As a woman, your menstrual periods need regulation from a female hormone called progesterone, Drugs.com indicates. If low levels of this hormone occur with illness or age, you may need to undergo hormone replacement therapy. Your doctor will advise you about hormone therapy and may prescribe a synthetic version of progesterone such as medroxyprogesterone. Side effects of synthetic progesterone may occur that you may need to report to your physician or gynecologist.
Anxiety and Nervousness
These common side effects of the hormone progesterone occur as symptoms of panic and increased worry about daily life challenges, MayoClinic.com indicates. Situations you do not normally worry about may seem bigger emotionally to you. Increased anxiety and nervousness may cause you to suffer panic attacks. These may occur because you have a sudden change of your hormonal balance caused by the use of synthetic progesterone. Call your doctor for help if these mental and emotional difficulties persist.
Stomach Discomfort
You should take your synthetic progesterone with food if possible to help prevent or decrease the common side effect of abdominal pain, MayoClinic.com indicates. Food may act as a barrier to this hormone therapy that may cause stomach irritation. Your digestive system may show sensitivity to new medications, especially ones that cause gastric wall irritation. If you feel uneasy about this side effect, call your doctor for help and follow-up. He may need to evaluate your pain and change your medicine.
Swelling
MayoClinic.com reports your feet and ankles may begin to swell from synthetic progesterone hormone replacement therapy. This edema may plague you for a few days. Your shoes could become increasingly tighter and you may notice your ankles and feet appear puffy. Although this common side effect of the synthetic hormone classifies as non-serious, you still need to report it to your doctor. Your doctor may need to adjust your dose of progesterone to stop the swelling.
Changes in Mood
Behavioral changes often occur in hormone therapy because hormones influence your moods. Your moods may fluctuate and you may suffer depression, Drugs.com states. You could feel angry one minute and sad the next. These mood swings could occur after a couple of days of receiving this new hormone infusion. If this side effect occurs, call your doctor for help.
Lightheadedness
You may become dizzy, experiencing a feeling of imbalance, when you use synthetic progesterone, Drugs.com reports. This hormone treatment causes your body to change in its hormonal balance, and this may disrupt the hormonal factors in your blood and brain. Lightheadedness, a feeling of impending fainting, and dizziness should recede on their own, but question your doctor about these side effects if they remain beyond a few days.
