What Effect Does Progesterone Have on Us
- Progesterone converts the endometrium to its secretory stage to prepare the uterus for implantation. If pregnancy (fertilization) does not occur, progesterone levels will decrease, leading, in the human, to menstruation. Normal menstrual bleeding is progesterone-withdrawal bleeding. If ovulation does not occur and the corpus luteum does not develop, levels of progesterone may be low, leading to anovulatory dysfunctional uterine bleeding.
- Progesterone has key effects via non-genomic signaling on human sperm as they migrate through the female tract before fertilization occurs, though the receptor(s) as yet remain unidentified. Since eggs release progesterone, sperm may use progesterone as a homing signal to swim toward eggs (chemotaxis).
- During implantation and gestation, progesterone appears to decrease the maternal immune response to allow for the acceptance of the embryo.
- Progesterone decreases contractility of the uterine smooth muscle. Progesterone inhibits lactation during pregnancy. The fall in progesterone levels following delivery is one of the triggers for milk production.
- A drop in progesterone levels facilitates the onset of labor.
- Maternal progesterone serves as a substrate for the production of adrenal steroids in fetus.
- Progesterone, like pregnenolone and DHEA, belongs to the group of neurosteroids. It can be synthesized within the CNS and also serves as a precursor to another major neurosteroid, allopregnanolone. Neurosteroids are neuroprotective and are investigated for their potential to improve memory and cognitive ability as well as mood stabilizers.
- Progesterone affects regulation of apoptotic genes.
- Progesterone raises epidermal growth factor-1 levels, a factor often used to induce proliferation.
- Progesterone increases core temperature (thermogenic function) during ovulation.
- Progesterone reduces spasms and relaxes both muscles of the bronchi and other submucosal tissues, decreasing the production of mucus.
- Progesterone acts as an anti-inflammatory agent and regulates the immune response.
- Progesterone reduces gallbladder activity.
- Progesterone normalizes blood clotting and vascular tone, zinc and copper levels, cell oxygen levels, and the use of fat stores for energy.
- Progesterone may affect gum health, increasing risk of gingivitis (gum inflammation) and tooth decay.
- Progesterone prevents endometrial cancer by regulating the effects of estrogen.
- Progesterone has been shown to decrease the relative risk of breast cancer.
- Progesterone plays an important role in the signaling of insulin release and pancreatic function, and may affect the susceptibility to diabetes or gestational diabetes.
- Elevated levels of progesterone potently reduce the sodium-retaining activity of aldosterone, resulting in natriuresis and a reduction in extracellular fluid volume. Progesterone withdrawal, on the other hand, is associated with an increase in sodium retention due to the compensatory increase in aldosterone production.
Why Optimize Progesterone Hormone Levels with Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy
In the past few years, as I was evaluating different approaches, I came across several popular and widely advertised protocols, which were ineffective, misleading, overpriced and in the end simply dangerous for the patients. In my practice I do follow guidelines supported by serious academic research and proven to have a high safety record. The goal of preventive medicine is to avoid problems, while not creating new ones.
- Prevention of preterm birth.
- Progesterone is used for luteal support in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) cycles such as In-vitro Fertilization (IVF).
- Progesterone is used to control persistent anovulatory bleeding.
- Progesterone is also used to prepare uterine lining in infertility therapy and to support an early pregnancy. Patients with recurrent pregnancy loss due to inadequate progesterone production may receive progesterone supplementation.
- Progesterone is also used in nonpregnant women with a delayed menstruation of one or more weeks, in order to allow the thickened endometrial lining to slough off. This process is termed a progesterone withdrawal bleed. The progesterone is taken orally for a short time (usually one week), after which the progesterone is discontinued and bleeding should occur.
- Progesterone is being investigated as potentially beneficial in treating multiple sclerosis, since the characteristic deterioration of nerve myelin insulation halts during pregnancy, when progesterone levels are raised; deterioration commences again when the levels drop.
- Progesterone also plays a role in skin elasticity and bone strength, in respiration, in nerve tissue and in female sexuality.
- Progesterone receptor antagonists or selective progesterone receptor modulators (SPRM)s, such as Mifepristone, can be used to prevent conception or induce medical abortions (Note that methods of hormone contraception do not contain progesterone but a progestin).
- Progesterone is used to affect male behavior.
- Progesterone is used in the treatment of the skin condition hidradenitis suppurativa.
- Progesterone’s role in aging is thought to be due to its ability to prevent apoptosis in neurons and other tissues.
- Progesterone also plays an important role in maintaining skin elasticity and bone strength.
- Progesterone and neuroprotection. Recent clinical trials have shown that among patients that have suffered moderate traumatic brain injury, those that have been treated with progesterone are more likely to have a better outcome than those who have not. The mechanism of progesterone protective effects may be the reduction of inflammation and edema that follows brain trauma. In addition, progesterone was observed to have antioxidant properties. Progesterone has also been shown to aid in neuroregeneration, remyelination of damaged axons. Vitamin D and progesterone have separate neuroprotective effects after traumatic brain injury, but when combined, their effects are synergistic. When used at their optimal respective concentrations, the two combined have been shown to reduce cell death more than when alone.
- In bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, progesterone is mainly used to balance and enhance the effects of estradiol (E2) effect, decreasing the risk of uterine and breast cancer.
- Progesterone may be used in treatment protocols of naturally occurring estrogen dominant states such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
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