Progesterone is a natural hormone involved in the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, fertility care, and menopausal hormone therapy. It has broad human trial evidence, but the right use, route, and dose depend on the reason it is being considered and on personal health history. Some studied contexts described below may be off-label for a given product, route, or patient; FDA-approved labeling and clinician judgment determine appropriate use. At Chia, progesterone care starts with licensed-provider review.
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See if you qualify →What it is
Progesterone is a natural steroid hormone and progestogen. In plain language, it helps coordinate the menstrual cycle, supports changes in the uterine lining, and appears in many clinical research settings involving pregnancy, fertility care, and hormone therapy.
Progesterone, micronised progesterone, and Prometrium
Progesterone is the hormone name. Micronised progesterone means the particles have been made smaller; FDA labeling for oral micronized progesterone describes progesterone as micronized to increase dissolution and absorption 14. Prometrium is a brand name people may know from hormone-therapy discussions; this article focuses on progesterone as the active hormone and on compounded progesterone where Chia’s care model is relevant.
Progesterone has been studied in menopausal hormone therapy, including long-term cognitive outcomes in the KEEPS Continuation Study 1. It has also been studied in reproductive medicine, including threatened miscarriage, early pregnancy bleeding, recurrent miscarriage, and fertility-care settings 2 3 5 6.
Where progesterone fits among hormones and progestogens
A progestogen is any substance that acts through progesterone-type signaling. Progesterone is the body’s own version, while some other progestogens are synthetic. Because studies use different forms and routes, results from one setting should not be stretched to every progesterone product or every patient.
Human randomized trials in the retrieved evidence set cover several clinical contexts, not one single “progesterone benefit.” Examples include menopausal hormone therapy, programmed frozen embryo transfer, feminizing gender-affirming hormone therapy, and preterm birth research in twin pregnancy with short cervix 1 3 4 10.
Mechanism of action
Progesterone receptors are the main pathway discussed when clinicians talk about progesterone. FDA labeling describes progesterone as acting through progesterone receptors, with effects that depend on target tissue and clinical context; route, dose, timing, and the condition being studied also affect how a progesterone plan is interpreted 14.
Progesterone receptors and reproductive signaling
In reproductive care, progesterone is studied because it is linked to uterine-lining and pregnancy-related physiology. That is why randomized trials have tested it in early pregnancy bleeding, recurrent miscarriage, luteal support, frozen embryo transfer, and preterm birth prevention research 2 3 5 6 8 10.
In menopausal hormone therapy research, progesterone is usually discussed as part of a broader hormone plan, not as a stand-alone longevity or weight-loss treatment. The KEEPS Continuation Study looked at long-term cognitive effects after menopausal hormone therapy, so it supports discussion of that research setting, not broad claims about mood, memory, or aging for all patients 1.
Why route of use can matter
Route matters because oral, transdermal, injected, and vaginal progesterone expose the body in different ways. The retrieved evidence includes transdermal micronised progesterone and endometrial response, intramuscular progesterone in programmed frozen embryo transfer, and vaginal progesterone in preterm-birth research contexts 3 7 10.
This route-specific evidence is one reason progesterone should not be self-selected from a product label alone. A clinician needs to match the route to the clinical goal, health history, other hormones, and safety concerns.
Evidence
Evidence Grade A is assigned here because the retrieved evidence set includes multiple human randomized controlled trials, including trials in menopausal hormone therapy, miscarriage-related care, fertility care, gender-affirming hormone therapy research, and preterm birth research 1 2 3 4 5 6 10.
Evidence grade rubric
A — two or more human randomised controlled trials. B — one human randomised trial, or two or more human clinical trials. C — human research exists, none of it randomised. D — animal or in-vitro research only; no human studies indexed. E — no trial evidence indexed in PubMed. The grade describes the quantity and design of published evidence, not whether the substance works, and not whether it is safe.
What Grade A means—and what it does not mean
Grade A does not mean progesterone is helpful for every symptom people connect to “low progesterone.” It means the retrieved evidence set contains two or more human randomized controlled trials. Those trials ask specific questions in specific groups.
For example, progesterone has been tested in threatened miscarriage in the STOP trial and in early pregnancy bleeding in the PRISM RCT 2 5. It has also been tested in recurrent miscarriage in the PROMISE randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial 6. These studies should not be generalized to people who are not pregnant or not in those clinical situations.
