Clarification: Proverb vs. Progesterone
These are two completely unrelated terms—a proverb is a short, traditional saying expressing a general truth or piece of advice, while progesterone is a steroid hormone essential for reproductive function and pregnancy maintenance.
Proverb
- A proverb is a linguistic and cultural concept—a concise, memorable statement that conveys wisdom, moral lessons, or practical advice passed down through generations
- Examples include "A stitch in time saves nine" or "Actions speak louder than words"
- This is not a medical term and has no relevance to clinical practice
Progesterone
Progesterone is a naturally occurring steroid hormone with the molecular formula C21H30O2, chemically identical to progesterone produced by human ovaries 1.
Physiological Role
- Progesterone is essential for menstrual cycle regulation, endometrial preparation for implantation, and pregnancy maintenance 2, 3
- It serves as a steroidogenic precursor for other hormones including aldosterone, cortisol, estradiol, and testosterone 3
- The hormone maintains uterine quiescence by reducing contractility, modulating maternal immune response, suppressing inflammatory responses, and improving utero-placental circulation 2
Clinical Applications
- For singleton pregnancies with prior spontaneous preterm birth at 20-36 6/7 weeks, 17-alpha-hydroxy-progesterone caproate (17P) 250 mg intramuscularly weekly from 16-20 weeks until 36 weeks is recommended 4
- For women with singleton gestations, no prior preterm birth, and short cervical length ≤20 mm at ≤24 weeks, vaginal progesterone (90-mg gel or 200-mg suppository) reduces preterm birth and perinatal morbidity/mortality 5, 4
- Progesterone is used for luteal phase support in assisted reproductive technology, treatment of dysfunctional uterine bleeding, and prevention of endometrial hyperplasia in postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy 3, 6
Pharmacokinetics
- After oral administration of micronized progesterone, maximum serum concentrations are attained within 1.5-2.3 hours 1
- Progesterone is 96-99% bound to serum proteins, primarily albumin (50-54%) and transcortin (43-48%) 1
- The hormone is metabolized primarily by the liver to pregnanediols and pregnanolones, with excretion mainly through the kidneys 1
Important Limitations
- Progesterone is not effective for multiple gestations, active preterm labor, or preterm premature rupture of membranes 4