Pharmacodynamics of progesterone women, this effect being the result of suppression of the mid-cycle surge in gonadotropin secretion, is 300 mg/day. However, this figure is based on limited clinical data. Conversely, treatment with a high dosage of oral progesterone of 100 mg four times per day (or 400 mg/day total) in men for 10 days that resulted in approximately mid-luteal phase levels of progesterone (7.9–9.4 ng/mL; measured by ) did not cause any change in testosterone levels, suggesting that progesterone has little or no antigonadotropic effect in males at typical clinical dosages. In addition, a study found that administration of 1,000 mg/day oral
Pharmacodynamics of progesterone neuropsychiatric effects associated with the menstrual cycle (e.g., dysphoria, depression, anxiety, irritability) and postpartum period (e.g., postpartum depression), as well as in catamenial epilepsy (seizures). Low and high levels of allopregnanolone seem to have a neutral effect on mood, whereas moderate levels have a negative effect, which may underlie the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder that are observed in 30 to 40% of premenopausal women. This U-shaped effect on mood appears to be a common property of GABA receptor positive allosteric modulators. In contrast to oral administration, parenteral progesterone, such as with vaginal administration, avoids the first-pass