How long after taking progesterone will menstruation occur?
Disease description:
I am 28 years old this year. My menstruation has been delayed for almost two months recently. After visiting the hospital for a checkup, my doctor told me that my progesterone levels were low and prescribed me progesterone supplements to regulate my menstrual cycle. I would like to ask, how soon after taking progesterone will my menstruation resume?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Progesterone is commonly available in capsule form. Generally, menstruation occurs 3-7 days after discontinuation of oral progesterone. The use of progesterone should be conducted under a doctor's guidance; self-administration or dosage adjustment without medical advice is not recommended to avoid unnecessary health risks. The detailed explanation is as follows:
Under normal circumstances, the menstrual cycle is regulated by hormones secreted via the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. When the body lacks sufficient progesterone, the endometrium cannot properly transform and shed, which may lead to delayed menstruation or amenorrhea. Progesterone is a type of progestin medication; after administration, it can convert the proliferative phase endometrium into the secretory phase. Once the medication is stopped, the endometrium loses progesterone support, resulting in withdrawal bleeding—that is, the onset of menstruation. Within 3-7 days after stopping the medication, declining progesterone levels in the body may trigger withdrawal bleeding, thus initiating menstruation.
This timeframe is not absolute, as individual physical conditions and drug absorption levels vary, resulting in differences in the exact timing of menstruation onset. If menstruation has not occurred seven days after discontinuation of the medication, it is advisable to undergo appropriate examinations to rule out the possibility of pregnancy or other organic abnormalities.
