What Are the Benefits of Progesterone Therapy?
Many women enter menopause with a number of health complaints – essentially symptoms associated with the natural cycle that results in the “change of life.” While the decline of estrogen has long been thought of as the reason for the symptoms that accompany this transitional time, advances in medical science are looking at other hormones, including progesterone, as being involved in this situation.
In fact, the natural progesterone therapy benefits do not just start with menopause – there are times when progesterone can be beneficial for a woman to use in the earlier years of adulthood, especially during pregnancy. A doctor may prescribe progesterone therapy to a woman who is trying to become pregnant or one who has had a miscarriage in the past and is looking to become pregnant again. Please see the exclusive report “Progesterone Therapy During Pregnancy” for further information on this topic.
The chart below highlights some of the natural results that occur from progesterone benefits:
| PROGESTERONE BENEFIT | NATURAL RESULTING EFFECTS |
| Restricts estrogen synthesis and suppresses the function of the enzymes that promote estrogen production | Since estrogen stimulates the growth of the tissue inside the uterus, progesterone slows down this activity by blocking the estrogen receptors and preventing the encoded genes that promote estrogen production from doing their job |
| Lowers breast cancer risk | Progesterone helps to reduce breast cancer growth stimulated by estrogen |
| Improved heart health | Progesterone helps to stimulate vascular relaxation and improves lipid profiles in the blood stream – reducing fat build-up in the blood |
| Prepares the uterus for pregnancy | Progesterone is produced by the ovaries after ovulation in order to thicken the endometrium (uterine lining) to provide support for the fertilized egg |
| Helps nurture the fetus | During the first 8 to 10 weeks of pregnancy, the ovaries continue to supply progesterone to the endometrium, and after that, the placenta provides and substantially increases the production of progesterone |
| Combatting menopause symptoms | Although estrogen is naturally blamed because its levels may fall 40 to 60 percent during menopause, progesterone levels may drop to zero causing night sweats, insomnia, mood swings, hot flashes, weight gain, vaginal dryness, depression, restlessness, and other associated problems that increasing progesterone levels can correct |
| Normalizing menstruation | Progesterone use during the luteal phase (second half) of a woman’s menstrual cycle can help to control and regulate heavy bleeding within two to three months |
| Strengthening bones | Osteoporosis is a well-warranted fear for many women, and progesterone helps stimulate the growth of new bone while also protecting against arthritis |
Recent research has been looking at the connection between brain functions and progesterone in postmenopausal women. One study has found that women in the early stages of post-menopause who had the highest levels of progesterone did better with verbal memory and global cognition that those with lower progesterone levels.
This is a vital subject to expand on, and women who have undergone a bilateral oophorectomy (surgical removal of both ovaries) prior to menopause need to pay heed to the information in another critical report. Although treatment with progesterone was not used in this study, this report shows the need for future studies of this nature, as progesterone, among other possible hormones, may be productive in decreasing Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, depression, and anxiety symptoms. It is essential to note that estrogen replacement did not provide any desired benefits for these conditions.
Each hormone in the body has an important role to play, and maintaining a delicate level of balance is crucial for the body to function at peak performance. When any one hormone decreases or increases, the resulting effect can be felt in many different ways.
In the case of estrogen: its levels are vastly influenced by one’s environment – the foods that are eaten and the chemicals absorbed into the body through soaps, shampoos, lotions, cleaning supplies, and other pollutants. High levels of estrogen can cause many problems, and it requires its natural antagonist – progesterone – to keep it in balance.
When progesterone levels decline, estrogen can become a harmful rather than a beneficial hormone. Progesterone is naturally produced at extremely higher levels than estrogen in a woman’s body and it is a pivotal building block for the body to produce other essential hormones, such as:
- Corticosteroids
- Glucocorticoids
- Estrogens
Thanks to some of the benefits of progesterone therapy, a woman can have a regular menstrual cycle and become pregnant. Progesterone helps to provide a supportive environment for the growing fetus during pregnancy. She can later look forward to experiencing menopause without the debilitating side effects experienced by so many women across the country.
List of Progesterone Therapy Benefits
Some women naturally wonder why more doctors are not prescribing progesterone as a therapy, especially during perimenopause and menopause. In some cases, the physicians do not have the advanced knowledge of progesterone therapy benefits that hormone replacement therapy specialists have. That is why it is always best to turn to an expert in any given field when help is needed for a particular medical condition. HRT specialists run blood tests to check hormone levels before prescribing any type of treatment.
The overall benefits of progesterone therapy offer women a way to continue to live active lives while reducing the fear associated with conditions that can occur in later years. While nothing can completely prevent heart disease and cancer, minimizing certain risk factors can definitely help.
Here is a list of some of the essential functions and benefits of progesterone replacement therapy for women:
- Reduces the risk of osteoporosis by promoting the building of new bone cells
- Provides a nurturing environment for the embryo and fetus throughout pregnancy
- Maintains uterine wall lining by preventing the buildup of excess tissue
- Improves the symptoms of PMS
- Protects against breast cancer by inhibiting the overgrowth of breast tissue
- Helps protect against endometrial cancer
- Precursor of other hormones
- Acts as a natural diuretic
- Improves sleep
- Helps to alleviate depression and reduce anxiety
- Helps balance blood sugar levels
- Enhances thyroid hormone action
- Helps to normalize blood clotting
- Aids in the prevention of cyclical migraines
- May help maintain a healthy sex drive
- Improves metabolism and promotes weight loss through thermogenesis
- Helps to normalize copper and zinc levels
- Promotes proper oxygen levels in cells
It is essential to point out that these benefits of progesterone therapy are derived from the use of natural progesterone and not progestin – a synthetic form of progesterone that does not have the same effects. Synthetic progestins are not identical in their molecular structure to naturally occurring progesterone, and they may have unwanted side effects and risks.
For additional information, answers to questions about various forms of hormone replacement therapy, or to arrange for blood testing for hormonal deficiencies and imbalances, contact the medical experts at National HRT today.
National HRT Staff
Please note that the information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.