Progesterone - Vitality Health Center

What is progesterone?

Progesterone is a steroid hormone that plays an important role in the female menstrual cycle and pregnancy. It is produced mainly by the corpus luteum in the ovary after ovulation, and by the placenta during pregnancy.

Some key facts about progesterone:

• It helps prepare the endometrium (uterine lining) for implantation of a fertilized egg. If pregnancy occurs, progesterone helps maintain the endometrium throughout pregnancy.
• It helps suppress further ovulation during pregnancy. This prevents new eggs from being released and allows the fetus to develop.
• Progesterone helps develop the mammary glands in preparation for breastfeeding.
• It relaxes smooth muscle tissue in the body, including the uterine muscles to prevent preterm labor.
• Progesterone levels rise after ovulation, peak in the luteal phase, and then fall sharply if fertilization does not occur. This triggers menstruation.
• Abnormally high or low levels of progesterone can cause problems like irregular periods, infertility, and complications during pregnancy.

Progesterone has many important effects in the body. It is commonly prescribed for women with conditions like:

• Amenorrhea - lack of periods
• Dysfunctional uterine bleeding - abnormal menstrual bleeding
• Endometriosis - uterine tissue growing outside the uterus
• Infertility - inability to get pregnant

Progesterone is also sometimes used as part of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) during menopause, often combined with estrogen. It helps relieve hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and other menopausal symptoms.

There are different forms of progesterone available, including pills, creams, gels, injections, vaginal suppositories, intrauterine devices (IUDs), and implants. Your doctor can help determine the best form and dose for your needs.

At Vitality Health Center, our doctors specialize in customized bioidentical hormone therapy using natural progesterone and estrogen tailored to your hormone levels and symptoms. Contact us today to learn more and schedule a consultation! We help women optimize their hormone health at every stage of life.