Progesterone Therapy and Menopause – Before, During, and After

Hormone replacement specialists have used progesterone therapy in menopause treatment protocols for quite some time. Bioidentical hormone treatments allow the body to accept the supplementation in the most natural way since they are similar in structure to the chemical messengers they are either replacing (when levels of the hormone have reached zero) or increasing (when levels are low).

Progesterone therapy and menopause go hand in hand since this is one of the vital hormones that decline once the ovaries start to slow down production as menopause begins. There are specific reasons why doctors prescribe this treatment before, during, and after menopause. The benefits are there for women, no matter what stage of life they are experiencing.

There are different types of progesterone therapy for menopause. Some doctors prefer the use of oral progesterone for the following reasons:

• Oral progesterone increases deep sleep – progesterone creams have not been adequately shown to accomplish this result, although many women do claim that their sleep quality improves with topical progesterone cream
• The entire dose of oral progesterone enters the body – there is no way to know how much of the progesterone cream penetrates deep through the skin and enters the bloodstream

It is also important to note that progesterone treatment for menopause is not the same thing as using the progestin prescribed in birth control pills. Progestin is a synthetic form of supplementation whereas progesterone is bioidentical, making it a much safer form of hormone replacement therapy for use to treat this deficiency.

Who Needs Progesterone Therapy before Menopause?

Many women can benefit from progesterone therapy. Menopause treatment is not the only reason why doctors prescribe this bioidentical supplementation. There are times when a woman can experience anovulatory cycles. What this means is that the ovaries are producing estrogen as part of the natural hormone cycle, but not progesterone. This can lead to increased PMS symptoms and a condition known as estrogen dominance that can cause a host of other problems, including affecting the lining of the uterus.

There are many reasons why doctors prescribe progesterone, and menopause symptoms are just a part of the overall picture. The years leading up to this life change can see a tremendous fluctuation in hormone levels. The use of progesterone can also help a woman before and during pregnancy as it prepares the lining of the uterus to accept and nourish the fetus.

Other benefits of progesterone treatment before menopause, including:

• Enhances thyroid hormone action
• Maintains sex drive
• Helps to normalize blood sugar levels
• Acts as a natural antidepressant
• Is a natural diuretic
• Helps protect against breast, ovarian, and endometrial cancers
• Stimulates bone building properties to prevent osteoporosis

Benefits of Progesterone Therapy during Menopause

There are many benefits of receiving progesterone therapy during menopause for women who are experiencing the unwanted symptoms that often accompany this change of life period. One of the most important reasons for the use of oral progesterone is to stop the effects of night sweats and hot flashes. Although these symptoms are merely annoying for some people, they can interfere with daily life for many others. There have also been studies that have shown the effectiveness of progesterone cream for the reduction of hot flashes, but dosage plays an essential role in this, and that is why treatment must be prescribed by a doctor following blood analysis.

Another benefit of progesterone treatment during menopause is to help a woman stop the more dangerous estrogen therapy without putting her body at risk of increased menopausal symptoms. Progesterone helps to stimulate the formation of new bone cells – crucial for the prevention of osteoporosis.

The administration of oral progesterone treatment in menopause should occur before bed as it helps increase deep sleep. Progesterone creams are typically applied both in the morning upon rising, and at night before bed.

Progesterone and Post-Menopause – Why it is Needed?

A decline in hormone production after menopause can leave a woman dealing with weight gain, mood changes, depression, muscle and bone loss, non-existent sex drive, water retention, low thyroid, and more. That is why doctors prescribe progesterone therapy after menopause for women at risk for potential health problems, or who are having a decreased quality of life.

Another issue that affects some women after menopause is facial hair growth. When using progesterone treatment, postmenopausal women may find that their excess facial and body hair decrease or completely disappear.

Progesterone therapy also helps to protect against osteoporosis, certain cancers, depression, and weight gain – all problems that can affect a woman following this life change. Hormone replacement therapy specialists will run crucial blood tests to assess a woman’s hormone levels before prescribing any HRT treatment.

To learn more about progesterone and menopause, US women can contact the doctors and hormone specialists at Kingsberg Medical for a free consultation to discuss their personal situation and needs, to ask questions and get crucial answers, to arrange for blood testing at a local lab, and to receive affordable, high-quality hormone replacement therapy.

Brian Leeber