Quick answer
The Serum Progesterone Test costs ₹700 at Live Line Health Care. A mid-luteal progesterone level shows whether ovulation happened in that cycle, and is also used to follow progesterone in early pregnancy. No fasting is needed. It uses a blood sample and the report is usually ready within 24 hours.
Also known as: Progesterone, Serum Progesterone, S. Progesterone, Day 21 Progesterone, Mid-Luteal Progesterone, Ovulation Blood Test, P4, Progestiron
What is the Progesterone Test?
Progesterone is the hormone that prepares and holds the lining of the uterus for a pregnancy. After an egg is released, the follicle that held it turns into a small gland called the corpus luteum, which pours out progesterone for about two weeks. If no pregnancy follows, progesterone falls and a period begins. If a pregnancy does start, progesterone stays high, first from the corpus luteum and later from the placenta.
This makes a progesterone blood test the standard way to confirm that ovulation happened in a particular cycle. The timing is everything: the sample should be taken about 7 days before the next period is due, which is day 21 only if your cycle is 28 days long. With a 32-day cycle, for example, the right day is around day 25. Doctors also measure progesterone in early pregnancy, alongside beta hCG and a scan, and before some fertility treatments.
What it measures: The level of progesterone in serum, reported in ng/mL. Some reports use nmol/L, where the number is about 3.18 times larger.
Parameters included (1)
- Serum Progesterone
Why is this test done?
- Confirming whether ovulation happened in a cycle
- Checking the effect of ovulation-inducing tablets such as letrozole or clomiphene
- Investigating irregular periods or infertility
- Assessing early pregnancy, with beta hCG and ultrasound, when there is pain or bleeding
- Timing or monitoring some fertility treatments
When should you get tested?
- Trying to conceive without success and your doctor wants to confirm ovulation
- Irregular cycles where ovulation may not be happening every month
- Spotting in the days before each period
- Light bleeding or cramps in early pregnancy, as advised by your doctor
- Repeated early pregnancy loss
How to prepare for the Progesterone Test
- 1No fasting is needed.
- 2For an ovulation check, count back 7 days from the date your next period is due and give the sample on that day. Write down the first day of your last period and bring it with you.
- 3If the period arrives within 3 or 4 days of the sample, or more than a week later, tell your doctor, as the timing may need to be repeated.
- 4Mention progesterone tablets, vaginal pessaries or injections, fertility drugs and birth control pills, as these change the result.
Progesterone Test normal range
| Parameter | Typical reference range |
|---|---|
| Follicular phase (first half of cycle) | Usually below 1 ng/mL |
| Mid-luteal phase (about 7 days before a period) | About 5–20 ng/mL; above about 3 ng/mL indicates ovulation |
| After menopause | Usually below 0.5 ng/mL |
| Pregnancy, first trimester | About 10–44 ng/mL |
| Pregnancy, second and third trimester | Rises steadily, often above 50 ng/mL and up to about 200 ng/mL or more by term |
Cut-offs for confirming ovulation vary: many clinics use 3 ng/mL, and some prefer 5 or 10 ng/mL. Men usually have levels below about 1 ng/mL. Ranges are typical adult values and vary between labs, age and sex. Always use the range printed on your report and discuss results with your doctor.
Understanding your results
- A mid-luteal progesterone above about 3 ng/mL means ovulation is likely to have occurred in that cycle. Higher values do not necessarily mean better fertility.
- A low mid-luteal level may mean no ovulation that cycle, or simply that the sample was taken on the wrong day. Doctors check the date of the next period before drawing a conclusion, and often repeat it.
- In early pregnancy, progesterone helps support the lining but a single value cannot reliably say whether a pregnancy is healthy. Doctors read it with the rise in beta hCG and the ultrasound findings.
- Results taken while using progesterone medicines reflect the treatment, not your own production. Do not stop prescribed progesterone because of a result without speaking to your doctor.
Progesterone Test – FAQs
What is the price of the Progesterone Test?
The Serum Progesterone Test costs ₹700 at Live Line Health Care, at all 45 centres and for home sample collection.
What is the day 21 progesterone test?
It is a blood test to check ovulation, named for day 21 of a 28-day cycle, which is about 7 days before the next period. If your cycle is longer or shorter, the right day shifts. The aim is to catch progesterone at its mid-luteal peak.
What progesterone level confirms ovulation?
Most clinics accept a mid-luteal level above about 3 ng/mL as evidence that ovulation happened, and some prefer a higher cut-off. A low level may mean no ovulation, or a mistimed sample. Your doctor reads it against the date your next period actually started.
Can low progesterone cause miscarriage?
Low progesterone in early pregnancy is often a sign that a pregnancy is not progressing, rather than its cause. For some women with bleeding and earlier losses, doctors do prescribe progesterone. Whether it helps you depends on your history, so please discuss this with your gynaecologist.
I have irregular periods. When should I take the test?
With irregular cycles, it is hard to know when 7 days before the next period will fall. Your doctor may ask for repeated weekly samples, or combine the test with ovulation tracking scans. Do not guess the day yourself, as a mistimed sample can give a misleading low result.
Does progesterone medicine affect this test?
Yes. Tablets, vaginal pessaries and injections all raise blood progesterone, though by different amounts. If you are on them, the result mostly reflects the medicine. Your doctor will decide whether the test is still useful and how to read it.
Where can I get the Progesterone Test done?
At any of our 45 Live Line Health Care centres in 40 cities across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, including Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Warangal, Kakinada and Nellore, or book home sample collection.
Medical disclaimer: This information is for general awareness only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor to interpret your results and before starting or changing any treatment.