Cadmium (Cd) is able to decrease preovulatory luteinizing hormone (LH) levels in blood and inhibit ovulation in rats. In this study the direct effects of Cd on steroidogenesis in granulosa cells were investigated. The cells obtained from ovarian follicular aspirates of 41 women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) were cultured. Cadmium‐induced alterations in the cellular morphology and in the production of progesterone by the cells was determined after exposure to concentrations of 8, 16, 32 and 64 μM CdCl2 for 2, 4, 8, 24 and 48 h. Progesterone secretion by granulosa cells could be stimulated with increasing concentrations of follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH). Combined effects of Cd and FSH were also studied.