Menstrual cycle and LH cause the remaining parts of the dominant follicle to transform into the corpus luteum, which produces progesterone. The increased progesterone in the adrenals starts to induce the production of estrogen. The hormones produced by the corpus luteum also suppress production of the FSH and LH that the corpus luteum needs to maintain itself. Consequently, the level of FSH and LH fall quickly over time, and the corpus luteum subsequently atrophies. Falling levels of progesterone trigger menstruation and the beginning of the next cycle. From the time of ovulation until progesterone withdrawal has caused menstruation to begin, the process
Pharmacokinetics of progesterone of the menstrual cycle with LC–MS/MS are 6.7 to 22.2 ng/mL. When the unreliable method of standalone RIA has been used to measure progesterone levels with oral progesterone, far higher peak levels of 6.5 to 10.2 ng/mL, 13.8 to 19.9 ng/mL, and 32.3 to 49.8 ng/mL have been erroneously observed after single 100, 200, and 300 mg doses, respectively. In addition, progesterone levels have been inaccurately measured by RIA as remaining elevated for 12 to 24 hours. Regardless of assay method, peak levels of progesterone following a dose of oral progesterone occur after about 1 to 3 hours. The elimination