Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Proliferative Phase01:20

Proliferative Phase

The proliferative phase typically occurs after menstruation and lasts between 6 to 13 days in a standard 28-day cycle. This phase involves the reconstruction of the endometrium, guided by estrogen produced by the developing ovarian follicle.
Notably, the stratum basale, the basal layer of the endometrium, including the basal parts of the uterine glands, remains unaffected by menstruation. Stem cells in this layer undergo mitosis, regenerating the stratum functionalis and thickening the...
Hormonal Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle01:22

Hormonal Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle

The ovarian cycle regulates endometrial changes throughout a single menstrual cycle via the coordinated action of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and gonadotrophins.
At puberty, GnRH begins a pulsatile release pattern, which triggers the anterior pituitary gland to secrete follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). The frequency and amplitude of GnRH pulses vary across the menstrual cycle, with faster pulses favoring LH release and slower pulses favoring FSH release.
Gonadal and Placental Hormones01:24

Gonadal and Placental Hormones

The gonads, namely the testes in males and the ovaries in females, are pivotal in producing gonadal hormones that orchestrate the intricate processes of sexual development and reproduction.
In males, testosterone is the primary gonadal androgen. It plays a central role in the maturation of male reproductive organs — the penis and testes. Additionally, testosterone is instrumental in the development of secondary sexual characteristics — a deep voice as well as facial and pubic hair growth — and...
Ovarian Cycle01:27

Ovarian Cycle

The menstrual cycle includes a critical component known as the ovarian cycle, which undergoes two main phases each month—the follicular phase and the luteal phase. The follicular phase is variable and averaging around 14 days. Ovulation, triggered by a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH), marks the transition between the two phases. The second phase, the luteal phase, is relatively consistent, lasting approximately 14 days, and is marked by the activity of the corpus luteum. While a cycle length...
The Menstrual Cycle01:19

The Menstrual Cycle

The menstrual cycle is a recurrent sequence of changes in the uterine endometrium, specifically its functional layer, the stratum functionalis. This cycle prepares the uterus for potential pregnancy. This cycle typically spans 21–35 days, averaging 28 days, and aligns with the ovarian cycle, regulated by fluctuating levels of ovarian hormones, primarily estrogen and progesterone.
The menstrual phase occurs from days 1 to 5 and involves the shedding of the stratum functionalis, as a uterine...
Secretory Phase01:19

Secretory Phase

The secretory phase of the menstrual cycle, spanning from day 14 to 28 in a typical 28-day cycle, is a period of significant physiological changes in the female reproductive system. This phase commences immediately after ovulation and is characterized by the preparation of the endometrium for potential embryo implantation.
Following ovulation, the corpus luteum, a temporary endocrine structure, produces progesterone and estrogens. These hormones stimulate the growth and coiling of endometrial...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Endometrial NCOR1 deficiency contributes to implantation failure in endometriosis-associated infertility.

iScience·2026
Same author

Forkhead box protein O1 and progesterone receptor expression in endometrial epithelial cells at embryo transfer time: case-control and mechanistic study.

F&S science·2026
Same author

YWHAZ loss is associated with endometrial dysfunction in proliferative-phase endometriosis.

Reproduction (Cambridge, England)·2026
Same author

Aberrant progesterone receptor (PGR) expression is associated with estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) expression in the endometrium from infertile women with endometriosis.

Molecular human reproduction·2026
Same author

Hyperspectral image analysis, the final frontier of endometrial receptivity testing?

Fertility and sterility·2026
Same author

Loss of uterine EGR2 contributes to age-associated decline in fertility in female mice.

microPublication biology·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Two Methods for Establishing Primary Human Endometrial Stromal Cells from Hysterectomy Specimens
09:15

Two Methods for Establishing Primary Human Endometrial Stromal Cells from Hysterectomy Specimens

Published on: May 23, 2014

Progesterone function in human endometrium: clinical perspectives.

Steven L Young1, Bruce A Lessey

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-7570, North Carolina, USA. youngs@med.unc.edu

Seminars in Reproductive Medicine
|January 28, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Progesterone is vital for pregnancy. Research suggests progesterone resistance, not low levels, may cause reproductive failure in conditions like endometriosis, impacting fertility.

More Related Videos

Generation of Multicellular Human Primary Endometrial Organoids
09:20

Generation of Multicellular Human Primary Endometrial Organoids

Published on: October 4, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Two Methods for Establishing Primary Human Endometrial Stromal Cells from Hysterectomy Specimens
09:15

Two Methods for Establishing Primary Human Endometrial Stromal Cells from Hysterectomy Specimens

Published on: May 23, 2014

Generation of Multicellular Human Primary Endometrial Organoids
09:20

Generation of Multicellular Human Primary Endometrial Organoids

Published on: October 4, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive endocrinology
  • Human reproduction
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Progesterone is crucial for endometrial receptivity and pregnancy establishment.
  • Insufficient progesterone or response can lead to infertility and pregnancy loss.
  • Assessing progesterone's role in reproductive failure is challenging due to serum level fluctuations and lack of reliable endometrial markers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the contribution of progesterone insufficiency versus progesterone response in human reproductive failure.
  • To investigate the hypothesis that progesterone resistance underlies certain reproductive failures.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent evidence on endometrial sensitivity to progesterone.
  • Analysis of progesterone response in women with endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Main Results:

  • Normal endometrium shows high sensitivity to low progesterone levels, suggesting progesterone insufficiency is uncommon.
  • Women with endometriosis and potentially PCOS exhibit altered progesterone response.
  • This altered response may explain clinical features and supports progesterone resistance as a cause of reproductive failure.

Conclusions:

  • Progesterone resistance, rather than insufficiency, is a more likely cause of reproductive failure in specific patient groups.
  • Altered progesterone response in conditions like endometriosis warrants further investigation for reproductive health implications.