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 Kennedy’s breast cancer tested positive for the presence of hormone receptors estrogen and progesterone. — Lisa Maria Garza, orlandosentinel.com, "Breast cancer strikes sisters, 29 and 31. Both prepare for double mastectomies," 25 Oct. 2019 The receptors that help to determine a breast cancer diagnosis are estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR), and HER2 protein receptors. — Mary Claire Lagroue, SELF, "How Is Triple Negative Breast Cancer Different from Other Diagnoses?," 31 May 2019 After that, your rising estrogen and progesterone levels drop, which is when most women experience those awful premenstrual symptoms like cramping, irritability, and anxiety. — Maggie O'neill, Health.com, "How Long is a Menstrual Cycle, Anyway?," 29 Aug. 2019 Knowing this, over the past year, Eisenlohr-Moul has studied if stabilizing both estrogen and progesterone levels during that part of women’s cycles could decrease suicidal thoughts. — Kate Thayer, chicagotribune.com, "Can hormone stabilization keep suicidal thoughts at bay for women? UIC researchers are looking for answers.," 15 Aug. 2019 The steady dose of hormones in pills and IUDs means your body may not fully register the decline of natural estrogen and progesterone. — Beth Janes, Good Housekeeping, "6 Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Menopause," 10 Sep. 2019 The hormones most commonly used to treat symptoms of menopause are estrogen and progesterone. — Jacqueline Howard, CNN, "Breast cancer risk linked to hormone therapy can persist for years, study says," 29 Aug. 2019 Your other option is an OTC morning-after pill like Plan B or Next Choice, both of which use levonorgestrel, a synthetic version of the hormone progesterone, to delay ovulation. — Zahra Barnes, SELF, "6 Ways You Can Still Get Pregnant After Taking Emergency Contraception," 18 July 2019 Estrogen and progesterone have been shown to weaken blood vessel walls, which could leave them more vulnerable to the kind of tear that results in SCAD. — Natasha Lavender, SELF, "Meet SCAD, a Major Cause of Heart Attacks in Women 50 and Under," 22 Aug. 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

21 Nov 2019

Cite this Entry

“Progesterone.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/progesterone. Accessed 9 December 2019.

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More Definitions for progesterone

progesterone

noun