progesterone

pro·ges·ter·one | \ prō-ˈje-stə-ˌrōn

Definition of progesterone

: a female steroid sex hormone C₂₁H₃₀O₂ that is secreted by the corpus luteum to prepare the endometrium for implantation and later by the placenta during pregnancy to prevent rejection of the developing embryo or fetus also : a synthetic steroid resembling progesterone in action

Examples of progesterone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web After an individual gives birth, their levels of estrogen and progesterone plummet–an imbalance that’s thought to cause depression in about one in seven mothers in the US. — Popular Science, "Two radically new drugs bring hope for people with depression. But psychiatrists are skeptical.," 31 Dec. 2019 The progesterone that many women now take with an oestrogen supplement is thought less likely to do so. — The Economist, "Managing menopause Millions of women are missing out on hormone replacement therapy," 12 Dec. 2019 Long periods typically occur due to a dominance of estrogen over progesterone in the body, explains physician Lorraine Maita, M.D. — Suzannah Weiss, Glamour, "5 Possible Reasons Your Period Lasts So Long," 27 Oct. 2019 Some migraine patients opt for a continuous form of the pill, or a progesterone-only option, in order to keep their estrogen levels steady enough to ward off headaches. — Elizabeth King, Allure, "7 Types of Common Headaches and How to Tell Them Apart," 25 Sep. 2019 She was prescribed personalised amounts of three hormones: an oestrogen patch, micronised progesterone and testosterone. — The Economist, "Managing menopause Millions of women are missing out on hormone replacement therapy," 12 Dec. 2019 When used for more than five years, therapy that includes both estrogen and progesterone taken during menopause can raise risk for breast cancer. — Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, "Answers to your questions about breast cancer screening: Is a 3D mammogram better?," 4 Nov. 2019 According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, triple-negative breast cancer means that the tumor lacks three receptors that fuel tumor growth, such as estrogen, progesterone, and the HER-2/neu gene. — Jason Duaine Hahn, PEOPLE.com, "Mother Diagnosed with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer During Pregnancy Gives Birth to Healthy Boy," 18 Oct. 2019 During pregnancy, there’s a huge rise in the levels of progesterone and estrogen. — Jessica Grose, New York Times, "Why Are Pregnant Women So Sweaty?," 2 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'progesterone.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

17 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Progesterone.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/progesterone. Accessed 26 January 2020.

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More Definitions for progesterone

progesterone

noun