Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsProgesterone SupplementsWhat Is Progesterone?SafetyAlternativesProgesterone Replacement Therapy
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Progesterone Supplements
What Is Progesterone?
Safety
Alternatives
Progesterone Replacement Therapy
If you have low progesterone levels, you may consider taking a progesterone supplement to increase them.
Progesterone, a hormone produced naturally in the body, is vital to your reproductive health and maintaining a healthy pregnancy.
It’s important to remember that your progesterone levels are also a part of your broader hormonal picture. In concert with other hormones like estrogen and androgens, progesterone helps regulate sleep, mood, bone health, cognition, mental health, cardiovascular health, and weight.
In females, progesterone helps manage symptoms of endometriosis, as well as perimenopause and menopause, such as hot flashes and mood swings. Attending to these symptoms through effective treatment is vital to improving quality of life and overall health and is critical to a healthy aging strategy.
Though progesterone supplements may support your body, they typically will not contain actual progesterone.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements like prescription medications. This means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. Whenchoosing a supplement, look for independently tested products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN or RD), or pharmacist.
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People have taken progesterone supplements, either alone or in combination with other supplements or prescription medications, to try to increase theirprogesteronelevels. They typically do this because their progesterone levels are low, possibly due to specific conditions or the natural aging process.
As mentioned, though progesterone supplements may support your body’s progesterone production, they donotcontain the progesterone hormone. Supplements studied for their potential impact on the body’s production of progesterone include the following:
Progesterone is a natural hormone that plays a vital role in your reproductive system and beyond.In males, thetestesandadrenal cortex(a part of the adrenal gland) produce testosterone.In females, thecorpus luteum(a structure in theovary), the adrenal cortex, and theplacenta(in the case of pregnancy) are the primary producers of progesterone.
Progesterone is critical in regulating menstrual cycles, maintaining a healthyendometrium(uterus lining), and overall hormone balance. It is also essential for maintaining pregnancy. The root word “progesterone” itself essentially means “for pregnancy.“It’s also an essential starting material for other hormones, such asaldosterone,cortisol,estradiol, andtestosterone.
Progesterone production tends to decline with the onset ofperimenopause, and issues may occur if its levels are too low. Studies suggest that females with optimal progesterone levels may experience better sleep, emotional resilience, and more.
Healthcare providers may prescribe specific medications to increase progesterone levels for conditions that require it.
Is a Progesterone Supplement Safe for Me?
Though hormone-related supplements can offer benefits, taking them with caution is essential.
Critical precautions for specific supplements taken to increase progesterone include the following:
Interactions
Keep in mind the following interactions when considering progesterone supplements:
Dosage
The following includes dosages used in research studies and amounts needed according to dietary guidelines:
Consult your healthcare provider to avoid adverse effects or interactions before taking a progesterone supplement.
Alternative Ways to Support Your Progesterone Levels
In addition to supplements, lifestyle and therapeutic approaches may help support healthy progesterone levels.
Some of the following have better evidence to support their effectiveness than others:
Please consult your healthcare provider to determine if any of the above suits you.
The following prescription medications are taken to increase progesterone levels:
Healthcare providers typically prescribe synthetic progesterone (known as progestin) to treat or prevent the following:
Summary
Progesterone is a hormone essential for reproductive function, including the maintenance of pregnancy.
In addition to prescription progesterone medications and certain lifestyle and dietary strategies, supplements that purportedly support progesterone production include DIM, folic acid, red clover extract, zinc, and vitamin D.
It is important to consult with your healthcare provider before starting progesterone supplements because they may interact with certain prescription medications.
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