INFORMATIONAL GUIDE PROGESTERONE METABOLITES PREMENOPAUSE Urinary Progesterone Metabolites in Premenopausal Women Not Supplementing with Progesterone

The urinary progestogen metabolites included in our profiles encompass the primary urinary metabolite, pregnanediol (Pgdiol), and four other more minor metabolites that belong to the pregnane (Allopregnanolone, Allo-pregnanediol) and pregnene (3α-dihydroprogesterone, 20α-dihydroprogesterone) categories. In postmenopausal women the level of pregnanediol is expected to be much lower than in premenopausal women (mean values 81 and 1324 μg/g creatinine, respectively). The mean and range levels for urinary pregnanediol established in premenopausal women during the early follicular and mid-luteal phases of the menstrual cycle are 152 μg/g creatinine (range 92-346) and 1324 μg/g creatinine (range 849-1932), respectively. Thus, about a 10-fold increase in Pgdiol is expected during the progression from the follicular to the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. The urinary ranges of pregnanediol during the luteal phase are equivalent to a range of about 3-25 ng/mL progesterone in blood (capillary whole blood and venous serum or plasma) and 50-250 pg/ mL in saliva. Optimal luteal ovarian production of progesterone is reflected in all three body fluids (urine, blood, salivary), which is roughly > 1300 μg PgDiol/g creatinine in urine, > 10 ng Progesterone/mL in blood, and > 100 pg Progesterone/mL in saliva.