Progesterone: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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Progesterone is sometimes called the "hormone of [[pregnancy]]",<ref name="colostate">{{cite web | url = http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/reprod/placenta/endocrine.html | title = Placental Hormones | access-date = 2008-03-12 | vauthors = Bowen R | date = 2000-08-06 }}</ref> and it has many roles relating to the development of the fetus:

* Progesterone converts the [[endometrium]] to its secretory stage to prepare the uterus for implantation. At the same time progesterone affects the [[vaginal epithelium]] and [[Cervix#Cervical mucus|cervical mucus]], making it thick and impenetrable to [[sperm]]. Progesterone is anti-[[mitosis|mitogenic]] in endometrial epithelial cells, and as such, mitigates the tropic effects of [[estrogen]].<ref name="PatelElguero2014">{{cite journal | vauthors = Patel B, Elguero S, Thakore S, Dahoud W, Bedaiwy M, Mesiano S | title = Role of nuclear progesterone receptor isoforms in uterine pathophysiology | journal = Human Reproduction Update | volume = 21 | issue = 2 | pages = 155–73 | year = 2014 | pmid = 25406186 | pmc = 4366574 | doi = 10.1093/humupd/dmu056 }}</ref> If pregnancy does not occur, progesterone levels will decrease, leading, in the woman, to [[menstruate|menstruation]]. Normal menstrual bleeding is progesterone-withdrawal bleeding. If ovulation does not occur and the [[corpus luteum]] does not develop, levels of progesterone may be low, leading to [[Dysfunctional uterine bleeding#Anovulatory DUB|anovulatory dysfunctional uterine bleeding.]]

* During implantation and [[gestation]], progesterone appears to decrease the maternal [[immune system|immune]] response to allow for the acceptance of the pregnancy.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal | vauthors = Di Renzo GC, Giardina I, Clerici G, Brillo E, Gerli S | title = Progesterone in normal and pathological pregnancy | journal = Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation | volume = 27 | issue = 1 | pages = 35–48 | date = July 2016 | pmid = 27662646 | doi = 10.1515/hmbci-2016-0038 | s2cid = 32239449 }}</ref>

* Progesterone decreases contractility of the uterine [[smooth muscle]].<ref name="colostate"/> This effect contributes to prevention of [[preterm labor]].<ref name=":0" />