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.
Progesterone is in a class of medications called progestins (female hormones). It works as part of hormone replacement therapy by decreasing the amount of estrogen in the uterus. It works to bring on menstruation by replacing the natural progesterone that some women are missing.
Progesterone can help increase your mood. Progesterone and mood go hand in hand. Progesterone acts as a natural antidepressant to lower anxiety, help with mood swings, and can even aid in relieving postpartum depression. Progesterone can relieve menopause symptoms.
In all these effects note that progesterone does not directly cause weight loss. Instead it reduces the effect of other hormones in the body which are causing the weight gain. Think of it as allowing rather than causing the body to lose weight.
Taking progesterone regularly eases postmenopausal symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats. A study conducted on 133 postmenopausal women concluded that taking a progesterone pill every day significantly reduced the frequency and intensity of hot flashes and night sweats.
Progesterone also decreases your body's reliance on the hormone cortisol, which ages the skin. There are many benefits to balanced progesterone that affect aging. It is a natural antidepressant and anti-anxiety hormone and a sleep aid – all of which affect how your body ages.
Progesterone provides a stabilizing effect and prevents estrogen from “running amok.” It helps to burn fat, improves blood sugar balance and contributes to bone growth. Between the age of 35 and 50, a woman's progesterone level decreases considerably relative to estrogen.
During peri-menopause, the first hormone that decreases is usually progesterone. This can lead to estrogen dominance, a common symptom of which is weight gain, causing you to store more fat around your stomach area.
Progesterone supports metabolic function and increases your metabolic rate. This can translate to an increase in core body temperature that ramps up your metabolism and appetite. Since estrogen suppresses the appetite, if levels are too low and progesterone is too high, you may experience hunger.
It plays an important role in brain function and is often called the “feel good hormone” because of its mood-enhancing and anti-depressant effects. Optimum levels of progesterone promote feelings of calm and well-being, while low levels can cause anxiety, irritability, and anger.
For most women, progesterone is good for mood because it converts to a neurosteroid called allopregnanolone which calms GABA receptors. Progesterone's calming neurosteroid effect is why progesterone capsules are usually tranquillizing and why times of high progesterone (luteal phase and pregnancy) can cause sleepiness.
This research suggests it could take several months for progesterone cream to work. A woman trying to conceive may not have months to wait for the cream to work.
Adults—400 milligrams (mg) per day, taken as a single dose at bedtime, for 10 days. Children—Use is not recommended.
Commonly reported side effects of progesterone include: abdominal cramps, depression, dizziness, and headache. Other side effects include: anxiety, cough, diarrhea, fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, nausea, bloating, emotional lability, and irritability.
Doctors recommend that Progesterone be taken before bed since it has a sedative effect and helps resume normal sleep cycles. It is important to note that Progesterone is a bioidentical hormone, and not a drug treatment.
While progesterone doesn't directly cause weight gain, it does increase your hunger levels which may make you feel like you're eating more and therefore gaining weight. But progesterone is just a small player in hormone balance and weight management. There are other hormone imbalances that may cause weight gain.
Estrogen and Progesterone
These hormones also help with hair growth. Estrogen and progesterone can help keep your hair in the growing (anagen) phase. Therefore, these hormones can help your hair stay on your head longer and may even help your hair grow faster.
A combination of diet and exercise may help symptoms. A person can perform exercises that burn fat, such as running, walking, and other aerobic activity. Reducing the calories a person consumes can also help.
Low levels of progesterone can cause irregular menstrual periods, spotting and headaches, and could affect your ability to get pregnant. Speak with your healthcare provider if you notice symptoms of low progesterone. They may want to run blood tests, especially if you're trying to conceive.
Yes, it is generally safe to take progesterone after menopause. However, as with any medication, some women may experience certain side effects. Your likelihood of experiencing these side effects, as well as the type and intensity, vary depending on several factors.
Estrogen can reduce menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness. If you have a uterus, you'll likely need to take progesterone along with the estrogen. Estrogen without progesterone increases the risk of uterine cancer.
Progesterone can improve skin, sleep and anxiety, according to Dr. Moy. “Progesterone is also important to women's health. It is synergistic with estrogen,” he says.
Ever wonder why pregnant women seem to have that special glow? The secret is the high level of progesterone. This revitalizing hormone is beneficial for skin elasticity and circulation. Progesterone levels decline with menopause as well as with stress.
In addition to keeping your bones strong, estrogen and progesterone keep your hair healthy. A decrease in these hormones causes an increase in androgen production which causes hair follicles to shrink and contribute to hair loss.