Progesterone Hormone Replacement Therapy from National HRT
Every person, male or female, young or old, requires progesterone to maintain good health throughout life. Progesterone is essential for pregnancy, bone strength, sexual function, prostate, and heart health. If production of progesterone declines at any point in a person’s life to a state where adverse symptoms are beginning to appear, medical hormone replacement therapy clinics such as National HRT can help diagnose the problem and offer treatment options that can restore a crucial balance to hormones that are needed to send and deliver vital messages throughout the body.
Progesterone therapy is typically accomplished with a natural, bioidentical progesterone cream, although there are times when a doctor may need to prescribe oral progesterone for use.
Progesterone replacement therapy is not the same thing as the use of progestins that can be found in oral birth control pills. Progestin is a synthetic formulation that does not have the same molecular structure as the progesterone that is produced in the body, whereas bioidentical progesterone sourced from soy or yams does.
Another positive benefit of progesterone hormone therapy is that it does not pose the risk of cross-contamination to other people that can be found with transdermal versions of estrogen and testosterone therapies.
Progesterone Replacement Therapy for Men
Progesterone is not a “female” hormone as many men may think at first. It is actually a “source” hormone that serves as the basis for testosterone production. Low T – testosterone deficiency – occurs when progesterone levels decline, effectively reducing the amount of testosterone that the body can produce.
As this process is occurring, the levels of estrogens in the male body begin to rise. Increased fat accumulation and breast tissue in older men result from this process. The use of progesterone therapy for men, especially those over the age of fifty who are showing these changes is recommended as an offset to the increased estrogen buildup in the bloodstream.
Another benefit of progesterone replacement therapy is its role as an inhibitor of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase that turns testosterone into DHT (dihydrotestosterone). An increase in DHT is associated with enlarged prostate, prostate disease, decreased sex drive, balding, and other age-related male health concerns.
To help counteract the changes in the prostate, progesterone raises a hormone called androstenedione while increasing testosterone levels to improve prostate functions. It is an excellent alternative to prostate surgery for many men.
Progesterone therapy has also become standard treatment in the form of IV transfusion for traumatic brain injury due to its anti-inflammatory and diuretic effects.
Other benefits of progesterone therapy for men include the following:
- Improved urine flow
- Increased muscle tone and mass
- Decreased risk of heart disease
- More energy
- Reduced body odor and sweat
- Weight loss
- Improved sex drive
- Brighter mood and feelings of well-being
Progesterone Replacement Therapy for Women
Hormonal mood swings and headaches are common occurrences for many females, but the good news is that they do not have to remain a staple of daily life. A drop in progesterone levels can cause the following symptoms that will benefit from progesterone therapy for women:
- Depression, changes in mood, irritability, nervousness, anxiety, increased stress
- Headaches and migraines
- Premenstrual issues – PMS
- Menstrual irregularity or heavy bleeding
- PCOS – polycystic ovarian syndrome
- Endometriosis
- Tender or painful breasts
- Infertility
- Miscarriage
- Weight gain
- Bone loss/osteoporosis
- Loss of sex drive
- Mental fog or memory loss
- Night sweats and hot flashes
- Symptoms associated with menopause
Progesterone therapy during pregnancy helps women whose ovaries are not producing enough of this vital hormone to nourish the endometrium – the lining of the uterus for egg implantation. Treatment with progesterone is often prescribed for women who have had prior miscarriages to reduce this risk in subsequent pregnancies. An excellent report titled “The Role of Progesterone in Pregnancy” can be found on this website.
Menopause is a time in a woman’s life that can reduce her level of progesterone to nonexistent. Treatment with bioidentical progesterone cream (not synthetic progestin) can restore crucial hormonal balance to her body. This can alleviate the hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, weight gain, mental fogginess, fatigue, and bone loss that can occur during this time.
Other benefits of progesterone therapy for women include protection against cancer (ovarian, breast, endometrial), reducing or preventing uterine fibroids, normalizing blood clotting properties, aiding proper thyroid hormone actions, and reducing the risk of heart disease.
What Can You Expect from PHRT?
Because progesterone hormone replacement therapy is transdermal (applied to the skin), it bypasses the liver and enters the bloodstream through the layer of subcutaneous fat. This allows the bioidentical progesterone to mimic that natural physiological release of its counterpart hormone in the body.
Most people do not experience a rapid cessation of all of their symptoms from hormone replacement therapy. Progesterone, like any other type of HRT, requires time to do its job. The symptoms did not all come on overnight, except maybe for women dealing with the effects of oophorectomy (having their ovaries removed surgically). For that reason, it may take some time to begin to see the effects of treatment. Most people start to notice results within a few months, although some have reported rapid feelings of well-being and energy.
The good news here is that all issues mentioned in this report will reap positive benefits from treatment with progesterone cream.
Start with National HRT
One of the most important things to remember is that hormone replacement therapy should always be overseen by a doctor – in this case, an HRT specialist is advised. Dosages of treatment vary depending upon individual needs, and the internet can make it confusing to know how much to use.
If you are looking to begin progesterone therapy, the medical experts at National HRT® can provide the guidance needed to get started on the right track.
A decline in the body’s production of progesterone can have dire consequences, leading to prostate enlargement in men, heart ailments, osteoporosis, menstrual problems, sexual decline, weight gain, obesity, dementia, some forms of cancer, and many other concerns. It is crucial that progesterone hormone therapy is used properly in order to achieve the desired results and benefits.
Please contact the medical team at National HRT® with any questions about progesterone or other hormone deficiencies and treatments. We offer free consultations, diagnostic blood testing, and affordable treatment options to women and men throughout the US.
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.