The hormone progesterone is largely responsible for preparing a woman's body for pregnancy. In some cases, a woman may be prescribed a progesterone replacement medication in the form of an injection or pill. These conditions, which include preventing premature birth or reducing symptoms of menopause may also be treated naturally using natural progesterone in topical form. Rather than a synthetic or animal-based derivative, natural progesterone is usually made from herbs, roots or plants. Speak with your doctor before using any natural approach.
Progesterone
Natural progesterone cream is made from a vine known as the wild yam. According to the American Cancer Society, natural progesterone cream made from this plant is a popular substitute for conventional medicine's pharmaceutical approach. Natural progesterone cream does not actually contain progesterone but instead may contain substances that act like progesterone in your body. In some cases, synthetic progesterone may be added to the cream but isn't always clearly listed as an ingredient.
Insomnia
During the transition into menopause, when a woman's menstrual cycles decrease and finally stop, insomnia may develop. This can be caused by hormonal fluctuations that trigger symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats. As a result, you might suddenly be awakened by the onset of symptoms. In other cases, you may have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. The Cleveland Clinic explains that hormone replacement may help decrease symptoms that cause insomnia in menopausal women.
Symptom Relief
For some women, natural progesterone cream may provide relief from symptoms of menopause that can cause insomnia. According to a 2000 article published in "American Family Physician," women experiencing vasomotor symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes, reported significant relief from their symptoms with the administration of topical natural progesterone cream. Additionally, progesterone cream was found to be more effective in relieving symptoms than oral progesterone in a 2005 study published in "Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine." These findings suggest that for some women, natural progesterone cream may help decrease symptoms of menopause that can disrupt sleep.
Considerations
Progesterone cream may help relieve the symptoms of menopause that can lead to impaired sleep. A natural approach to treating insomnia may also be an option for women who are concerned about side effects associated with conventional hormone replacement. National Institutes of Health online medical encyclopedia Medline Plus explains that the pharmaceutical version of hormone replacement therapy can increase your risk of developing breast cancer, cardiovascular disease and stroke. If you are considering natural progesterone cream instead, check with your doctor first.
References
- Medline Plus: Hormone Replacement Therapy
- American Family Physician; Progesterone Cream for Vasomotor Symptoms of Menopause; Dr. Anne D. Walling; 2000
- American Cancer Society: Wild Yam
- Cleveland Clinic: Menopause and Insomnia
- "Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine"; Transdermal Progesterone Cream as an Alternative Progestin in Hormone Therapy.; H.B. Leonetti, et al.; 2005
