Progesterone levels naturally decline as women approach menopause. The ovaries produce less progesterone and estrogen leading up to and during menopause. Low progesterone can cause symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and mood changes. There are lifestyle changes and medical treatments that may help boost progesterone levels during this transition.
Lifestyle Changes
- Manage stress: Chronic stress can disrupt hormone levels. Try daily meditation, yoga, gentle exercise, or speaking with a therapist. Getting stress under control may help stabilize progesterone.
- Exercise regularly:Aim for 30-60 minutes per day of moderate exercise like walking, swimming, or cycling. Exercise helps balance hormones and manages menopausal symptoms.
- Follow a nutritious diet: Eat plenty of healthy fats, fiber, and protein while minimizing sugar, alcohol, and caffeinated drinks. A balanced diet provides nutrients needed for hormone regulation.
- Consider supplements: Herbs like chasteberry, soy isoflavones, red clover, and vitamin E may help relieve menopausal symptoms, possibly by supporting progesterone levels. Consult your healthcare provider before using supplements.
Medical Treatments Doctors may prescribe bioidentical progesterone creams, pills, shots, intrauterine devices, or vaginal suppositories if lifestyle measures are insufficient to manage symptoms:
- Progesterone creams: Applied daily to areas like the wrists, chest, or inner arms. Effects are mild compared to oral dosing. Brands include Emerita Pro-Gest and DeLeo's Natural Progesterone Cream.
- Progesterone pills: Taken daily, progesterone pills more effectively raise hormone levels. Oral dosing provides the most significant progesterone boost but carries a slight breast cancer risk.
- Intrauterine devices (IUDs): Devices like the Mirena IUD provide a constant low dose of progestin to the uterus and vagina. IUDs require placement by a doctor.
- Vaginal suppositories: Inserted capsules provide direct progesterone absorption by vaginal tissue. This method may improve urogenital symptoms like painful intercourse or urinary issues.
Consider Elite Hormone Health Managing menopausal hormones can be complicated. The compassionate providers at
Elite Hormone Health offer cutting edge bioidentical hormone treatments to help patients regain balance, health, and quality of life. Their individualized care plans go beyond prescription refills to address the root causes of hormone changes. Elite Hormone Health custom blends personalized creams, pills and natural progesterone production declines during the menopausal transition. Lifestyle measures like stress and weight management may help some. For more significant hormone deficits, bioidentical progesterone administered under medical supervision can be very beneficial. Treatments like pills, creams, IUDs or healthy progesterone levels and feeling your best during menopause is certainly achievable.