What is Progesterone?

• Oldest known sex hormone
• Present in every human regardless of age
• Produced by the ovaries and adrenal gland
• Secreted by corpus luteum
• Has receptors in nearly every cell in the body
• Acts on uterus, kidneys, brain, smooth muscle, breasts, bones, and cellular membranes
• Metabolized to other active hormones

What are some of the functions and roles of progesterone in the body?

• Counteracts estrogen's tendency to induce excess growth in the endometrial lining of the uterus
• Builds new bone tissue, leading to increased bone mass and density.
• Necessary for maintenance of pregnancy
• • Decreases uterine contractions
  • Prepares and maintains uterine lining for implantation of fertilized egg
• Prepares breasts for lactation
• Assists in raising HDL-cholesterol levels (if combined with estrogen therapy) and ultimately reduces risk of heart disease
• • Synthetic progesterone (progestin) has an overall negative effect on HDL-cholesterol levels

What is the difference between "progestin" and "progesterone?"

The main difference is in the derivation. Progestins are synthetic (i.e. man-made) molecules developed to act like natural progesterone.  Natural progesterone is a molecule that is plant derived and is bio-identical to the hormone produced in our bodies.  Progestins do not have as broad a spectrum of activity as natural progesterone, and have a wide range of side effects.  Whereas progesterone may cause some mild to moderate drowsiness, progestins can cause:

• breast tenderness
• acne
• depression
• vision changes
• bloating
• migraine headaches
• thrombosis
• genital abnormalities in fetuses of women taking medroxyprogesterone (a progestin) during first four months of pregnancy
• decreased glucose tolerance
• gastric regurgitation

What kinds of effects can be seen with the use of progesterone?

• Precursor for other sex hormones
• Maintenance of anti-aging hormones
• Increases bone mass and density
• Normalizes blood clotting
• Acts as a natural diuretic
• Anti-estrogen: suppresses nuclear estradiol receptors, suppresses DNA synthesis, induces estradiol dehydorgenase

What are some benefits of progesterone, and progesterone therapy?

Progesterone has a number of benefits, including:

• Natural antidepressant
• Helps normalize thyroid
• Uses fat for energy
• Restores libido
• Builds bone and protects against osteoporesis
• Positive effects on cholesterol

Some benefits of progesterone therapy include:

• Balances the effects of estrogens. Helps to counteract the symptoms of estrogen dominance, in particular breast tenderness, fluid retention, headaches, breakthrough bleeding, sleep disturbances, irritability, decreased libido, and hair loss
• Decresae uterine fibroids
• Protects against fibrocystic breasts
• Decreases cramping
• Can be used in post-hysterectomy patients, unlike progestins, which are not indicated for use with post-hysterectomy patients

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