Progesterone in Nigeria: What It Does and When You Need It

Progesterone is one of those medicines that can appear in a fertility prescription without much explanation.

You may see it after ovulation induction, alongside IVF medicines, after an embryo transfer, or during early pregnancy. You may also hear someone recommend it because “your progesterone is low.”

However, progesterone is not a general fertility booster.

It is a natural hormone with specific jobs in the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. The reason it is prescribed matters just as much as the medicine itself.

This guide explains what progesterone does, why fertility clinics prescribe it, what the different forms are, when it may be used during pregnancy, and why taking more is not necessarily better.

What progesterone actually does

Progesterone is produced mainly by the corpus luteum after ovulation.

Its job is to prepare and maintain the lining of the womb so that an embryo can implant and, if pregnancy occurs, support the early pregnancy while the placenta develops.

Therefore, progesterone naturally rises after ovulation and remains important during pregnancy.

The important point is that progesterone is not simply a medicine for infertility. It is hormone replacement or support used in particular clinical situations.

Why progesterone is prescribed during fertility treatment

Fertility treatment can change the normal hormonal pattern.

After IVF or ICSI, for example, progesterone is routinely used as luteal-phase support. The 2025 ESHRE guideline recommends progesterone for luteal-phase support after IVF/ICSI.

That does not mean every woman trying to conceive needs progesterone.

After IVF or embryo transfer

Progesterone may be given after egg retrieval and embryo transfer to support the luteal phase.

It can be administered in different ways, including vaginal preparations and injections. The exact product, dose and duration depend on the fertility protocol.

ESHRE recommends starting luteal support within the period from the evening of egg retrieval through to day three after retrieval and continuing at least until the pregnancy test.

Your fertility clinic may use a different protocol depending on the type of cycle and individual circumstances.

After ovulation induction or IUI

Progesterone is also used in some stimulated IUI cycles.

Evidence suggests that luteal progesterone support can improve pregnancy and live-birth outcomes particularly when gonadotropins are used for ovarian stimulation, although the evidence is less clear for cycles using clomiphene alone.

So the reason progesterone was prescribed matters.

Progesterone is not the same as clomiphene or letrozole

This distinction causes confusion.

Letrozole and clomiphene are used to stimulate ovulation in selected women.

Progesterone does something different. It mainly supports the phase after ovulation rather than causing the egg to be released.

Consequently, taking progesterone does not replace ovulation treatment when the underlying problem is failure to ovulate.

If your doctor prescribes both, each medicine may have a different purpose.

What “low progesterone” can mean

Progesterone naturally changes throughout the menstrual cycle.

A blood test taken at the wrong time can therefore give a result that is difficult to interpret.

For this reason, a single progesterone number should not automatically be treated as proof that something is wrong.

Progesterone testing can be used to help assess whether ovulation has occurred, but the timing of the sample matters.

Interestingly, Nigerian research has also examined serum progesterone as a method of confirming ovulation in infertile women.

Does everyone with infertility need a progesterone test?

No.

Infertility has many possible causes, including problems with ovulation, the fallopian tubes, the uterus and sperm.

A progesterone result is only one part of the assessment.

Therefore, buying progesterone simply because a fertility test was “low” is not a substitute for finding out why conception has not occurred.

The different forms of progesterone

Progesterone may come in different formulations.

The formulation matters because absorption and dosing are different.

For example, vaginal progesterone is widely used for luteal support in IVF, while injectable progesterone is used in some protocols. ESHRE recognises several non-oral routes for luteal support.

Progesterone during pregnancy

Progesterone can also be prescribed during pregnancy, but not every pregnancy requires supplementation.

One important example is threatened miscarriage in women with early pregnancy bleeding and a previous miscarriage, where specific guidelines support progesterone in defined circumstances.

That is very different from taking progesterone whenever there is spotting.

Bleeding during pregnancy needs proper assessment because there are several possible causes.

Do not start progesterone because someone recommended it

This is particularly important when medicines are being shared between friends, relatives or fertility support groups.

The right treatment depends on the pregnancy history, gestational age, symptoms and clinical assessment.

If you have bleeding or significant abdominal or pelvic pain during pregnancy, contact your healthcare provider promptly rather than trying to manage the situation with progesterone alone.

What progesterone does not do

Progesterone is sometimes presented as if it can solve almost every fertility problem.

It cannot.

Progesterone does not:

• unblock fallopian tubes
• treat male-factor infertility
• remove fibroids
• treat endometriosis itself
• make poor-quality eggs better
• correct every ovulation problem
• guarantee implantation
• guarantee pregnancy

Consequently, a prescription for progesterone should always have a clear reason behind it.

What side effects can progesterone cause?

