Meet Nature's Very Own Benzo: Progesterone

Hormonal imbalances are a common health concern among many patients that walk through the door at Bio Energy Medical Center. We find all hormones to be relevant in health because let's face it, the level of one hormone is influenced by others (this is why at BEMC we evaluate a whole series of hormone levels including adrenal, pituitary and ovarian/testicular hormones). However, one hormone in particular that I wanted to dig into for this blog post is progesterone.

Primarily produced by the ovaries, progesterone dominates the second half of a women's menstrual cycle, post ovulation. It is the balancing hormone to estrogen's "fire", often referred to as nature's benzodiazepine. It is also a key player in regulating a women's menstrual cycle, with its increase and drop signaling to the body to start menses. With conception, progesterone continues to climb until which point the placenta takes over its production. This is often the first hormone to start fluctuating during periomenopause, leading to variable cycles lengths. It is also during this time that progesterone production shifts away from the ovaries and relies more on the adrenals.

Interestingly progesterone also plays a role in other areas including mood, libido and sleep. It has been shown to normalize blood sugar levels, restore cell oxygen levels and stimulate osteoblast for bone building.

Low progesterone can look like: increased PMS or PMDD symptoms, shorter cycles (sooner than every 24 days, heavier bleeding with menstruation, anxiety/depression/irritability/mood swings/nervousness, disrupted sleep pattern, ie difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep a week or two before your period, cyclic headaches, night sweats, decreased libido, decreased HDL level, weight gain, osteoporosis, pain and inflammation.

In men, progesterone has been used as treatment in a number of conditions ranging from decreased libido to autoimmune disease, cardiovascular disorders, prostate issues and fatigue.

For more questions about your hormones, having them tested, and if hormonal or herbal supplementation might be right for you, please call to schedule an appointment with myself or with one of our providers at 734-995-3200.

Adapted from: Beyond the Pill By Dr. Jolene Brighten
The Miracle of Natural Hormones by David Brownstein. M.D. What You Must Know About Women's Hormones Your Guide to Natural Hormone Treatments for PMS, Menopause, Osteoporosis, PCOS and More 2nd Edition. By Pamela Wartian Smith, MD, MPH

Author

Erin Steudle, MSN, RN, FNP-C Erin is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She obtained her Masters of Science in Nursing from Frontier University in 2020. During her career in healthcare, Erin has worked with many women and families on labor and delivery, an out-patient women’s clinic, and most recently in infertility. Ultimately, Erin looks to her patients to trust their intuition, empowering and guiding them on their own unique health journey using an integrative lens. Areas of interest include women’s and adolescent health, mental health and the intersection of body, mind and spirit.