Progesterone: What Does It Do for Women's Health?

Progesterone is not just a reproductive hormone; it's a vital component of women's health that affects so many bodily functions and systems. Its roles extend far beyond fertility and pregnancy, from mental health to bone health and metabolism. Here’s an in-depth look at the benefits women enjoy thanks to progesterone and why we need balanced hormone levels in every stage of life.

Balance Your Hormones and Improve Menstrual Health

Progesterone plays a lead role in the menstrual cycle. It prepares the lining of the uterus for pregnancy after an egg is released, controls the menstrual cycle, and helps balance estrogen.

If progesterone is low, women may have irregular menstrual cycles or conditions like endometrial hyperplasia, which causes the lining of the uterus to become too thick. This problem can lead to more serious health issues, including cancer.

Boost Your Brainpower and Mental Health

One of progesterone's biggest impacts is on the nervous system. It acts as a natural antidepressant and mood stabilizer, so it’s crucial for preventing mood issues like anxiety and depression.

Progesterone and the substances released when the body uses it have a calming effect on the brain. They enhance GABA, a neurotransmitter that promotes relaxation and reduces stress. And progesterone protects against inflammation and nerve damage, which helps the brain function well and think clearly..

Strengthen Your Bones

Progesterone spurs the activity of osteoblasts, cells that make new bone cells. This is even more important as women age and their risk of osteoporosis rises, especially after menopause, when progesterone levels naturally fall.

Supplementing with progesterone can help maintain bone density and reduce the risk of fractures. For postmenopausal women, fractures can lead to .

Rev Up Your Thyroid Function and Metabolism

Progesterone makes the body more sensitive to thyroid hormones, which control metabolism and overall health. By helping the thyroid function well, progesterone helps manage weight, improves energy levels, and keeps the metabolism going strong, which keeps you feeling good during the menopausal transition.

Keep Your Heart Healthy

Few people think about progesterone's role in cardiovascular health. It helps to regulate blood pressure and supports proper heart function. Progesterone also improves levels of HDL (“good” cholesterol) and can lower LDL (“bad” cholesterol) and fats in the blood.

With these out of the way, blood flows easier and the heart and blood vessels don’t have to work as hard. That makes you less likely to develop heart disease.

Relieve Perimenopause and Menopause Symptoms

During perimenopause and menopause, progesterone levels fall off a cliff. The result is a notorious list of symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and sleep disturbances.

Supplementing with progesterone can lessen these symptoms and restore a more youthful hormonal balance. For many women, this leads to a sense of well-being and a better quality of life.

Sleep Better

Progesterone is a natural sedative, which can greatly enhance sleep quality. It helps you sleep longer and have more deep REM sleep. This is a life-saver for women who struggle to sleep through the night because of menopause or other hormonal imbalances.

Prevent Cancer

You may have heard different, but progesterone can protect against certain types of cancer. Its use has been linked to a lower risk of endometrial and breast cancers.

While estrogen tells the lining of the uterus to thicken, progesterone tells it when to stop. It might have the same effect on breast tissue. Since cells growing out of control are a feature of cancer, this stop sign is vital to cancer prevention.

Signs of Low Progesterone

If you have any of these symptoms, you might have low progesterone, and a progesterone supplement might be good for you:

1. Irregular periods. One of the most common signs of low progesterone is a menstrual cycle that is too short, too long, or completely irregular.
2. Spotting between periods. Frequent spotting can be a sign of hormonal imbalance, including low progesterone.
3. Miscarriage or infertility. Low progesterone levels can keep you from getting or staying pregnant because progesterone helps prep the uterus to receive an egg and supports early pregnancy.
4. Mood swings and anxiety. Since progesterone calms the brain, low levels can lead to more anxiety, mood swings, or depression.
5. Severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Severe PMS symptoms can be linked to low progesterone, particularly if you have emotional disturbances.
6. Headaches or migraines. Hormonal imbalances, including low progesterone, can trigger headaches or migraines, especially if they tend to occur at a certain time in your cycle.
7. Hot flashes and night sweats. It’s common to have times of sudden, intense heat in the upper body during perimenopause, when progesterone levels are falling.
8. Sore or tender breasts. Low or changing progesterone levels can also cause your breasts to swell and feel tender.
9. Low libido. Hormonal imbalances, including low progesterone, can affect sexual desire.
10. Weight gain. Low progesterone can make it hard to stay at a healthy weight, especially since it affects metabolism and blood sugar control.

If you have several of these symptoms, your progesterone levels might be lower than they should be. A progesterone supplement could help restore hormonal balance and give you some relief.

A Total Approach to Progesterone Therapy

To harness the full benefits of progesterone, it's essential for women to consult with healthcare providers who understand hormone balance. For women who still have periods, it makes sense to use progesterone in a cyclic manner to mimic natural hormonal rhythms. On the other hand, non-menstruating women might benefit from a daily supplement.

It’s crucial to monitor hormone levels and adjust the dose and timing based on how it affects each woman. This is the best way to maximize benefits and minimize side effects.

Testing your progesterone levels isn't always necessary before you start using a supplement because natural progesterone, when used correctly, is considered safe with no known toxic side effects. But testing can make the dose more accurate based on your hormonal balances and needs.

Forms of Progesterone: Cream vs. Capsules

At Moment Health, we offer progesterone supplements in two forms, cream and capsules. Here’s a quick look at the benefits of each one.

Progesterone Cream

• Apply to the skin for direct bloodstream absorption
• Adjust your dosage to find the perfect balance
• Get what you need without a prescription

Progesterone Capsules

• Take orally, typically at night, to aid sleep and hormonal balance.
• Enjoy steady hormone levels.
• Swallow your dose easily.

How to Choose a Good Progesterone Supplement

As is true of every supplement type, some progesterone products are higher quality than others. These are some things to check for when you make your decision.

Additives and Dyes

Some commercial progesterone products, like Prometrium, contain additives and color dyes that you might want to avoid or that some people react to. Always check the ingredient list for potential allergens or harmful compounds and look for products labeled as "clean."

Bioidentical Progesterone vs. Progestins

It's crucial to know the difference between bioidentical progesterone, which is chemically identical to the body's natural hormone, and synthetic versions, known as progestins. Progestins are not the same as natural progesterone.

These are some of the major differences between them:

• Chemical structure. Progestins are synthetic hormones designed to mimic natural progesterone's effects, but they don’t have the same structure. This difference affects how they interact with progesterone receptors in the body.
• Side effects. Progestins often have a wider range of side effects than bioidentical progesterone, including risks to heart health and mood. They’re often found in hormonal birth control and hormone replacement therapies.
• Benefits: Progestins don’t provide all the same benefits as bioidentical progesterone, such as supporting brain health or enhancing mood. Their effects are often limited to reproductive health, such as preventing pregnancy or managing menstrual disorders.

When and How to Start Supplementing Progesterone

If you’re dealing with ongoing health struggles, progesterone might be the answer you’re looking for. But hormone therapy should never be taken lightly.

The need for progesterone therapy should be based on specific symptoms, hormonal testing, or the onset of perimenopause, which typically comes with irregular periods or other changes. Many women take progesterone to balance high estrogen levels (called “estrogen dominance”) and relieve symptoms like severe PMS, fibroids, and mood swings.

At Moment Health, we provide hormone testing and personalized help so you can find the solution that’s best for you. Get in touch with us today to learn more about your options.