Progesterone is generally well tolerated when appropriately prescribed, but side effects can occur.

Depending on the formulation, some women may experience:

• sleepiness or tiredness
• dizziness
• breast tenderness
• bloating
• headache
• mood changes
• vaginal discharge or irritation with vaginal preparations

Some of these symptoms can overlap with early pregnancy symptoms.

That can make it difficult to know what is caused by the medicine and what is caused by pregnancy itself.

If a side effect is worrying you, speak with your doctor or pharmacist before stopping the medicine.

The mistake of stopping progesterone too early

This is one of the most important conversations to have with your fertility clinic.

After IVF, progesterone is part of the treatment protocol. The duration depends on the protocol and clinical circumstances.

Therefore, do not stop it simply because you have had a positive pregnancy test.

Ask your fertility team exactly when they want you to stop.

The 2025 ESHRE guideline recommends progesterone support at least until the pregnancy test following IVF/ICSI, while individual clinics may continue treatment beyond that point according to their protocol.

Progesterone in Nigeria: why the medicine itself matters

Fertility treatment already involves enough uncertainty.

The last thing you need is uncertainty about whether the medicine you received is genuine, correctly stored and appropriate for your prescription.

Progesterone products can differ considerably in formulation, strength and route of administration.

Therefore, check the following before using a product:

Name: Is it the medicine prescribed by your doctor?

Strength: Does the strength match your prescription?

Form: Is it a capsule, pessary, gel, tablet or injection as prescribed?

Expiry date: Has the product expired?

Packaging: Is the packaging intact and properly labelled?

Storage: Has it been stored according to the manufacturer’s instructions?

Most importantly, do not substitute one progesterone product for another simply because the name sounds similar.

What if your pharmacy does not have your progesterone?

This is where reliable medicine sourcing matters.

At HubPharm Africa, we source verified medicines through licensed channels and deliver across Nigeria. In addition,we coordinate refills so treatment does not lapse and put a pharmacist on the phone when you would rather ask a question privately than in a crowded shop.

Furthermore, when Nigerian pharmacies do not routinely stock a product, we tell you honestly whether we can source it and what the lead time looks like, rather than letting you hope.

[Talk to a HubPharm pharmacist →]

Common questions about progesterone

Does progesterone help you get pregnant?

It can support the luteal phase in specific fertility treatments, particularly IVF/ICSI. However, progesterone does not treat every cause of infertility.

Can I take progesterone without a prescription?

Progesterone should be used under appropriate medical supervision. The reason for treatment, formulation, dose and duration all matter.

Does progesterone cause ovulation?

No. Progesterone mainly acts after ovulation. Medicines such as letrozole or clomiphene may be used to induce ovulation in selected patients.

Can progesterone confirm pregnancy?

No. A pregnancy test measures hCG, not progesterone.

Should I stop progesterone when my pregnancy test is positive?

Not unless your fertility or pregnancy-care team tells you to. The correct duration depends on why progesterone was prescribed.

Can progesterone prevent miscarriage?

Progesterone has a role in specific situations, but it is not a universal treatment for miscarriage. Whether it is appropriate depends on the clinical circumstances.

Is vaginal progesterone better than oral progesterone?

Not necessarily. The appropriate formulation depends on why progesterone is being prescribed. In IVF, vaginal progesterone is one established form of luteal support.

The bottom line

Progesterone is an important hormone, but it is not a magic fertility medicine.

It has a clear role in supporting the luteal phase during IVF and some other fertility treatments. It may also be used in selected pregnancy situations.

However, the reason you are taking progesterone matters.

If you have been prescribed it, ask three simple questions:

Why am I taking it?

How exactly should I take it?

When should I stop?

Those three answers can prevent a great deal of confusion during fertility treatment.

At HubPharm Africa, our role is to help you get the prescribed medicine reliably and give you access to a pharmacist when you have questions about it.

[Talk to a HubPharm pharmacist →]

Medically reviewed by Pharm. Sesan Kareem, B.Pharm, MPA, MBA.

This article is for general information and does not replace assessment by your doctor or fertility specialist. Do not start, change or stop hormonal treatment without appropriate medical advice.

References

1. ESHRE. Guideline on Ovarian Stimulation for IVF/ICSI, 2025.
2. Raperport C, et al. Progesterone luteal support in natural cycles for unexplained infertility. BJOG, 2025.
3. Ikechebelu JI, et al. Oral dydrogesterone versus micronized vaginal progesterone for luteal support in IVF cycles. Journal of Medical Life, 2023.
4. Progesterone luteal support after ovulation induction and IUI: systematic review and meta-analysis.
5. NICE. Management of miscarriage and threatened miscarriage.
6. Nigerian study of serum progesterone for confirmation of ovulation in infertile women.