Progesterone Therapy Pros and Cons – What to Expect
The hormone, progesterone, is not only for aiding women throughout their pregnancy, but also vital for both genders for the maintenance of strong bones, a healthy heart, sexual function, and protecting the prostate. As we explore the progesterone therapy pros and cons in this report, we will show how treatment with this bioidentical hormone is one of the safest forms of hormone replacement therapy a person can use.
Progesterone therapy is available in a number of different forms, and the prescribing of these methods of treatment will be determined by the diagnosing doctor. It is essential to contact a physician who specializes in hormone replacement therapy to ensure that the right tests are ordered to diagnose the correct deficiency so that the proper treatment can be prescribed.
Being well-informed about the pros and cons of progesterone therapy can help you make the best decision for your personal needs. At National HRT, we strive to provide the most up-to-date information and research results to keep our clients informed of the latest findings and facts about a variety of hormone replacement options.
In the next section, we will explain the benefits – the pros of progesterone therapy for men and women. It is important to remember that when discussing progesterone therapy, we are speaking about real bioidentical progesterone and not synthetic progestin. More on that topic will be found in the final section of this report.
Know the Pros – the Benefits of Progesterone Therapy
There are many benefits of progesterone therapy for both women and men. Some of the positive aspects that are jointly received by both genders are:
- Increased sex drive
- Loss of excess stored fat
- Sharper brain functions and memory recall
- Increased bone density
- Improved muscle tone and lean tissue mass
- Feeling more energized
- Better mood and outlook
- Reduced risk of heart disease
- Progesterone pros for women
- Protection from ovarian, breast, and endometrial cancer
- Alleviating night sweats and hot flashes due to menopause
- Preventing or reducing uterine fibroids
- Normalizing blood clotting properties
Progesterone therapy has long been used by doctors for women whose ovaries are not producing enough of this vital hormone to nourish the endometrium during pregnancy. Progesterone replacement therapy is frequently prescribed for women who have suffered miscarriages to reduce the risk of this reoccurring in subsequent pregnancies.
The following aspects are part of the positive progesterone pros and cons for women:
- Progesterone pros for men
- Reduced sweat and body odor
- Improved urine flow
- Improved prostate functions
Progesterone is actually a “source hormone” meaning that it is the basis for the production of testosterone. This is essential to know for men who may be experiencing or at risk of Low T. Decreased testosterone levels are often countered by higher amounts of estrogen in the male body.
Estrogen increases the storage of belly fat which initiates the release of aromatase, the enzyme responsible for converting testosterone into estrogen. Progesterone therapy also inhibits the production of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase that converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Higher levels of DHT in the body are associated with an increase in prostate disease, enlarged prostate, decreased sex drive, hair loss, and urinary issues.
Men will also experience the following progesterone therapy benefits:
One other key function of progesterone replacement therapy to mention is that it is also used via IV transfusion for patients with traumatic brain injuries. This is an optimal form of treatment due to its diuretic and anti—inflammatory properties.
Potential Side Effects of Progesterone Therapy
As we explore the potential side effects of progesterone therapy, it is once again vital to point out that progesterone and progestin are not the same things. Progesterone is a bioidentical form of hormone replacement therapy that is sourced from yams or soy and has the same molecular structure as the naturally occurring progesterone in the body. Progestin is a synthetic version of this hormone that does not have the same molecular structure, and can cause adverse side effects in many people.
Although progesterone replacement is considered to be one of the safest forms of HRT, there are some potential adverse progesterone therapy pros and cons to discuss. This will help you make the right decision about receiving treatment for low progesterone levels.
The most common type of side effects seen with progesterone therapy include:
- Breast tenderness, pain, or enlargement
- Dizziness
- Depression
- Vomiting or stomach upset
- Headache
- Swelling in ankles, feet, or lower legs
- Increased chance of developing viral infections
- Mood swings
- Fatigue
Although extremely rare, the following serious side effects of progesterone therapy could occur:
- Blood clots
- Breast cancer in females between fifty and seventy-nine
- Dementia in post-menopausal women passed the age of sixty-five
- Heart attack
- Stroke
Please check out the page “Possible Side Effects of Progesterone Replacement Therapy” for further information on this subject, including medications that may be contraindicated for use with progesterone therapy, as well as medical conditions that need to be discussed with the prescribing doctor before using this treatment.
National HRT provides confidential consultations to men and women about this and other forms of hormone replacement. There is no charge for these discussions, and questions are encouraged. Please contact us for more information.
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.
- Everydayhealth
- Progesterone in Peri- and Postmenopause: A Review Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd. 2014 Nov; 74(11): 995–1002. P.-A. Regidor