Progesterone Withdrawal Test - Progesterone Challenge A Diagnostic Test for Secondary Amenorrhea

Posted on September 17, 2020 by Inception Fertility

  • The progesterone challenge test is is also referred to as a progestin challenge

  • It is done by givng a progestin medication and seeing if this induces a menstrual period

  • This same protocol of giving a progestin is often used to induce a period in women with irregular periods:

    • if she has not had a period for a while

    • if she skipped a period




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The progesterone challenge test is done by giving oral medroxyprogesterone acetate (Provera) 10 mg daily for 5-10 days or one intramuscular injection of 100-200 mg of progesterone in oil.

A positive response is any bleeding more than light spotting that occurs within 2 weeks after the progestin is given. This bleeding will usually occur 2-7 days after the progestin is finished.

Withdrawal bleeding will usually be seen if the patient's estradiol level has been over about 40 pg/ml.
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Possible Outcomes of the Test



  • If the patient experiences bleeding after the progestin she has estrogen present but is not ovulating (anovulation).

  • If no withdrawal bleeding occurs, either the patient has very low estrogen levels or there is a problem with the outflow tract such as uterine synechiae (adhesions) or cervical stenosis (scarring).


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  • The test has demonstrated that she builds up a lining in the uterus.

  • She bleeds after progesterone is withdrawn - showing that it is the lack of ovulation that is causing her not to have periods.


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Possible Diagnoses for Women with Withdrawal Bleeding



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Possible Diagnosis

  • Hypothalamic hypoestrogenism (low estrogen levels)

  • Compromised outflow tract - either Asherman's syndrome (adhesions) or cervical stenosis (scarring)

  • Premature ovarian failure


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The Next Step: Give Estrogen and Progestin to Distinguish Between Hypoestrogenism or an Outflow Tract Obstruction (Asherman's Syndrome or Cervical Stenosis)


Give estrogen to ensure endometrial proliferation, followed by a progestin to induce withdrawal bleeding. A course of 2.5 mg of Premarin for 21 days including 10 mg of Provera on days 17-21 should be adequate.

  • If bleeding occurs, amenorrhea is due to hypoestrogenism (hypothalamic amenorrhea or premature ovarian failure).

  • If bleeding does not occur, then most likely it is an outflow tract obstruction - either Asherman's syndrome or cervical stenosis.

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