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
Breast development lactation by prolactin. Expression of the PRLR in breast tissue may increase by as much as 20-fold when estrogen and progesterone levels drop upon childbirth. With suckling from the infant, prolactin and oxytocin are secreted and mediate milk production and letdown, respectively. Prolactin suppresses the secretion of LH and FSH, which in turn results in continued low levels of estrogen and progesterone, and temporary amenorrhea (absence of menstrual cycles) occurs. In the absence of regular, episodic suckling, which keeps prolactin concentrations high, levels of prolactin will quickly drop, the menstrual cycle will resume and hence normal estrogen and progesterone levels