madman
Super Moderator
Abstract
The most recent studies of progesterone research provide remarkable insights into the physiological role and clinical importance of this hormone. Although the name progesterone itself means “promoting gestation”, this steroid hormone is far more than a gestational agent. Progesterone is recognized as a key physiological component of not only the menstrual cycle and pregnancy but also as an essential steroidogenic precursor of other gonadal and non-gonadal hormones such as aldosterone, cortisol, estradiol, and testosterone. Based on current findings, progesterone and novel progesterone-based drugs have many important functions, including contraception, treatment of dysfunctional uterine bleeding, immune response, and prevention of cancer. Considering the above, reproduction and life are not possible without progesterone; thus, a better understanding of this essential molecule could enable safe and effective use of this hormone in many clinical conditions.
1. Introduction
Progesterone is a key physiological component of the menstrual cycle, reproduction, and steroid hormone biosynthesis. Other physiological actions of progesterone in the central nervous system and immune system also support the concept that progesterone is key to life, and a better understanding of this important hormone helps its extensive clinical implication for human health. Progesterone was discovered because of its effect on the growth and implantation of embryos and was extracted from the corpus luteum in the 1920s [1,2]. The history of progesterone research includes several milestones, and the exciting story is not yet over (Table 1). Progesterone also plays an important role in mammary gland development and affects the function of the central nervous system and cardiovascular system. In this review, we attempt to summarize the most important roles and clinical implications of progesterone (Figure 1). The most recent studies of progesterone research provide remarkable insights into the physiological and clinical importance of this hormone.
2. The Role of Progesterone in the Menstrual Cycle, Pregnancy, and Lactation
2.1. Preovulatory and Ovulatory Function
2.2. Progesterone in Premenstrual Syndrome
2.3. Progesterone in the Luteal Phase
2.4. The Endometrial Effect of Progesterone
2.5. Progesterone during Pregnancy
2.6. Progesterone and Tryptophan Catabolism
2.7. Progesterone in Follicular Fluid
2.8. Progesterone and Lactation
3. Clinical Implications of Progesterone
3.1. Applications of Progesterone in Reproductive Medicine
3.1.1. Progesterone Treatment in Assisted Reproduction
3.1.2. Progesterone in Recurrent Miscarriage
3.1.3. Maintenance of Uterine Quiescence in Late Pregnancy
3.1.4. Progesterone and Endometriosis
3.2. Birth Control
3.3. Hormone Replacement Therapy
3.4 Oncological Aspects of Progesterone
3.5. Progesterone and Nervous System
4. Summary and Conclusions
Progesterone is necessary for successful embryo implantation and pregnancy maintenance. Vaginal progesterone treatment minimizes the risk of recurrent miscarriage and decreases the risk of preterm birth, saving many fetal lives.
However, progesterone is far more than a gestational agent (Figure 4). Progesterone is an essential steroidogenetic precursor of other gonadal and non-gonadal hormones such as aldosterone, cortisol, estradiol and testosterone. These hormones are responsible for innumerable functions such as sodium conservation in the kidney, regulation of blood pressure, response to stress and low blood-glucose concentration, development of female and male secondary sexual characteristics. Progesterone also plays an important role in the nervous system. Its neurogenic effect is essential for normal brain development in fetuses, while the neuroprotective effect of progesterone improves the patient’s survival after traumatic brain injury. Progesterone and novel progestins have many important functions, including contraception, luteal phase support, treatment of dysfunctional uterine bleeding, and endometriosis. Progesterone has an important role in immune response and also in the prevention and treatment of various cancers.
Although several studies prove the importance of progesterone in various essential physiological processes, we are far from completely understanding the key role of progesterone in the miracle of life.
The most recent studies of progesterone research provide remarkable insights into the physiological role and clinical importance of this hormone. Although the name progesterone itself means “promoting gestation”, this steroid hormone is far more than a gestational agent. Progesterone is recognized as a key physiological component of not only the menstrual cycle and pregnancy but also as an essential steroidogenic precursor of other gonadal and non-gonadal hormones such as aldosterone, cortisol, estradiol, and testosterone. Based on current findings, progesterone and novel progesterone-based drugs have many important functions, including contraception, treatment of dysfunctional uterine bleeding, immune response, and prevention of cancer. Considering the above, reproduction and life are not possible without progesterone; thus, a better understanding of this essential molecule could enable safe and effective use of this hormone in many clinical conditions.
1. Introduction
Progesterone is a key physiological component of the menstrual cycle, reproduction, and steroid hormone biosynthesis. Other physiological actions of progesterone in the central nervous system and immune system also support the concept that progesterone is key to life, and a better understanding of this important hormone helps its extensive clinical implication for human health. Progesterone was discovered because of its effect on the growth and implantation of embryos and was extracted from the corpus luteum in the 1920s [1,2]. The history of progesterone research includes several milestones, and the exciting story is not yet over (Table 1). Progesterone also plays an important role in mammary gland development and affects the function of the central nervous system and cardiovascular system. In this review, we attempt to summarize the most important roles and clinical implications of progesterone (Figure 1). The most recent studies of progesterone research provide remarkable insights into the physiological and clinical importance of this hormone.
2. The Role of Progesterone in the Menstrual Cycle, Pregnancy, and Lactation
2.1. Preovulatory and Ovulatory Function
2.2. Progesterone in Premenstrual Syndrome
2.3. Progesterone in the Luteal Phase
2.4. The Endometrial Effect of Progesterone
2.5. Progesterone during Pregnancy
2.6. Progesterone and Tryptophan Catabolism
2.7. Progesterone in Follicular Fluid
2.8. Progesterone and Lactation
3. Clinical Implications of Progesterone
3.1. Applications of Progesterone in Reproductive Medicine
3.1.1. Progesterone Treatment in Assisted Reproduction
3.1.2. Progesterone in Recurrent Miscarriage
3.1.3. Maintenance of Uterine Quiescence in Late Pregnancy
3.1.4. Progesterone and Endometriosis
3.2. Birth Control
3.3. Hormone Replacement Therapy
3.4 Oncological Aspects of Progesterone
3.5. Progesterone and Nervous System
4. Summary and Conclusions
Progesterone is necessary for successful embryo implantation and pregnancy maintenance. Vaginal progesterone treatment minimizes the risk of recurrent miscarriage and decreases the risk of preterm birth, saving many fetal lives.
However, progesterone is far more than a gestational agent (Figure 4). Progesterone is an essential steroidogenetic precursor of other gonadal and non-gonadal hormones such as aldosterone, cortisol, estradiol and testosterone. These hormones are responsible for innumerable functions such as sodium conservation in the kidney, regulation of blood pressure, response to stress and low blood-glucose concentration, development of female and male secondary sexual characteristics. Progesterone also plays an important role in the nervous system. Its neurogenic effect is essential for normal brain development in fetuses, while the neuroprotective effect of progesterone improves the patient’s survival after traumatic brain injury. Progesterone and novel progestins have many important functions, including contraception, luteal phase support, treatment of dysfunctional uterine bleeding, and endometriosis. Progesterone has an important role in immune response and also in the prevention and treatment of various cancers.
Although several studies prove the importance of progesterone in various essential physiological processes, we are far from completely understanding the key role of progesterone in the miracle of life.
