Progesterone Benefits

Progesterone is primarily made in the ovaries, however, a small amount is also produced in the adrenal glands. In pregnancy, progesterone is also made by the placenta. The word “Progesterone” originates from Latin. “Pro” means “for,” and “Gesterone” means “gestation.” Progesterone tends to have a relaxing effect, easing stress and improving sleep.

Child-bearing women who have low levels of Progesterone have more miscarriages and uterine fibroid tumors. One of the roles of Progesterone is thickening the endometrial lining to prepare the uterus for pregnancy. If this doesn’t occur due to low levels of Progesterone, or if levels don’t rise after implantation of the egg, then pregnancy can’t be sustained.

As women transition from their child-bearing years towards menopause, they go through a period of perimenopause. It is during this time that Progesterone and other hormone levels begin to wane. This is one of the reasons that women can start to have irregular or heavy periods, and why they may start to have difficulty with sleep. Replacing lost progesterone with bioidentical progesterone can ease and even eliminate those symptoms. 

Read more about Sleep issues and how this relates to Progesterone. 

Benefits of Progesterone

Progesterone is sometimes thought of as the miracle hormone. It has a calming effect on both the mind and the body. Depleted amounts can cause mood swings and increased anxiety and/or depression. Progesterone is also classified as a neuro-steroid which means that it stimulates normal brain processes and helps the nervous system to function properly. We recommend taking your bioidentical Progesterone before bed since it has a sedative effect and can help resume normal sleep cycles.  Other benefits of Progesterone supplementation include:

• Eases anxiety
• Promotes memory
• Helps to prevent overgrowth of certain types of cells, which can help protect against some cancers including those of the breast or the uterus
• Helps to prevent overgrowth of cells of the endometrial lining and prevent endometriosis from forming
• Helps prevent fibrocystic disease and ovarian cysts
• Helps with symptoms of PMS
• Increases ability to handle stress
• Helps the metabolism by contributing to the use of fat for energy
• Assists in preventing plaque from forming on arterial walls
• Helps to lower triglycerides
• Essential for bone growth
• Assists in the proper function of the thyroid gland
• Can help to slow down the aging process
• Improves insomnia
• Improves libido
• Reduces or eliminates migraines
• Reduces inflammation and joint pain
• Regulate menstrual cycles
• Reduce hot flashes
• Reduce weight gain

Progesterone is one of many hormones that your body produces, and they work together like instruments in a symphony do. Imbalances or deficiencies in one hormone can affect others. Progesterone and Estrogen work together, and if levels of Progesterone are low, this can create a condition called Estrogen Dominance if the ratio of Estrogen to Progesterone is too high. The two hormones also work together to balance the body’s release of insulin and if levels are not optimized, you can have an increased risk for Insulin Resistance or Diabetes.

Bioidentical Progesterone can be administered orally, vaginally, or through a cream applied to the skin. Your provider can help determine what method is best suited for you.

Our providers are experts in hormone balancing and prescribe only bioidentical hormones. Our lab testing will look at not only your Progesterone but all of your hormones so that we can determine where deficiencies or imbalances exist. Once we have the “big picture,” we are able to determine which hormones need to be prescribed in order to help you feel like your old self again!

Is it Safe?

Bioidentical Progesterone has many benefits. There can be some confusion around this topic because the WHI (Women’s Health Initiative) halted hormone replacement therapy studies which included over 80,000 women, due to safety issues, including an increased risk of breast cancer and blood clots. It’s important to understand that the WHI was researching the use of synthetic progestins, and not bioidentical Progesterone.

Another thing that can contribute to more confusion for women is that not all providers have not stayed up to date on current research because they don’t specialize in Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT).  Because of this, some physicians believe that estrogen and progesterone only should be prescribed together if a woman still has her uterus (for protective properties to the uterus) and usually will only prescribe estrogen by itself. However, every cell in a woman’s body has both an estrogen receptor and a progesterone receptor and protective benefits are realized throughout the entire body, and not just the uterus. Our providers at Forum Health Las Colinas, are up to date on research and can discuss any questions you may have regarding safety and any potential risks regarding BHRT. 

A bioidentical hormone is molecularly identical to what is produced in the body. Conversely, Progestin is a synthetic hormone with a different molecular structure. It does not metabolize the same compounds, and instead of providing protective health benefits, it actually has some serious health risks. The most commonly prescribed synthetic Progestin used in Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is MPA, or Medroxyprogesterone Acetate, which, as the Women’s Health Initiative revealed, can be dangerous.

After the Women’s Health Initiative did their studies on synthetic Progestins, bioidentical Progesterone (and other hormones) have been studied extensively, and no harmful side effects have been noted.  These studies have shown that Progesterone can not only help with unpleasant side effects noted in menopause and perimenopause but can also provide long-term health benefits. We do realize that there are some health conditions that place women at higher risks for diseases associated with any type of hormone therapy, however, we will go over your health history in detail before prescribing bioidentical hormones. 

Free Phone Consultation with Our New Patient Coordinator