Progesterone is a female hormone that helps regulate a woman's menstrual cycle and orchestrates a host of other functions. Manufacturers use soy beans and wild Mexican yams to make natural progesterone products. For some women, these products make life more enjoyable by curbing post-menopause symptoms and managing hormone-related side effects that occur when progesterone levels wane. Talk to your doctor to find out more.
Improved Sleep Patterns
Fluctuations in hormones are the cause of sleep disturbances among women and can play a major role in insomnia over the course of a woman's life, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Because progesterone promotes sleep, a decrease in the hormone often leads to difficulty falling or staying asleep. Women are most susceptible to changes in sleep patterns during menstruation when progesterone levels plummet. Pregnancy, particularly in the first and last trimester, and menopause are other common times when insomnia occurs. For some women, natural progesterone improves sleep patterns by raising progesterone levels.
Reduced Post-Menopause Symptoms
A Mayo Clinic study following 176 women using a mixture of natural progesterone and estrogen as a hormone replacement therapy yielded positive results for 80 percent of the women.These admittedly satisfied women experienced improvements in bleeding patterns and fewer post-menopause side effects, including hot flashes, anxiety and depression. In comparison to previously used therapies, natural progesterone offers a wider range of benefits, says Lorraine Fitzpatrick, M.D.
Safety and Side Effects
Despite reports that hormone replacement therapy may elevate the risks of breast cancer among women, natural progesterone is shown to be safe, according to Dixie Mills, M.D. Even so, Mills suggests some women use caution with natural progesterone, including women who experience adverse effects, such as increased breast tenderness and irregular bleeding. Post menopausal women should wait for their body's hormone levels to taper off before using natural progesterone, unless they are using estrogen. Additionally, women with a history of breast cancer should consult their oncologists before using natural progesterone.
Forms of Natural Progesterone
Common forms of natural progesterone include pills, creams and patches. Transdermal delivery, as in the patch methods, have fewer side effects than oral medications, according to Jane Murray, M.D.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Insomnia; Harvey Simon, MD; June 2009
- EurekAlert!; Mayo Clinic Study Finds Natural Progesterone Offers More Health Benefits to Post-Menopausal Women; May 2007
- Project Aware; Natural Progesterone: What Role in Women's Healthcare?; Jane Murray, M.D.; September 1998
- Women to Women; Breast Health; Dixie Mills, MD
