Progesterone is primarily used to promote fertility in women with low blood Progesterone levels. Low Progesterone levels make the tissue lining the uterus thinner and less nutrient-rich than is required for implantation by the fertilized egg and growth of the embryo. Progesterone treatment after ovulation can make the uterine lining thicker and more suitable for implantation to occur. Progesterone is also needed during pregnancy for normal fetal development and to relax the uterus. Progesterone supplements may therefore be prescribed for several weeks during early pregnancy, up until the placenta is well formed and is able to produce sufficient Progesterone to meet the needs of the growing fetus.
Besides pregnancy-related uses, Progesterone is also prescribed to control bleeding in women who are not ovulating. In women who wish to postpone becoming pregnant, high-dose Progesterone injections act by preventing ovulation and by making mucus in the lower reproductive tract thicker. This thickened mucus makes it more difficult for sperm to ascend up through the cervix and uterus into the fallopian tube.
In post-menopausal women with a uterus who are also receiving estrogen replacement, Progesterone is given to control overgrowth of the uterine lining. Short-term hormone replacement therapy during menopause may also reduce side effects such as hot flashes.
Progesterone can be taken in the form of capsules, injections or vaginal suppositories. While a number of Progesterone creams and ‘natural’ Progesterone products are available, some without prescription, these may be ineffective in treating hot flashes, preventing osteoporosis, increasing sexual desire or preventing endometrial and breast cancer. Both the American Menopause Society and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists caution against the use of such compounds with unproven benefits and unknown risks. It is always advisable to take Progesterone under the careful monitoring of a trained and licensed medical provider.
Related Articles of Interest :
-
Progesterone Supplements
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Progesterone is a hormone produced by the ovaries that helps maintain a normal menstrual cycle. By preparing the lining of the uterus for implantation by the embryo, Progesterone also plays a critical role in maintaining the early weeks of a pregnancy. At approximately the eighth...
-
Progesterone
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Progesterone is a hormone found in human beings, and is derived from cholesterol. In women, Progesterone is helps maintain a normal menstrual cycle and plays an important role during pregnancy. In both women and men, Progesterone is a precursor of testosterone and estrogen. Progesterone is...
-
Progesterone Levels
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
In women who are not pregnant, Progesterone prepares the endometrium, or lining of the uterus, for implantation by the fertilized egg. Progesterone Levels are lowest during menstruation, and remain low up until ovulation. This is the point approximately midway through a normal menstrual cycle when...
-
Progesterone Benefit
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Progesterone occurs naturally in the human body and is produced by the adrenal glands in both sexes, the ovaries in women, the placenta during pregnancy, and the testes in men. Progesterone has several important roles in women. It maintains a normal menstrual cycle and plays...
-
Progesterone Creams
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Progesterone is a female hormone that plays an important role in the menstrual cycle and during pregnancy. It plays a balancing role with estrogen, and if not present in adequate amounts in the body, may predispose a woman to certain types of breast and uterine...
-
Progesterone Side Effects
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Progesterone may be prescribed if a woman has a normal menstrual cycle and then stops having periods. During pregnancy, particularly during the first trimester, Progesterone supplements can help maintain the pregnancy. Progesterone is also prescribed in post-menopausal women during hormone replacement therapy. Progesterone can cause...
-
Natural Progesterone Cream
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Progesterone cream, used during hormone replacement, is a natural product from plants. Fermented wild yams and soybeans produce a substance called diosgenin that can be used as a raw product to produce artificial progesterone. This product can be also used to produce synthetic estrogen, cortisones,...
-
Progesterone Cream
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
The corpus luteum of the ovary creates a steroid hormone known as progesterone during ovulation. Although this is also produced by the adrenal glands, the ovaries produce the majority of the body’s supply. This is basically an originator for other hormones such as cortisol, estrogen,...
-
Progesterone Cream and Pregnancy
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Most women prefer to use the progesterone cream in small quantities during pregnancy. Studies indicate this reduces stretch marks caused due to pregnancy. Light usage does not seem to have any unpleasant effects on the fetus if the mother uses natural progesterone. Alternatives to this...
-
Natural Progesterone
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Natural Progesterone is derived from natural sources, such as plants. Many health food stores and Internet sites sell Natural Progesterone compounds, or plants they are derived from such as wild yams, soy and fenugreek, with various claims to reduce menopausal symptoms. However, Progesterone from these...