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Serum progesterone


Serum progesterone is a test to measure the amount of progesterone in the blood. Progesterone is a hormone produced mainly in the ovaries.

Progesterone plays a key role in pregnancy. It is produced after ovulation in the second half of the menstrual cycle. It helps make a woman's uterus ready for a fertilized egg to be implanted. It also prepares the uterus for pregnancy by inhibiting the uterine muscle to contract and the breasts for milk production.

Alternative Names

Progesterone blood test (serum)

How the Test is Performed

A blood sample is needed. Most of the time, blood is drawn from a vein located on the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand.

How to Prepare for the Test

Many medicines can interfere with blood test results.


How the Test will Feel


Why the Test is Performed

This test is done to:

  • Determine if a woman is ovulating
  • Evaluate a woman with repeated miscarriages (other tests are used more commonly)
  • Determine the risk for miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy early in pregnancy

Normal Results

Progesterone levels vary, depending on the timing when the test is done. Blood progesterone levels start to rise midway through the menstrual cycle. It continues to rise for about 6 to 10 days, and then falls if the egg is not fertilized.

Levels continue to rise in early pregnancy.

The following are normal ranges based upon certain phases of the menstrual cycle and pregnancy:

  • Female (pre-ovulation): less than 1 nanogram per mililiter (ng/mL) or 3.18 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L)
  • Female (mid-cycle): 5 to 20 ng/mL or 15.90 to 63.60 nmol/L
  • Male: less than 1 ng/mL or 3.18 nmol/L
  • Postmenopausal: less than 1 ng/mL or 3.18 nmol/L
  • Pregnancy 1st trimester: 11.2 to 90.0 ng/mL or 35.62 to 286.20 nmol/L
  • Pregnancy 2nd trimester: 25.6 to 89.4 ng/mL or 81.41 to 284.29 nmol/L
  • Pregnancy 3rd trimester: 48 to 150 to 300 or more ng/mL or 152.64 to 477 to 954 or more nmol/L



What Abnormal Results Mean

Higher-than-normal levels may be due to:

Lower-than-normal levels may be due to:



Chernecky CC, Berger BJ. Progesterone - serum. In: Chernecky CC, Berger BJ, eds. Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures. 6th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier Saunders; 2013:908-909.

Rink BD, Lockwood CJ. Recurrent pregnancy loss. In: Creasy RK, Resnik R, Iams JD, et al, eds. Creasy and Resnik's Maternal-Fetal Medicine: Principles and Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 44.