Menopause, often referred to as "the change of life," indeed changes women. In addition to losing the ability to have a baby, many women experience hormonal changes and gain weight. One hormone involved in reproduction is progesterone, which decreases substantially throughout menopausal stages. During childbearing years, progesterone is linked to processes that help women burn fat. However, menopause by itself is not responsible for all the weight women gain during menopause. Rather, lifestyle changes and factors related to aging in general may lead to changes in body composition. Although progesterone can be replaced and its replacement may help with the symptoms of menopause, hormone replacement comes with risks you need to discuss with your health care provider.
Progesterone
Progesterone is a hormone produced in the ovaries of women in their child bearing years. It has a number of functions. Progesterone helps to maintain the integrity of the lining of the uterus, which is also needed to protect a growing fetus during pregnancy. It is also an agent in a woman's sex drive and protects against cancers of the reproductive organs. Some of progesterone's functions aren't related to ovulation and reproduction. For example, progesterone helps make up other hormones that protect your bones, help burn fat for energy, act as a diuretic, regulate blood clotting and act as an antidepressant. In menopausal women, progesterone levels drop. Women might think that estrogen is the key hormone that needs to be replaced during menopause, but progesterone is just as important and needs to be kept in balance to the hormones you supplement during menopause.
Menopause
Menopause is a period in which menstrual cycles permanently stop. Levels of hormones like progesterone and estrogen, among others, also decrease. Most women begin to experience symptoms of menopause between their 40s and 50s. Common symptoms of menopause include hot flashes, thinning hair, osteoporosis, vaginal dryness, mood changes and sleep problems, as well as other physical changes like weight gain. Menopause symptoms can last a few months or a few years. You will know you have experienced menopause when you have not had a period for at least 12 months. Some symptoms of menopause can be serious enough to seek treatment, which may include progesterone supplementation. Some treatments come with risk, however. Ask your doctor what's right for you.
Weight Gain
Women of menopausal age may experience weight gain. Although not all the added weight is related to menopause, the hormonal changes you experience may change the way fat gets distributed around your body. Many women get more fat around the midsection, for example. Some evidence, though controversial, suggests that hormone replacement therapy can also protect against weight gain during this stage. In addition to the weight gain, some women also experience an elevation in blood lipids, like cholesterol, that put them at an increased risk of heart disease. It's important that you consult your health care provider to keep tabs on your risk for these complications.
Can Progesterone Relieve Menopausal Weight Gain?
Usually, the weight gain menopausal women experience is related to a lack of physical activity. Getting more exercise and eating a healthier diet can help you control your weight. Moreover, as you age, your muscle mass begin a natural decline, which promotes fat and general weight gain. Having less muscle mass slows down the rate at which you burn calories. Increasing your protein consumption and doing muscle strengthening activities like weightlifting or resistance training can help control your weight by promoting the maintenance of your lean muscle mass. Some research, such as a University of Pittsburgh study outlined in the Sept. 1, 2000, issue of the journal "Posgraduate Medicine," indicates that hormone replacement therapy, which includes progesterone and estrogen, may protect you from fat gain around the abdomen, but more research is needed to confirm this.
References
- MedlinePlus: Progesterone
- MedlinePlus: X-Plain Menopause Reference Summary
- "Climacteric"; Weight Gain and the Menopause: A 5-Year Prospective Study; J. R. Guthrie, et al.; September 1999
- "Postgraduate Medicine"; Weight Gain During Menopause. Is It Inevitable or Can It Be Prevented?; Laurey R. Simkin-Silverman and Rena R. Wing; September 2000
- Intelegen.com; Natural Progesterone: The Feel-Good Hormone - Part I; Dr. Ward Dean
- "Circulation"; Women's Healthy Lifestyle Project: A Randomized Clinical Trial; Lewis H. Kuller, et al.; January 2001
