Pharmacokinetics of progesterone concentrations was around 4 hours and the elimination half-life was in the range of 30 to 40 hours. The venous blood levels observed were very low. Because progesterone is a lipophilic and hydrophobic compound, it is not absorbed efficiently by the skin. Moreover, because the body produces about 25 mg progesterone per day on average during the luteal phase, around 50% of the body would need to be used as a surface of absorption to deliver a similar quantity of progesterone. As such, the transdermal route cannot easily achieve adequate circulating progesterone levels, and this makes transdermal progesterone impractical for
Menstrual cycle may be taken continuously, although this increases the risk of breakthrough bleeding. Breastfeeding causes negative feedback to occur on pulse secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Depending on the strength of the negative feedback, breastfeeding women may experience complete suppression of follicular development, but no ovulation, or normal menstrual cycle may resume. Suppression of ovulation is more likely when suckling occurs more frequently. The production of prolactin in response to suckling is important to maintaining lactational amenorrhea. On average, women who are fully breastfeeding whose infants suckle frequently experience a return of menstruation at fourteen and a