Progesterone - Revive HRT

Here is a 361-word answer on "What is progesterone?" with key terms in bold and using Markdown formatting:

Progesterone is a key female hormone that plays vital roles in the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and embryo development.

What Does Progesterone Do?

Some of progesterone's main functions include:

• Preparing the uterus for pregnancy. It thickens the uterine lining so that a fertilized egg can implant and grow.
• Supporting pregnancy. Once an egg is fertilized and implants, the corpus luteum continues secreting progesterone to maintain the uterine lining, ensuring proper fetal development in early pregnancy. Progesterone levels remain elevated throughout pregnancy.
• Regulating menstrual cycles. Along with estrogen, it controls the build-up and shedding of the uterine lining during a woman's monthly cycles.

Where Does Progesterone Come From?

In females, progesterone production happens mainly in:

• The corpus luteum: This temporary gland forms in an ovary after an egg is released. It produces progesterone to prepare for potential pregnancy.
• The placenta: If pregnancy occurs, the placenta starts making progesterone by weeks 8-10, taking over from the corpus luteum.

Smaller amounts are also produced by the adrenal glands and central nervous system.