Progesterone, or P4, is a steroid hormone that is produced in the ovaries, adrenal glands and the placenta during pregnancy in women, and plays an important role in the female menstrual cycle and pregnancy. Progesterone is produced in very minimal amounts in the testes in men. Natural progesterone therapy is a type of hormone replacement therapy that is sometimes required in women who have deficiencies in progesterone production, which most often occurs after pregnancy or during and after menopause. Progesterone replacement therapy has benefits and side effects. Talk with your doctor to see if progesterone replacement is right for you.
Post-menopausal Benefits
Progesterone is most often prescribed to women who have gone through menopause and have not had a hysterectomy. After menopause, natural estrogen and progesterone production decline, which can accelerate the aging process, bone loss and other physical and chemical changes. Progesterone is a precursor to estrogen and replacement therapy can improve some of the symptoms associated with a decline in the production of these two hormones, according to a study published in "Obstetrics and Gynecology."
Pre-menopausal Benefits
According to PubMed Health, progesterone therapy can be used to stimulate menstruation in pre-menopausal women who have had normal periods and then stopped menstruating. Progesterone therapy may also be used in pre-menopausal women who have difficulty conceiving a child due to inadequate levels of normal progesterone, and can even be used during pregnancy to ensure there is enough progesterone available for the natural development of the fetus, according to the Southeastern Fertility Center in South Carolina.
Progesterone and Estrogen Therapy
Natural progesterone therapy can be an effective alternative, or can be combined with traditional hormone replacement therapy that involves estrogen, according to PubMed Health. Estrogen replacement therapy for the treatment of menopause can cause abnormal thickening of your uterus and increase your risk for developing uterine cancer. In contrast, progesterone prevents uterine thickening and decreases the risk of uterine cancer. However, according to the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research, progesterone can be a more effective treatment for pre-menopause than estrogen therapy.
Side Effects and Other Considerations
According to the National Library of Medicine, progesterone may cause side effects ranging from mild to severe. Progesterone therapy may increase your risk of stroke and breast cancer. Some people are allergic to progesterone, which can cause serious side effects. Progesterone comes in a variety of forms, including injection, gels and oral tablets and can be very expensive and often requires supplementing with other drugs or medications as well. Whenever you inject something into your body, you increase the risk of infection at the injection site, especially if you are unable to keep the area clean.
References
- "Human Anatomy and Physiology"; Elaine N. Marieb; 2004
- PubMed Health: Progesterone
- "Obstetrics and Gynecology"; Menopausal Hormone Replacement Therapy with Continuous Daily Oral Micronized Estradiol and Progesterone; J.T. Hargrove et al.; April 1989
- Southeastern Fertility Center: Progesterone Therapy in Pregnancy
- Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research: Progesterone (Not Estrogen) is Optimal Therapy for Hot Flushes
- MedlinePlus: Progesterone
