From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishprogesteronepro‧ges‧ter‧one /prəʊˈdʒestərəʊn $ proʊˈdʒestəroʊn/ noun [uncountable] HBMa female sex hormone which prepares the body for having a baby, and which is also used in contraceptive drugs → oestrogen
Examples from the Corpus
progesterone• Elevated progesterone levels mimic pregnancy and this delays ovulation, prevents fertilisation or stops implantation of the embryo in the womb.• The progestogens have the same effect on the cat's body as the natural pregnancy hormone, progesterone.• As pregnancy progresses, the placenta secretes more progesterone which peaks midway into the third trimester and then levels off.• It appears likely that a fairly complicated interaction between oestrogen, progesterone and a pituitary hormone known as oxytocin is involved.• It should be noted that pregnanediol is a biologically inactive metabolite of progesterone.• Prostaglandins destroy the corpus luteum, as explained above, and thus end the secretion of progesterone.• Some women get good results from a vaginal suppository of progesterone.• Women may respond to the unpleasant feelings associated with the peak progesterone levels by increasing their caffeine intake.Origin progesterone (1900-2000) pro- + gestation + -one 