5 things you should know about progesterone
Progesterone is often discussed as part of hormone treatment because it protects the lining of the womb - but it has other important roles throughout your body too.
Produced predominantly by your ovaries, as well as in your brain and other tissues, progesterone supports your menstrual cycle and pregnancy and has effects on inflammation, stress and anxiety.
Progesterone levels fluctuate throughout your menstrual cycle and can change after birth and during perimenopause as ovulation becomes less regular. These changes can be associated with symptoms including anxiety, fatigue, sleep problems and low mood. Levels then decline during menopause and remain low.
At Newson Clinic, our clinicians consider progesterone alongside your symptoms, other hormones and medical history when discussing the hormone treatment that may be suitable for you.
If you would like to talk to one of our clinicians about your symptoms or a hormone-related condition, you can explore appointments at Newson Clinic.
Here are five things to understand about progesterone and the role it may play in your treatment:
1) Progesterone does so much more than protect the lining of your womb
Progesterone is often talked about mainly in relation to the womb. If you have a womb and use estradiol, progesterone helps to stop the lining from becoming too thick. This reduces the risk of changes that could lead to womb cancer.
But progesterone does much more than protect the lining of your womb. It is also made in your brain and can impact your whole body.
It can help to reduce inflammation and has a calming effect on the brain, which may support sleep and ease feelings of anxiety.
Some women find that micronised progesterone helps them sleep more soundly and feel calmer. However, every woman responds differently. The type of progesterone, the dose and how it is taken can all affect how you feel.
Our guide to why women are prescribed different doses of hormone treatment explains more about why hormone prescriptions can vary.
Progesterone may therefore still be helpful for some women who have had a hysterectomy, even though they no longer need it to protect the lining of their uterus.
At Newson Clinic, your clinician will consider your symptoms, medical history and other hormones when discussing your hormone treatment and prescriptions.
2) Bioidentical progesterone and synthetic progestogens aren’t the same
Bioidentical progesterone has the same chemical structure as the progesterone naturally produced by your body. We consider this the gold standard of treatment, and it is the type we prescribe at Newson Clinic.
If you have come across terms such as bioidentical, body identical, natural and synthetic, our bioidentical hormones explained guide breaks down the terminology further.
Synthetic progestogens are different. Their chemical structure is not identical to the progesterone your body produces, and their effects can differ.
You may find this article by Dr Louise Newson useful if you would like to learn more about progesterone and how it can affect your hormone treatment.
3) Some women are more sensitive to progesterone than others
Not everyone feels the same when they’re taking progesterone. Some women can tolerate it well, while others can experience unwanted effects. This is sometimes described as progesterone intolerance or sensitivity.
These effects can include changes in mood, anxiety, bloating, headaches, breast tenderness or tiredness. Some women may also recognise similar symptoms from previous experiences with synthetic progestogens, including certain types of hormonal contraception.
Learn more about progesterone intolerance in this article.
This doesn’t automatically mean progesterone can’t form part of your treatment.
Your clinician can look at what you have taken before, how you responded and whether changing the dose, formulation or way progesterone is used may be appropriate.
How you feel after starting treatment is useful information for your clinician. It can help guide what happens next rather than expecting you to continue with something that is not suiting you.
Our evidence-based approach to hormone treatment explains more about how symptoms and response help guide treatment.
4) How you respond to progesterone matters
Starting progesterone does not mean your treatment has to stay the same.
You might notice improvements in how you feel, experience side effects or see changes to your bleeding pattern. Your symptoms and priorities may also change over time.
That’s why follow-up appointments are an important part of treatment at Newson Clinic.
Your follow-up gives you time to talk about what has changed since your previous appointment and whether anything needs reviewing.
The aim is to keep treatment responsive to how you are feeling, rather than leaving you on the same prescription regardless of what has changed.
You can read more about how we treat you at Newson Clinic, including how treatment can be reviewed over time.
5) Progesterone levels can become less predictable during perimenopause
Progesterone can be relevant at many different stages of life, but its pattern often changes during perimenopause.
During a typical menstrual cycle, progesterone rises after ovulation and falls again before your period.
As you move through perimenopause, ovulation can become less regular. This means progesterone production can also become more unpredictable.
Some women may notice changes in sleep, mood or anxiety. Others may find symptoms become more noticeable at points in their cycle.
These patterns can be particularly relevant when discussing conditions such as premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), where symptoms are closely linked to hormonal fluctuations.
You can learn more about how we support women experiencing PMS and PMDD at Newson Clinic.
Want to talk about your symptoms or progesterone treatment?
You don’t need to have all the answers before you come to see us at Newson Clinic – or any of them.
Your appointment will give you plenty of time to explain what has changed, the symptoms affecting you, treatments you have previously tried and how you may have responded to them.
Your clinician can then discuss the options that may be appropriate for you and your treatment can continue to be reviewed as your needs change.
