Insight into your progesteronelevel.
Progesterone is formed after ovulation and prepares the womb lining. The level depends strongly on the point in the cycle, which is why testing usually takes place during the second half of the cycle.
Also known as: P4
Interpreted by BIG-registered doctors
How Bloodworks works
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Background
What is progesterone?
Progesterone (P4) is a hormone produced after ovulation by the corpus luteum, the remnant of the follicle in the ovary. Progesterone prepares the womb lining for a possible implantation and maintains that lining. If no pregnancy follows, production decreases again and menstruation begins. During pregnancy, the placenta takes over production. The adrenal glands also produce a small amount of progesterone.
Because progesterone only rises after ovulation, the moment of testing is everything. During the first half of the cycle the level is low, which is normal and says nothing about your hormone balance. To answer the question of whether ovulation has taken place, blood is therefore drawn during the second half of the cycle, roughly a week before the expected period. With a longer, shorter, or irregular cycle, that moment shifts accordingly. Please state your cycle day at the blood draw, so the doctor can place your value in the right context. The laboratory supplies the reference values that belong to the phase of your cycle.
In brief
After ovulation
Produced by the corpus luteum
Womb lining
Prepares for implantation
Timing matters
The second half of the cycle is customary
Also in pregnancy
The placenta takes over production
Common reasons to test
When can insight into your Progesterone be valuable?
Below are some situations in which measuring Progesterone can provide insight.
To see whether ovulation has taken place
Progesterone only rises after ovulation. A test during the second half of the cycle provides insight into this.
When trying to conceive
With questions about fertility, progesterone is often reviewed together with oestradiol, FSH, and LH.
With an irregular cycle
With a varying cycle length, the moment of testing is harder to choose. Our doctor takes this into account in the interpretation.
With symptoms in the second half of the cycle
Symptoms in the week before the period are often associated with the hormone pattern after ovulation.
As part of a broader hormone check
Progesterone is rarely assessed on its own and fits within an overview of the cycle hormones.
For follow-up of a previous test
Repeating the test at a comparable point in the cycle makes it possible to compare values with each other.
What your result means
How do we read your Progesterone level?
Progesterone is measured in nanomoles per litre (nmol/L). The result cannot be interpreted without your cycle day: during the first half of the cycle the level is naturally low, while during the second half it should be higher. The laboratory applies reference values per cycle phase, and our doctor places your value in that context.
A low value
During the first half of the cycle, a low value is normal. If a low value is found during the second half of the cycle, this can fit with an absent ovulation, but also with a poorly chosen moment of testing, for example because your cycle lasts longer than expected. A single measurement is therefore not a diagnosis. Our doctor provides explanation and advises whether a repeat test at another moment is worthwhile.
A normal value
A progesterone level that fits your cycle phase gives a reassuring picture for this marker. With a test during the second half of the cycle, a clear rise is consistent with an ovulation having taken place. It remains a snapshot of one cycle, and the pattern can differ from month to month.
An elevated value
A higher progesterone level fits with the second half of the cycle and with pregnancy. The use of progesterone or progestogens as medication can also influence the result. Our doctor provides explanation and context for your result.
How we interpret your result
Our doctors interpret your progesterone against the reference values of the laboratory, your cycle day, your cycle length, and your medication use. You receive a report in plain language, as a starting point for your own insight or a conversation with your healthcare provider.
Related tests
Often combined with Progesterone.
A single marker gives one perspective. For a broader picture you can combine Progesterone with a theme package or related markers.
Frequently asked questions
Everything you want to know
Do I need to fast for a progesterone test?
No, you do not need to fast for a progesterone measurement. The point in your cycle matters far more than the time of day.
When in my cycle should I have progesterone tested?
To answer the question of whether ovulation has taken place, blood is drawn during the second half of the cycle, roughly a week before the expected period. With a 28-day cycle, that works out at around day 21. If your cycle is longer or shorter, that moment shifts accordingly. Please state your cycle day and your usual cycle length at the blood draw.
What if my cycle is irregular?
Then choosing the right moment of testing is harder, because ovulation does not occur at a fixed point. A low value can then mean that no ovulation has taken place, but also that blood was drawn too early or too late. Our doctor takes this into account and indicates whether a repeat test is worthwhile.
What does a low value during the second half of my cycle mean?
It can fit with an absent ovulation in that cycle, but it can also be down to the moment of testing. A single measurement is not a diagnosis. If a question about your cycle or about conceiving persists, a conversation with your GP or gynaecologist is the logical next step.
Can I measure progesterone if I use the pill or a coil?
You can, but the result then says little about ovulation. Most hormonal contraception suppresses ovulation, so the rise that normally follows it does not occur. In addition, synthetic progestogens from contraception are not detected by the progesterone test. Please state your contraception at the blood draw.
What is the difference between progesterone and a progestogen?
Progesterone is the body's own hormone. Progestogens are synthetic variants used in contraception and hormone therapy. The laboratory test measures progesterone, not the synthetic variants.
Is progesterone also useful for men?
Rarely. Men have a small amount of progesterone from the adrenal glands, but the test is mainly used in the context of the cycle and fertility in women.
What do I do with my result?
You will receive a PDF report with your value and an explanation from our doctor. What you do with it, such as discussing it with your GP or taking no action, remains entirely your choice.
Ready for insight into your progesterone level?
For €69 you receive your progesterone level including personal explanation from a doctor, typically within a few working days. No referral required.
Order Progesterone for €69 →Want to test multiple markers at once?
Combine Progesterone with other markers via Bloodworks Select. Blood draw costs are waived from €225.
69,-
All-in, blood draw included