The Role Progesterone Plays in a Woman's Health

Progesterone is a naturally occurring steroid hormone manufactured by the body. It is also considered a sex hormone. Steroid hormones are built from cholesterol. If there is not enough cholesterol in the body, it won’t produce sufficient amounts of progesterone and other steroid hormones. This results in a badly skewed hormonal balance. The use of natural progesterone, usually in a cream or oral oils, can help get the hormone system back in balance.

WHAT DOES PROGESTERONE DO?Progesterone is needed by the body for a variety of jobs. It is a precursor to other hormones, like corticosterone, cortisol, estradiol, estrone, estriol and testosterone. Progesterone is necessary to maintain a pregnancy. When an egg is released, the resulting follicle in the ovary, called the corpus luteum, produces progesterone. This prevents the lining of the uterus from shedding so the developing embryo can implant and grow. The corpus luteum produces progesterone during the first trimester of pregnancy. Later, the placenta takes over progesterone production. Without sufficient progesterone, the pregnancy will end. The adrenal glands also produce a small amount of progesterone in both men and women. Progesterone levels drop right before a woman’s period starts, and low levels of progesterone are implicated in PMS, repeated miscarriage, and insomnia. Progesterone levels drop at menopause, causing a woman’s cycles to cease. HORMONE BALANCINGBalancing progesterone and estrogen is important in maintaining health. Adequate progesterone helps maintain the endometrium in the uterus, normalizes blood clotting, blood sugar levels, zinc and copper levels, promotes sleep and a normal sex drive, helps prevent breast cancer, uterine cancer and fibrocystic breasts, stimulates bone building, reduces estrogen dominance symptoms, and is necessary to maintain a pregnancy. Men need progesterone for the production of testosterone and other steroid hormones, as well as maintaining the prostate gland. Estrogen dominance triggers cell growth. Without progesterone to trigger maturation, uncontrolled cell growth can result in some kinds of cancer. Too much estrogen coupled with too little progesterone can promote osteoporosis.  An excess of estrogen can also be a catalyst for hypothyroidism. A simple saliva test can check the estrogen/progesterone ratio so a dosage of progesterone can be given, if necessary. HOW CAN NATURAL PROGESTERONE HELP?Natural progesterone can stimulate the osteoblast cells and encourage bone cell growth to fight osteoporosis. PMS symptoms will subside, and pre-menopausal symptoms can be controlled. Most women using natural progesterone will report feeling better almost immediately. Natural progesterone has been shown to help with migraines and other ailments that can be affected by hormonal imbalance. Supplementing with natural progesterone can clarify thinking, make your allergies less severe, reduce muscle and joint pain, and help you sleep better.If any of these symptoms sound like something you’re more familiar with than you’d like to be, speak to your health care provider. Natural progesterone may be what you need to balance your system.