Progesterone luteal support has been studied in fertility care, including programmed frozen embryo transfer and natural-cycle infertility research 3 8. Other research includes feminizing gender-affirming hormone therapy focused on breast development and randomized research related to preterm birth prevention in twin pregnancy with short cervix 4 10.
| Research area | Examples in the retrieved evidence | What this does and does not prove |
|---|---|---|
| Menopausal hormone therapy | KEEPS Continuation Study on long-term cognitive effects of menopausal hormone therapy 1 | Supports that progesterone has been studied in this setting; it does not prove broad anti-aging or weight-loss effects. |
| Early pregnancy bleeding and threatened miscarriage | STOP trial and PRISM RCT 2 5 | Supports trial evidence in defined pregnancy-related groups; it is not a self-treatment guide. |
| Recurrent miscarriage | PROMISE randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial 6 | Supports evidence in people with a history of unexplained recurrent miscarriage; it does not apply to all menstrual symptoms. |
| Fertility care and luteal support | Programmed frozen embryo transfer and PiNC Trial 3 8 | Supports research in fertility-care settings; protocols vary by clinic and clinical context. |
| Route-specific research | Micronised transdermal progesterone and endometrial response 7 | Shows route-specific study exists; it does not mean all creams, injections, or oral products behave the same way. |
| Other studied settings | Gender-affirming hormone therapy and safety/tolerability research in women with cocaine use disorder 4 12 | Shows progesterone has been studied beyond menopause and fertility; it does not establish broad use for every goal. |
What studies exist
| Year | Design | Study | Journal | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Randomised controlled trial | Long-term cognitive effects of menopausal hormone therapy: Findings from the KEEPS Continuation Study | PLoS medicine | PMID 39570992 |
| 2023 | Randomised controlled trial | Progesterone for women with threatened miscarriage (STOP trial): a placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial | Human reproduction (Oxford, England) | PMID 36806843 |
| 2021 | Primary study | Intramuscular progesterone optimizes live birth from programmed frozen embryo transfer: a randomized clinical trial | Fertility and sterility | PMID 33992421 |
| 2023 | Randomised controlled trial | Addition of progesterone to feminizing gender-affirming hormone therapy in transgender individuals for breast development: a randomized controlled trial | BMC pharmacology & toxicology | PMID 38124194 |
| 2020 | Randomised controlled trial | Progesterone to prevent miscarriage in women with early pregnancy bleeding: the PRISM RCT | Health technology assessment (Winchester, England) | PMID 32609084 |
| 2016 | Randomised controlled trial | PROMISE: first-trimester progesterone therapy in women with a history of unexplained recurrent miscarriages - a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, international multicen | Health technology assessment (Winchester, England) | PMID 27225013 |
| 1999 | Randomised controlled trial | Micronised transdermal progesterone and endometrial response | Lancet (London, England) | PMID 10543679 |
| 2005 | Randomised controlled trial | Influence of hormone therapy on the cardiovascular responses to stress of postmenopausal women | Biological psychology | PMID 15740824 |
| 2025 | Randomised controlled trial | Cervical cerclage versus cervical pessary with or without vaginal progesterone for preterm birth prevention in twin pregnancies and a short cervix: A two-by-two factorial randomise | PLoS medicine | PMID 39982935 |
| 2024 | Randomised controlled trial | Serum progesterone is lower in ovarian stimulation with highly purified HMG compared to recombinant FSH owing to a different regulation of follicular steroidogenesis: a randomized | Human reproduction (Oxford, England) | PMID 38037188 |
| 2025 | Randomised controlled trial | Cervical pessary versus vaginal progesterone in women with a multiple pregnancy and a short cervix: A randomised controlled trial | PLoS medicine | PMID 41183078 |
| 2025 | Randomised controlled trial | Cerclage in singleton pregnancies with no prior spontaneous preterm birth and short cervix: a randomized controlled trial | American journal of obstetrics & gynecology MFM | PMID 39880123 |
| Registration | Phase | Status | Enrolment | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT02732418 | PHASE1 | COMPLETED | 60 | Lower Dose Depo Provera® Contraceptive Injection |
| NCT07425990 | NA | NOT_YET_RECRUITING | 120 | FET-LET-2x2: Clinical Pregnancy Rates After Frozen Embryo Transfer in Natural and Modified Natural Cycles |
| NCT03836118 | N/A | COMPLETED | 2970 | Intrauterine Insemination Predictor Factors |
| NCT00437658 | PHASE2 | COMPLETED | 252 | Elagolix Versus Subcutaneous Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate for the Treatment of Endometriosis |
| NCT00141908 | PHASE2 | COMPLETED | 290 | Prevention of Preterm Delivery in Twin Pregnancies by 17 Alpha-hydroxyprogesterone Caproate |
| NCT03433040 | PHASE3 | COMPLETED | 44 | 17OHP-C Dosing Among Obese Pregnant Women |
| NCT03186170 | NA | COMPLETED | 30 | Comparison of in Vitro Fertilization Rates of Oocytes and Embryo Development Using Two Techniques of Semen Processing |
| NCT07136922 | PHASE1 | RECRUITING | 20 | First in Human Safety and Ease of Use Assessment of 400mg Progesterone Callavid in Women With Luteal Phase Insufficiency |
This table is retrieved from PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov rather than assembled by hand, so it shows what is indexed — including the absences. Last retrieved 2026-09-02.
