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In the normally functioning female body, there is always more progesterone than estrogen, whether pre or post menopausal. Progesterone serves as a precursor in the steroid hormone pathway and is therefore profoundly important. There is sometimes confusion between the terms "progesterone" and "progestin." Progesterone is a vital hormone found naturally occurring in the body. Progesterones are particularly beneficial to women during the perimenopausal years in which a woman is just beginning to enter menopause. This is the stage during which we see FSH and LH levels become and remain elevated. Although the progesterone levels drop rapidly, progesterone is still being produced after menopause. It is important to note that in the absence of adequate levels of progesterone, estrogen will not function optimally. Additionally progesterone, in the presence of estrogen may play a protective role in preventing tumor formation. Progesterone appears to make estrogen receptors on cell membranes more sensitive to estrogen and may also protect the uterus from the deleterious estrogenic effects of unopposed estrogen.
Natural progesterone has been found to be beneficial for preventing breast cancer, preventing osteoporosis, normalizing libido, improving lipid metabolism, increasing fertility and improving sleep patterns. Progesterone is thermogenic and increases the basal metabolic rate (vs. estrogen which lowers the basal metabolic rate) There are many natural botanically-based progesterone products available today. Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) as mentioned earlier increases the output of progesterone and consequently balances the hypothalamic/pituitary hormonal axis. It stimulates the pituitary gland and the secretion of leutenizing hormone, which in turn increases the output of progesterone. This helps to regulate estrogen production and overall hormonal balance. |