Oral administration of micronized natural progesterone in late human pregnancy. Effects on progesterone and estrogen concentrations in the plasma, placenta, and myometrium

Françoise Ferre; Michèle Uzan; Yvette Janssens; Gisèle Tanguy; André Jolivet; Michelle Breuiller; Claude Sureau; Lise Cedard

doi:10.1016/s0002-9378(84)80027-7

Pregnancy Prenatal Care

Oral administration of micronized natural progesterone in late human pregnancy. Effects on progesterone and estrogen concentrations in the plasma, placenta, and myometrium

Ferre F, Uzan M, Janssens Y, Tanguy G, Jolivet A, Breuiller M, Sureau C, Cedard L

Published January 1984 American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 148(1), 26-34

DOI 10.1016/s0002-9378(84)80027-7 PMID 6691378

RRM Academy Synopsis

Oral micronized progesterone reaches uterine muscle in late pregnancy

Progesterone in the uterine muscle peaked about 150 minutes after one oral dose. Levels then fell to control values in 1 hour. Fifteen women took the dose before a planned cesarean.

Key Findings

Fifteen pregnant women swallowed one dose of micronized progesterone just before elective cesarean section. Women in a control group took none.
Progesterone in the blood plasma and in the whole myometrium (uterine muscle) rose markedly 150 minutes after the dose, then dropped quickly to control values in 1 hour.
Progesterone in the placenta showed no changes.
Plasma and myometrium showed no difference in 17 beta-estradiol. Placental 17 beta-estradiol went up.
Plasma estrone stayed the same. Estrone fell in both the myometrium and the placenta.

Interpretation

This study measured hormone levels in blood, placenta and uterine muscle in women with normal, term pregnancies. Each woman took one dose of oral micronized progesterone before a planned cesarean section. Progesterone reached the uterine muscle fast and fell back to normal just as fast. Placental estrogen levels also changed. Estrogen in the uterine muscle stayed the same. The findings support larger trials of this dosing approach.

RRM Context

The authors tested natural progesterone, the body's own hormone. They note that the link between synthetic progestins and some fetal problems is controversial. Restorative reproductive medicine draws a clear line here. Progesterone is bioidentical. Progestins are synthetic, with different effects in the body.

Our editorial summary of this paper, not the article's abstract.

Abstract

A single dose of micronized oral progesterone was administered to 15 pregnant women immediately prior to elective cesarean section. Levels of progesterone, 17 beta-estradiol, and estrone were measured in the plasma, in the placenta, and at different sites in myometrium obtained during the surgical procedure. Results were compared to those observed in a control group of women who did not receive progesterone. Progesterone levels demonstrated a marked increase in plasma and in the whole myometrium 150 minutes after administration. The levels then decreased rapidly to control values in 1 hour. The concentrations of progesterone in the placenta did not show any changes. No difference appeared in 17 beta-estradiol levels in the plasma or the myometrium, whereas an increase was observed in the placenta. Estrone levels did not change in the plasma, but they decreased in the myometrium and in the placenta.

Topics

Pregnancy › Prenatal Care › Monitoring and Screening · Reproductive Endocrinology › Ovarian Hormones › Progesterone

Françoise Ferre, Michèle Uzan, Yvette Janssens, Gisèle Tanguy, André Jolivet, Michelle Breuiller, Claude Sureau, Lise Cedard

F Ferre, M Uzan, Y Janssens, G Tanguy, A Jolivet, M Breuiller, C Sureau, L Cedard

PMID 6691378 6691378 DOI 10.1016/s0002-9378(84)80027-7 10.1016/s0002-9378(84)80027-7 Ferre et al. 1984, Ferre 1984

Keywords

Administration, Oral, Cesarean Section, Estradiol/metabolism, Estrogens/metabolism, Estrone/metabolism, Female, Humans, Myometrium/metabolism, Obstetric Labor, Premature/prevention & Control, Placenta/metabolism, Pregnancy, Progesterone/administration & Dosage/metabolism, Estrogens, Estrone, Progesterone, Estradiol

Oral administration of micronized natural progesterone in late human pregnancy. Effects on progesterone and estrogen concentrations in the plasma, placenta, and myometrium

Oral micronized progesterone reaches uterine muscle in late pregnancy

Key Findings

Interpretation

RRM Context

Abstract

Topics

By this author

The "dysharmonic luteal phase" syndrome: endometrial progesterone receptor and estradiol dehydrogenase

Delayed endometrial maturation in women with normal progesterone levels. The dysharmonic luteal phase syndrome

Clinical investigation of the menstrual cycle. II. Neuroendocrine investigation and therapy of the inadequate luteal phase

Related research

The effects of oral administration of progesterone for premature labor

Oral micronized progesterone. Bioavailability pharmacokinetics, pharmacological and therapeutic implications--a review

Absorption of oral progesterone is influenced by vehicle and particle size

Bioavailability of oral micronized progesterone

Keywords