AimGrowing bodies of studies have investigated the associations between three progesterone receptor (PGR) polymorphisms, +331G/A, Alu insertion and Val660Leu, and susceptibility to ovarian cancer, but the results remain controversial and inconclusive. Thus, we conducted a meta-analysis to derive a more precise estimation of the associations. MethodsA total of 21 case-control studies from 16 publications that included analyses of Alu insertion (981 cases, 2136 controls), Val660Leu (2205 cases, 3222 controls) and +331G/A (2842 cases, 4305 controls) polymorphisms were identified. ResultsSignificantly increased risks of ovarian cancer were found for Alu insertion (T-2 T-2+T1T2 vs T1T1; odds ratio [OR], 1.504; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.206-2.203) and Val660Leu (TT vs GT; OR, 1.524; 95% CI, 1.013-2.293). No significant association was found between +331G/A polymorphism and ovarian cancer. ConclusionThis meta-analysis suggests that the two polymorphisms of PGR, Alu insertion and Val660Leu, may contribute to ovarian cancer susceptibility as low-penetrance risk factors.