Single Serum Progesterone Level and The Relation to Fetal Viability in The First Trimester

Abstract

Background: Progesterone is a steroid hormone produced mainly by the corpus luteum. It prepares the endometrium for implantation after ovulation. Progesterone inhibits further ovulation during the same menstrual cycle. During pregnancy, the placenta becomes the primary source of progesterone. It helps maintain the uterine lining throughout pregnancy. Progesterone modulates the immune response to support fetal survival. Objective: Evaluate the difference in serum progesterone levels between viable and non-viable pregnancies. Methodology: A prospective observational study was conducted from November 4 /2025 to May 4, 2026 on a non-probability purposive sample of 80 pregnant women (40 control and 40 non-control group). The sample was selected from Maternity Teaching Hospital in Al-Diwaniyah city. Results: the mean serum progesterone was found to be significantly higher in the control group (23.79 ± 6.57 ng/mL) in comparison to non-control group (9.76 ± 5.77 ng/ml), with a p-value of < 0.001. Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate that the two groups were comparable in most baseline characteristics, supporting the reliability of the comparisons. However, maternal age and body mass index were significantly associated with lower progesterone levels in early pregnancy, suggesting that these maternal factors may influence pregnancy viability. In addition, the absence of a significant difference in gestational age between the groups minimizes its potential effect on progesterone levels and supports the validity of the observed findings.