Replacement Hormone Treatments: Progesterone

Progesterone is one of the main components that causes the lining of a woman's uterus to shed each month resulting in a menstrual period.

Pre-Menopausal women will often experience an absence of their regular periods for 6 months or more. This can be caused by a lack of sufficient progesterone. Not having the needed amount of progesterone will allow the lining of the uterus to stay thick and full of blood. Staying this way, your chances of developing hyperplasia or even endometrial cancer increase.

A progestogen can come in natural form or synthetic. Synthetic progesterone can cause an array of side effects such as bloating, cramping, drowsiness, breast tenderness, diarrhea, vaginal discharge, blurred vision, blood clots, shortness of breath and can cause or worsen depression. Natural progesterone has been found to have less side effects and even aid in PMS symptoms rather than contribute. However, if you have an allergy to peanuts, it is not advisable to use natural progesterone. One of the main ingredients in natural progesterone is peanuts which could prove fatal.

Your doctor can prescribe it for all or part of your cycle. It helps to balance the effects of estrogen, hot flashes and fibroids. It can also control excessive bleeding during your menstrual cycle (if you still are having one) and strengthens bones. Progesterone should only be used as a part of hormone replacement therapy. Given with estrogen, it will also lower your risk for uterine cancer.

There are three methods to take the progesterone hormone therapy treatment. You can purchase progesterone cream or vaginal gel over the counter or get a prescription for an oral tablet. Taking progesterone orally is the most effective and highly suggested. Progesterone cream is the weakest form available out of the three options and should never be used as a substitute for your doctors recommendations.

Going through menopause can be challenging and emotional. Hormone replacement therapy is to be used only as an aid in the process and not for long term use. It has proven to help women with hot flashes, mood swings and even night sweats. However, using hormone replacement therapy for an extended period of time should only be done under the discretion of your doctor.

If you are experiencing problems that you may think or know are related to pre-menopause, see your doctor to find out what treatments would be right for you.

Some helpful sites with more information can be found at the mayoclinic.com and knowmenopause.com.