Reported dosing ranges
Progesterone dosing depends on the clinical context, route, and clinician plan. The retrieved peer-reviewed citations name several routes and settings, but their citation records do not provide enough dose detail to turn into a patient dosing guide.
Why dosing depends on the condition, route, and clinician plan
A dose used for fertility luteal support cannot be copied into menopausal hormone therapy, pregnancy-related care, or gender-affirming hormone therapy. The retrieved research spans intramuscular progesterone in programmed frozen embryo transfer, transdermal micronised progesterone and endometrial response, and vaginal progesterone in short-cervix pregnancy research 3 7 10.
For that reason, the safest way to read a dosing chart is as a map of what has been studied or registered, not as instructions. Do not start, stop, or change progesterone without a clinician who understands your reason for treatment, pregnancy status, other hormones, bleeding history, and medication list.
Dosing-range chart slot: oral, cream, injection, vaginal, and other studied routes
| Route or form | What the retrieved source says | Source of the dosing information | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oral progesterone | The retrieved peer-reviewed PubMed records supplied for this page do not provide an oral dosing range in the citation record. | Retrieved PubMed evidence set | No reader dosing instruction can be drawn from these records. |
| Progesterone cream or transdermal route | Micronised transdermal progesterone was evaluated for endometrial response, but the citation record supplied here does not provide a dose range 7. | Wren BG, McFarland K, Edwards L. 1999 | This supports route-specific research, not a dosing recommendation. |
| Progesterone injection | Intramuscular progesterone was studied in programmed frozen embryo transfer, but the citation record supplied here does not provide a dose range 3. | Devine K, Richter KS, Jahandideh S, et al. 2021 | Injection plans require clinician direction. |
| Vaginal progesterone | Vaginal progesterone appears in randomized research related to preterm birth prevention in twin pregnancy with short cervix, but the citation record supplied here does not provide a dose range 10. | He YTN, Pham HNH, Nguyen TC, et al. 2025 | This is pregnancy-specific research and should not be generalized. |
| Progesterone 400 mg in a registered study | A registered Phase 1 study is listed as a first-in-human safety and ease-of-use assessment of 400 mg progesterone Callavid in women with luteal phase insufficiency 13. | ClinicalTrials.gov NCT07136922 | A registered study dose is not a prescribing instruction and may not match clinical care. |
Legal status
| Date | Action | What it means | Source | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-02 | FDA-approved labelling containing Progesterone is on file with DailyMed (verified 2026-09-02) | An FDA-approved product with this active ingredient is available by prescription. | DailyMed (NLM) | FDA / Federal Register |
This section is generated from a dated log of federal actions rather than written by hand, and it is re-checked daily against the Federal Register and FDA sources. Last checked 2026-09-02. See the full legal-status tracker for every compound we follow.
Safety
Progesterone safety depends on the person and the clinical setting. The retrieved evidence includes randomized trials and one pilot treatment trial with safety and tolerability in its title, but the supplied citation records do not provide a full adverse-effect table 12.
Common tolerability themes to discuss with a clinician
The retrieved records support that safety and tolerability have been studied in at least one specific progesterone trial, but they do not give enough detail here to rank common side effects by frequency 12. In real care, your clinician should review expected effects, warning signs, and what to do if symptoms change.
Safety also depends on why progesterone is being used. For example, pregnancy-related trials such as STOP, PRISM, and PROMISE studied different populations than menopausal hormone therapy or fertility-care trials 2 5 6 1 3.
