Menopause marks the transition into a later stage of life for women. Although this is not a medical issue, menopause symptoms can be difficult to manage. Unlike previous generations, women today have a variety of methods that can help relieve these symptoms. One natural remedy is the use of progesterone.
What Do Hormones Have to Do With Menopause?
Menopause happens when there is a natural hormonal shift in the body. Between the ages of 40 and 58, women can experience an array of menopausal symptoms. Menopause occurs when the ovaries release less hormones resulting in an imbalance of estrogen and progesterone. The imbalance of hormones can cause many women to feel anxious, restless and depressed.
What Do Menopause Symptoms Look Like?
Most women will experience symptoms at some point during this stage. Hormone depletion can cause changes that occur not only in the body, but also in the mind, such as:
- Hot flashes
- The loss of a menstrual cycle
- Night sweats
- Weight gain
- Frequent urination
- Insomnia
- Mood Change
These symptoms can be uncomfortable on their own, but they also have the ability to affect mental health. Frequent urination and hot flashes often occur at night, which can trigger insomnia. When both estrogen and progesterone are decreased, changes in mood can also happen.
Sometimes, a physical health issue stemming from menopause can lead to an emotional one. Insomnia is often reported during menopause and can greatly impact mood. With a decrease in energy, depression is likely. Anxiety and loss of concentration are frequently linked to menopause as well.
What Is Progesterone?
Progesterone is a natural hormone produced in the ovaries. As progesterone’s concentration decreases in the body, menopausal symptoms can have a negative effect on women. Using a progesterone supplement can help decrease uncomfortable symptoms and regulate the body and mind.
Progesterone treatment can take different forms. Oral supplements can be used as well as creams and even injectable forms. Regardless of how progesterone is taken, it is beneficial for many symptoms of menopause.
How Can Progesterone Help?
Progesterone can help improve cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of breast and endometrial cancer. In addition to physical health improvements, it can also help enhance mood, reduce depression, improve memory and increase libido.
Mental health can be greatly affected by menopause. While anti-depressants and other psychiatric medications are available for those with mood disorders, progesterone is a natural hormone that can be safely used to curb menopausal mood dysfunction. Because progesterone triggers the amygdala, concentration can be altered. Many women report problems with focus as well as fearfulness and anxiety.
Conclusion
Progesterone is a natural hormone whose concentration decreases over time in women. While levels can be quite high during pregnancy, they will drop during menopause. To help prevent symptoms that can be physically or emotionally uncomfortable, adding a progesterone supplement may help. Modern science has allowed for many positive developments in women’s health. Progesterone supplements can greatly ease the burden of menopause symptoms.