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A possible role for progesterone metabolites in human parturition
Author(s) -
SHEEHAN Penelope M.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.734
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1479-828X
pISSN - 0004-8666
DOI - 10.1111/j.1479-828x.2006.00548.x
Subject(s) - pregnancy , reproductive tract , mechanism (biology) , female reproductive tract , progesterone receptor , medicine , endocrinology , physiology , biology , uterus , philosophy , genetics , epistemology , cancer , estrogen receptor , breast cancer
There has been a recent resurgence of interest in the role of progesterone in the maintenance of human pregnancy and the onset of labour, following recent reports of its use to prevent preterm labour in high‐risk patients. One possible mechanism by which progesterone might contribute to uterine quiescence is through the actions of its metabolites. This article provides a brief overview of progesterone in human pregnancy and an outline of progesterone metabolism in the various reproductive tract tissues as well as the evidence for actions of progesterone metabolites in pregnancy.