When progesterone may not be appropriate
The supplied study records are not enough to create a complete contraindication list. That gap matters. A clinician should review personal factors such as current pregnancy-related care, fertility treatment, unexplained bleeding, hormone-sensitive cancer history, clotting history, liver disease, breastfeeding, other hormone therapy, and sedating medicines before treatment decisions.
Unregulated supply adds separate risks: identity, potency, sterility, and impurity cannot be assumed when a product is sold outside a clinician-pharmacy process. A “research use only” product is not a substitute for medical care or pharmacy dispensing.
Interactions
Progesterone interactions are not well characterized in the citation records supplied for this page. The retrieved studies cover hormone therapy, fertility care, pregnancy-related care, and other settings, but they do not provide a dedicated drug-interaction evidence table 1 3 5 8.
Other hormone therapy, pregnancy-related care, fertility treatment, and sedating medicines
Other hormone therapy matters because progesterone is often studied as part of a hormone plan, such as menopausal hormone therapy or feminizing gender-affirming hormone therapy research 1 4. Fertility treatment also matters because progesterone luteal support has been studied in programmed frozen embryo transfer and natural-cycle infertility settings 3 8.
Pregnancy-related care should be handled by the treating obstetric or fertility clinician. Progesterone trials in early pregnancy bleeding, threatened miscarriage, recurrent miscarriage, and preterm birth prevention research are specific to those settings and should not be used as a general self-care plan 2 5 6 10.
How to obtain it legally
The legitimate process starts with a clinician evaluation, not a shopping cart. At Chia, progesterone treatment begins with a short online health questionnaire, followed by review by a licensed US provider who decides whether treatment is clinically appropriate.
Progesterone at Chia: cream, injection, and clinician-guided HRT options
Chia offers progesterone cream and progesterone injection, with plans currently starting from $109/month. When prescribed, medications are compounded in the US by state-licensed 503A compounding pharmacies and shipped to the patient’s door. Dosing is provider-guided and adjusted over time through the care plan and patient portal.
Chia also offers an HRT for Women protocol that includes Estradiol Oral plus Progesterone IR, with plans currently starting from $119/month. If estrogen is part of the conversation, our providers may also discuss estradiol options when clinically relevant.
| Chia option | Forms listed in Chia’s catalog | Starting price listed | How it may fit care |
|---|---|---|---|
| Progesterone | Cream, injection | From $109/month | For patients whose provider determines progesterone treatment is appropriate. |
| HRT for Women protocol | Estradiol Oral + Progesterone IR | From $119/month | For patients seeking clinician-guided hormone therapy evaluation. |
Clinician evaluation, prescription decision, and pharmacy fulfillment
A prescription is never guaranteed. The provider reviews your goals, medical history, symptoms, medications, and safety factors before deciding whether to prescribe. If treatment is prescribed, the medication is filled through a licensed pharmacy process rather than an unverified online seller.
Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. That is why the safety axis we emphasize is licensed care: a licensed provider, a state-licensed 503A compounding pharmacy, clear instructions, and follow-up messaging through the patient portal.
Why research-chemical vendors are not a substitute for medical care
A research-chemical vendor does not replace a medical visit, a prescription decision, or pharmacy oversight. Without that process, a patient may not know whether the product identity, strength, sterility, or impurity profile has been handled in a way suitable for human use.
If you want Chia’s providers to review whether progesterone care fits your goals and history, you can start with the online eligibility quiz. For agent-assisted workflows, Chia can also be reached through DoctorMCP at mcp.chia.health, but a clinician evaluation is still required.
3-min quiz
Talk with Chia about progesterone care
Chia offers progesterone cream and injection, and our HRT for Women protocol includes Estradiol Oral plus Progesterone IR. Treatment requires review by a licensed provider and is prescribed only when clinically appropriate. Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved.
It depends on why progesterone is being used, the route, and the person’s health history. Some people use progesterone as part of hormone therapy, fertility care, or pregnancy-related care, but the expected effects and safety plan should come from the treating clinician.
People often search for low progesterone when they have irregular cycles, spotting, fertility concerns, or perimenopause symptoms. Those symptoms can have many causes, so lab testing and clinical context matter more than symptoms alone.
Progesterone is involved in ovulation, uterine-lining changes, menstrual-cycle signaling, and pregnancy-related physiology. It is also used in some hormone-therapy and fertility-care settings under clinician guidance.
That phrase is popular online, but it is too simple. Progesterone affects reproductive signaling and may influence how some people feel, but mood symptoms are complex and should not be reduced to one hormone.
