Female hormone levels decline naturally with age. This can cause uncomfortable symptoms, including hot flashes and difficulty sleeping. One way to deal with this decline is hormone replacement therapy, which often eases these uncomfortable symptoms. However, because synthetic hormones have side effects and risks, some women have shown an interest in natural hormones, believing that they are safer and do not pose the same health risks.
Progesterone Role
Progesterone and estrogen are the two primary hormones that your ovaries produce. Your adrenal glands, which are two small bean-shaped glands that sit atop your kidneys, also produce progesterone, but in small amounts. During your reproductive years, progesterone helps regulate your menstrual cycle and maintain pregnancy. As you enter menopause, your progesterone levels decline.
Progesterone Replacement
Low progesterone levels are partly responsible for common menopausal symptoms. Because of this, progesterone replacement is recommended to ease these symptoms. It is often part of hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, which includes replacing estrogen as well. Progesterone is replaced with synthetic progesterone in capsule and cream form. However, because clinical data from a 2002 trial by the Women's Health Initiative, or WHI, concluded that hormone replacement therapy increases the risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease, concerns have been raised regarding the safety of synthetic progesterone.
HRT Risks
The WHI trial has been criticized for being biased because the trial only examined one HRT regimen, which was 0.625 mg of conjugated equine estrogen and 2.5 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate daily. Subsequent studies have yielded conflicting results. A study published in the May 2009 issue of the "Medical Care" concluded that reduced HRT use is not associated with reduced cardiovascular risk. A review published in the November 2004 issue of "Geriatrics" maintains that long-term HRT use is inappropriate for postmenopausal women and requires a cautious, individualized approach.
Natural Progesterone
Natural progesterone is a bio-identical form of progesterone that is similar to the progesterone produced by the body. It is manufactured from plant compounds known as phytohormones. Natural progesterone is promoted as a safe alternative to synthetic progesterone, but there is no clinical data to support these claims as of June 2011. Also, it is uncertain if plant progesterone affects you in the same way as the progesterone your body makes. In addition, all supplements, even natural ones, have the capacity to cause side effects. Because clinical data on natural progesterone safety and effectiveness is lacking, it is important to consult your doctor before taking it.
References
- MedlinePlus; Progesterone; September 2008
- "Medical Care"; Hormone Replacement Therapy and Cardiovascular Health in the United States; K.D Shetty, et al.; May 2009
- "Geriatrics"; Lessons Learned from the WHI: HRT Requires a Cautious and Individualized Approach; D. Aubuchon and N. Santoro; November 2004
- The Canadian Women's Health Network; Natural Hormones - Are They a Safe Alternative?; Amy Allina and Adriane Fugh-Berman; June 2006
