Progesterone: what it does and how people use it
Progesterone is a natural hormone your body makes. It helps regulate the menstrual cycle, supports early pregnancy, and is part of many hormone treatments. People talk about progesterone a lot because it affects mood, bleeding, and fertility. This page gives short, useful facts so you know what to expect and what to ask your clinician.
Who takes progesterone and why
Women may use progesterone for several reasons: to balance estrogen during menopausal hormone therapy, to support the luteal phase in fertility treatments, to treat irregular bleeding, or after certain gynecological procedures. Doctors sometimes prescribe it as a capsule, a vaginal gel or insert, or a shot. Men rarely take it, but some treatments for transgender care include it under medical supervision.
Forms, dosing, and what works best
Progesterone comes in many forms. Oral pills are handy but may cause more side effects like drowsiness. Vaginal gels or suppositories give high local levels in the uterus and are popular in fertility care. Intramuscular injections deliver consistent blood levels and are used in fertility clinics. Patches and implants exist but are less common. Which form is best depends on your goal—talk to your prescriber about convenience, side effects, and cost.
Dose varies widely. For contraception support or cycle control, lower doses are used. For luteal support in IVF or assisted reproduction, doses and schedules differ between clinics. Always follow the exact dose and timing your clinician gives you.
Common side effects include breast tenderness, bloating, fatigue, mild mood swings, and spotting. These usually ease after a few cycles or days. If you notice severe mood changes, breathing problems, swelling, or unusual chest pain, contact a healthcare provider right away.
Progesterone can interact with other drugs. Enzyme-inducing medicines (some anti-seizure drugs or certain antibiotics) can lower progesterone levels. If you take blood thinners, antidepressants, or strong enzyme inducers, tell your prescriber so they can check interactions and adjust dosing if needed.
Testing and monitoring are simple. For fertility tracking, a single blood progesterone test about a week after ovulation can confirm whether ovulation happened. When using progesterone for treatment, clinicians may check symptoms, bleeding patterns, or specific blood levels depending on the situation.
Practical tips: store pills or gels as the label says—some need refrigeration. If you miss a dose, follow the instruction leaflet or contact your clinic; don’t double up unless told to. Keep a short diary of side effects and bleeding to share with your prescriber—small notes help them fine-tune treatment quickly.
If you’re buying progesterone or reading online, prefer regulated pharmacies and ask for brand and batch details. Always check with a clinician before starting or stopping progesterone—there are safe alternatives and timing matters a lot for fertility and hormone therapy.