No. Progesterone is the body’s natural progestogen. Progestin is a broader term often used for synthetic progestogen medications. They may act on similar pathways, but they are not automatically interchangeable.
Sometimes progesterone is considered without estrogen, and sometimes it is used as part of a broader hormone plan. The right approach depends on the clinical reason, symptoms, medical history, and clinician review.
The retrieved evidence for this page does not establish progesterone as a weight-loss treatment. If weight management is the main goal, a clinician should evaluate metabolic health, medications, nutrition, activity, sleep, and other hormone issues together.
Yes. Chia offers progesterone cream and injection, and the HRT for Women protocol includes Estradiol Oral plus Progesterone IR. A prescription requires review by a licensed provider and is not guaranteed. Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved.
References
- 1.PMID 39570992 [randomised controlled trial] Gleason CE, Dowling NM, Kara F, et al. Long-term cognitive effects of menopausal hormone therapy: Findings from the KEEPS Continuation Study. PLoS medicine. 2024.
- 2.PMID 36806843 [randomised controlled trial] McLindon LA, James G, Beckmann MM, et al. Progesterone for women with threatened miscarriage (STOP trial): a placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial. Human reproduction (Oxford, England). 2023.
- 3.PMID 33992421 [primary study] Devine K, Richter KS, Jahandideh S, et al. Intramuscular progesterone optimizes live birth from programmed frozen embryo transfer: a randomized clinical trial. Fertility and sterility. 2021.
- 4.PMID 38124194 [randomised controlled trial] Dijkman BAM, Helder D, Boogers LS, et al. Addition of progesterone to feminizing gender-affirming hormone therapy in transgender individuals for breast development: a randomized controlled trial. BMC pharmacology & toxicology. 2023.
- 5.PMID 32609084 [randomised controlled trial] Coomarasamy A, Harb HM, Devall AJ, et al. Progesterone to prevent miscarriage in women with early pregnancy bleeding: the PRISM RCT. Health technology assessment (Winchester, England). 2020.
- 6.PMID 27225013 [randomised controlled trial] Coomarasamy A, Williams H, Truchanowicz E, et al. PROMISE: first-trimester progesterone therapy in women with a history of unexplained recurrent miscarriages - a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, international multicentre trial and economic evaluation. Health technology assessment (Winchester, England). 2016.
- 7.PMID 10543679 [randomised controlled trial] Wren BG, McFarland K, Edwards L. Micronised transdermal progesterone and endometrial response. Lancet (London, England). 1999.
- 8.PMID 40259478 [randomised controlled trial] Raperport C, Chronopoulou E, Petrie A, et al. Progesterone Luteal Support in Natural Cycles for Unexplained Infertility: A Randomised Controlled Trial (The PiNC Trial). BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology. 2025.
- 9.PMID 15740824 [randomised controlled trial] Matthews KA, Owens JF, Salomon K, et al. Influence of hormone therapy on the cardiovascular responses to stress of postmenopausal women. Biological psychology. 2005.
- 10.PMID 39982935 [randomised controlled trial] He YTN, Pham HNH, Nguyen TC, et al. Cervical cerclage versus cervical pessary with or without vaginal progesterone for preterm birth prevention in twin pregnancies and a short cervix: A two-by-two factorial randomised clinical trial. PLoS medicine. 2025.
- 11.PMID 38037188 [randomised controlled trial] Bosch E, Alamá P, Romero JL, et al. Serum progesterone is lower in ovarian stimulation with highly purified HMG compared to recombinant FSH owing to a different regulation of follicular steroidogenesis: a randomized controlled trial. Human reproduction (Oxford, England). 2024.
- 12.PMID 36095308 [randomised controlled trial] Oliva A, Reed SC, Brooks DJ, et al. Safety and tolerability of progesterone treatment for women with cocaine use disorder: a pilot treatment trial. The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse. 2022.
- 13.NCT07136922 [RECRUITING, PHASE1, n=20] First in Human Safety and Ease of Use Assessment of 400mg Progesterone Callavid in Women With Luteal Phase Insufficiency. ClinicalTrials.gov. 2026.
- 14.DailyMed (National Library of Medicine). Progesterone capsule labeling. 2026.
About this article
Chia Health Editorial Team — Evidence-reviewed health education
This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Talk to a licensed clinician before starting, stopping, or changing any prescription.
AI tools may assist with research and drafting. Chia's editorial team reviews source use, clarity, treatment information, and safety framing before publication. A clinician is named only after explicit sign-off. Read our editorial standards.
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