly affects your sleep. The elevated levels raise your core body temperature, which promotes wakefulness. [9]

What do low levels mean? 

Low progesterone levels during perimenopause relate to heightened mood and difficulty sleeping, which are common symptoms. But, every woman experiences them a bit differently. [7]

What do high levels mean? 

Prolonged high levels of progesterone may have clinical implications—including conditions that you should discuss with your doctor. [1]

» Optimize workouts around your menstrual cycle

Progesterone's impact on your bloodwork

Scientific literature suggest that progesterone levels intricately connect with other blood biomarkers. The chart below describes this correlation during pre- and postmenopause, and the mechanism behind it.



» Discover why you should measure your thyroid stimulating sex hormone

Can you optimize progesterone levels?

You should consult a healthcare practitioner if progesterone levels in your chart fall outside of the reference range. They can account for your complete medical history and determine a cause.

InsideTracker’s personalized health analysis displays progesterone blood test results using the reference ranges provided. Then, it takes it a step further by creating an optimal scope based on your menopausal stage, menstrual cycle phase, and more.

For blood test results that fall outside of a given optimal zone, you may see recommendations for food, supplements, and physical activity. They can positively sway progesterone levels.



Measuring progesterone levels

By knowing progesterone levels, you have critical insight into hormone health. It guides the next course of action, whether that’s no change to your current routine or speaking with your physician about your results. 

But a progesterone blood test isn’t always included in standard bloodwork. InsideTracker’s Ultimate Plan helps you track it over time and understand its impact on other biomarkers. Suboptimal levels can have clinical implications, and you should reach out to your healthcare provider.

Since progesterone levels vary depending on where a person is during their menstrual cycle or whether they are on contraceptives, the ideal time to test ay vary.

Balance your hormones, boost your health

Progesterone plays a vital role in numerous bodily functions, particularly for women's health. Maintaining balanced hormone levels is crucial for menstrual regularity, a healthy pregnancy, and overall well-being.

While the hormone fluctuates naturally, understanding why it happens and potential imbalances can empower you to work with healthcare providers to optimize your health. If you have concerns about your progesterone levels, consult a physician for personalized guidance and testing.

InsideTracker now offers blood progesterone testing for females included in the Ultimate Plan. This test provides personalized insights into your levels and how they might be impacting other aspects of your health.

You get a comprehensive picture of what your progesterone levels mean by analyzing them alongside your lifestyle habits, menopausal state, contraceptive use, and other blood biomarker results.

References:

[1] J. K. Cable and M. H. Grider, “Physiology, progesterone,” StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf, May 01, 2023. Available: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK558960/

[2] M. Oettel and A. K. Mukhopadhyay, “Progesterone: the forgotten hormone in men?,” Aging Male/˜the œAging Male, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 236–257, Sep. 2004, doi: 10.1080/13685530400004199. Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15669543/

[3] G. E. Hale, X. Zhao, C. L. Hughes, H. G. Burger, D. Robertson, and I. S. Fraser, “Endocrine features of menstrual cycles in middle and late reproductive age and the menopausal transition classified according to the Staging of Reproductive Aging Workshop (STRAW) staging system,” ˜the œJournal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism/Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, vol. 92, no. 8, pp. 3060–3067, Aug. 2007, doi: 10.1210/jc.2007-0066. Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17550960/

[4] L. M. Gloe, D. A. Kashy, E. G. Jacobs, K. L. Klump, and J. S. Moser, “Examining the role of ovarian hormones in the association between worry and working memory across the menstrual cycle,” Psychoneuroendocrinology, vol. 131, p. 105285, Sep. 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105285. Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34090137/

[5] “Quest Diagnostics: Test Directory.” Available: https://testdirectory.questdiagnostics.com/test/test-detail/745/progesterone?cc=MASTER

[6] M. Laurikka-Routti, M. Haukkamaa, and O. Heikinheimo, “A contraceptive vaginal ring releasing ethinyl estradiol and the progestin ST-1435: Bleeding control, serum steroid concentrations, serum lipids and serum chemistry,” Contraception, vol. 42, no. 1, pp. 111–120, Jul. 1990, doi: 10.1016/0010-7824(90)90095-d. Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2387151/

[7] H. Joffe et al., “Impact of estradiol variability and progesterone on mood in perimenopausal women with depressive symptoms,” ˜the œJournal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism/Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, vol. 105, no. 3, pp. e642–e650, Nov. 2019, doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgz181. Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31693131/

[8] A. A. Allshouse, J. Pavlović, and N. Santoro, “Menstrual Cycle Hormone Changes Associated with Reproductive Aging and How They May Relate to Symptoms,” Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America, vol. 45, no. 4, pp. 613–628, Dec. 2018, doi: 10.1016/j.ogc.2018.07.004. Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30401546/

[9] N. Charkoudian, E. C. J. Hart, J. N. Barnes, and M. J. Joyner, “Autonomic control of body temperature and blood pressure: influences of female sex hormones,” Clinical Autonomic Research, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 149–155, May 2017, doi: 10.1007/s10286-017-0420-z. Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28488202/