Do women going through menopause have low progesterone levels?

Recent research tells us that women suffer from reduced levels of progesterone and also experience other symptoms such as unexplained weight gain (particularly in the stomach area), depression, fatigue, hair loss, memory loss, mood swings, migraines, and hair loss. of libido. A natural cream can balance estrogen without any side effects.

Progesterone and estrogen are the two main hormones produced by women’s ovaries when they are menstruating. The adrenal glands also secrete smaller amounts of these hormones. It is necessary for the survival of the fertilized egg, its embryo and the fetus during gestation.

The main functions of progesterone include: acting as a precursor to estrogen and testosterone; maintains the lining of the uterus and helps in pregnancy; protects against fibrocystic breasts, endometrial and breast cancer; acts as a natural diuretic, helps to use fat for energy; can be a natural antidepressant; helps the action of thyroid hormone; normalizes blood coagulation; restores sexual desire; normalizes blood sugar, zinc and copper levels; restores proper levels of cellular oxygen, has a thermogenic effect; builds bone and helps protect against osteoporosis.

Some doctors believe that the symptoms of menopause, osteoporosis, and heart disease may not be due to estrogen deficiency, but to a relative excess of estrogen due to progesterone deficiency.

Synthetic progestins, such as an HRT drug called Provera (a synthetic chemical), do not have the same biological effects as natural progesterone and are known to cause side effects including: fluid retention, depression, breast tenderness, stroke , jaundice, blood coagulation and cervical erosions.

On the other hand, natural progesterone has no known side effects and has been found to be helpful in relieving symptoms such as PMS and hot flashes. It is also credited with helping prevent osteoporosis.

Many doctors now prescribe low-dose natural progesterone cream for menopausal women during the last two weeks of the menstrual cycle. The cream is easily absorbed into thin skin areas such as the breasts, inner arms, neck, or belly by subcutaneous fat and then released into the bloodstream. You should be careful about the dosage level of these products. Some may have little or nothing and others provide 20-30 mg in an average application. It is always best to consult a doctor first.