Progesterone for Hot Flashes: Safety and effectiveness
It’s not all about Estrogen…
Progesterone Research Reveals Help for Hot Flashes
Is oral micronized progesterone (OMP) safe for alleviating hot flashes and night sweats in healthy postmenopausal women? A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of British Columbia suggests that it may be. In this randomized, placebo-controlled protocol, participants were administered 300 mg of OMP daily and monitored for changes in endothelial function, cholesterol levels, metabolic markers, inflammation and coagulation statuses. With the exception of HDL-C levels—which showed a minor but significant decrease—all other markers showed neutral to positive change. Women also reported significantly improved sleep. Read the full research review here
Some women experience hot flashes long before menopause while still cycling and having regular or irregular periods. Progesterone deficiency is a common condition that can be screened with sensitive saliva or urine testing. Progesterone deficiency can sometimes occur due to chronic long term stress in a fashion that is coined as the “progesterone steal.” In short, this is a mechanism whereby the body actually steals progesterone to make more cortisol to manage busy day-to-day life stress (raising kids, working, taking care of elderly parents, cooking, cleaning, and the list never stops!). Oral progesterone is one effective option to balancing hormones for symptom relief. There are equally effective natural treatments for hot flashes such as herbs and nutrients. Natural treatments are quick and effective and symptoms can resolve within a few days to a few weeks.
To learn more, book an appointment with a Naturopathic Doctor who focuses in hormone balancing.
