Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 4: Using progesterone to support pregnancy
• Part 2 of 4: Treating problems in the menstrual cycle
• Part 3 of 4: Addressing hormonal changes
• Part 4 of 4: Making lifestyle changes and taking supplements
• Tips
• Warnings

Progesterone is a naturally occurring steroid hormone made from cholesterol in your diet. Normal progesterone levels help to maintain a healthy hormone balance. Progesterone plays an essential role in the production of other important substances in the body, such as cortisol and male hormones such as testosterone. Progesterone levels that are too low can contribute to menstrual cycle problems, pregnancy, and common symptoms associated with menopause. Low progesterone levels can be effectively treated with prescription medications and lifestyle changes.

To step

Part 1 of 4: Using progesterone to support pregnancy

1. Talk to your gynecologist about raising your progesterone level. Women who have had repeated or unexplained miscarriages often respond well to progesterone treatment and can often reach full term the next pregnancy.
   • Prevent early miscarriage. Progesterone deficiency is not the cause of every miscarriage, but scientific research shows that adequate progesterone is needed during the early stages of pregnancy.
   • Progesterone levels naturally rise during the menstrual cycle after ovulation has occurred. This allows the uterine wall to thicken to support the pregnancy. This is called the luteal phase.
   • When a released egg is fertilized, the endometrium protects the egg so that it can develop. After the first few weeks, the placenta takes over, producing the necessary additional hormones and nutrients.
   • Some women are naturally low in progesterone. There is research showing that low progesterone levels during the early weeks of pregnancy can cause the uterine lining to be too thin to continue the pregnancy, causing miscarriage. However, the evidence for this is limited.
   • Insufficient progesterone has been described as a luteal phase defect.
2. Use progesterone tablets to be inserted vaginally. By using progesterone tablets that are inserted vaginally, you can prevent early miscarriage, depending on the cause of the miscarriage.
   • The scientific literature supports the use of vaginally introduced progesterone, by tablets or suppositories, to better maintain the uterine lining so that the pregnancy can be reached to term.
   • While there are other ways to supplement progesterone as well, such as with injections, oral pills and creams, the vaginal tablet seems to be the preferred method for women with luteal phase problems and recurrent or unexplained miscarriages.
3. Supplement progesterone during fertility treatments. Fertility treatment is designed to bring about pregnancy through procedures where the woman donates eggs and the man sperm, after which these are brought together in the laboratory and placed back into the body of the woman, or a surrogate mother.
   • There are many ways through which the pregnancy can be brought about. One of those methods is to give the woman extra hormones, such as progesterone, so that her body is better able to carry on with the pregnancy.
4. Use injectable or vaginal progesterone. Progesterone given by injection into the muscle or by means of vaginal products appears to be effective for the higher progesterone levels required during fertility treatments.
   • Sometimes progesterone is injected, but this carries the risk of complications, because progesterone is absorbed very quickly and is quickly converted into other substances.
   • By changing the carrier liquid in the injection, progesterone can keep the desired shape for as long as possible. This means that another liquid is used in which the active substance is added, such as peanut oil, for example. This form of progesterone should therefore not be used if you are allergic to peanuts.
   • Possible complications with the use of progesterone injections include the development of an allergy to the inactive ingredients, abscesses and pain at the injection site, and bleeding from the muscle tissue.
5. Administer the progesterone using a vaginal gel. Vaginal products bring less progesterone into your system, but more into the uterine lining, which is precisely the goal.
   • One product intended to deliver progesterone in this way, especially in women engaged in fertility treatments, is a progesterone gel with the brand name Crinone®.
   • Crinone® is available with 4% or 8% progesterone. The product with 8% progesterone is mainly intended for women undergoing fertility treatment.
   • In some situations Crinone® should not be used. Do not use if you are allergic to progesterone products, if you have abnormal vaginal bleeding, if you have ever had liver problems, breast or genital tract cancer, or if you have blood clots. If you have recently had a miscarriage, you should discuss this with your doctor.
6. Get immediate medical attention if you experience serious side effects. Go to the emergency room if you have any signs of an allergic reaction. Signs of an allergic reaction may include chills, trouble breathing, and swelling of the face, mouth, or throat.
   • Also, get emergency help right away if you have calf or chest pain, sudden headache, or feel numb or faint, especially if it is only on one side of the body, if you are having trouble breathing, or if you are coughing up blood . Go to the emergency room right away if you have trouble seeing or speaking, if you become very dizzy, pass out, experience balance disorders, if you have chest pain spreading to your arm or shoulder, if one arm or leg is weak or numb if you develop pain or swelling in your legs, are sick, vomit, develop a fever or if your urine starts to look different.

Part 2 of 4: Treating problems in the menstrual cycle

1. Treat amenorrhea. Amenorrhea is the medical term used when a woman is not menstruating when she should.
   • Amenorrhea can be classified as either primary or secondary. The characteristics of primary amenorrhea are the absence of menstruation in a girl of 15 or 16 years old, while she has otherwise developed normally.
   • Secondary amenorrhea is diagnosed when a woman who has previously had a regular cycle stops menstruating.
   • In many cases, the cause of secondary amenorrhea is a change in routine, excessive weight loss, an eating disorder, stress and pregnancy.
   • Other causes for secondary amenorrhea may include medications for other conditions, such as schizophrenia or cancer chemotherapy. Medical conditions that cause secondary amenorrhea include polycystic ovary syndrome, thyroid abnormalities, and tumors in the pituitary gland in the brain.
2. Talk to your doctor to find out the cause of amenorrhea. Your doctor can run lab tests and tests to find an underlying medical problem.
   • In some cases, the doctor may prescribe a progesterone supplement to correct the problem. Progesterone can draw bleeding that resembles menstruation. You don't necessarily have to be progesterone deficient if you have amenorrhea.
3. Use progesterone supplements as directed. Short-term use of oral medications, injections, or vaginal gel may be prescribed to rebalance the hormones causing the irregular cycle.
   • If you continue to experience problems with abnormal cycles, your doctor may prescribe an oral contraceptive that contains progesterone so that you get a normal cycle. He / she will monitor progress to determine when to stop taking the medications.
4. Seek immediate medical attention if you have an allergic reaction. Go to the emergency room if you have any signs of an allergic reaction. Signs of an allergic reaction may include chills, difficulty breathing, and swelling of the face, mouth, and throat.

Part 3 of 4: Addressing hormonal changes

1. Ask your doctor about hormone therapy if you are in menopause. Using a low dose of hormones, also called hormone therapy, means taking small amounts of estrogen and progesterone or products derived from them.
   • Use progesterone to treat symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. Some women notice changes related to menopause even before they stop menstruating. This is called perimenopause.
   • In some women, progesterone products can help relieve the symptoms of perimenopause.
   • Research has shown that taking progesterone supplements during this time can help as the amount of female hormones begins to change.
2. Use progesterone products as directed. Progesterone products come in different forms, such as tablets, vaginal gels or suppositories, injections and creams. A cream is often prescribed to relieve the symptoms of perimenopause.
   • To use this cream, apply a small amount on the palms of your hands, on the soles of your feet, and other areas where the skin is soft, once or twice a day.
3. Take a product that contains both estrogen and progesterone. The symptoms associated with perimenopause and menopause can disrupt your normal routine, and they can be so severe that you want to do something about them.
   • Talk to your doctor to decide whether a combination product containing both estrogen and progesterone can help increase the amount of progesterone in your body while balancing both hormones.
   • Women who still have their uterus should take both estrogen and progesterone to treat menopausal symptoms. Women who no longer have a uterus do not need progesterone to relieve menopausal symptoms, and can only use estrogen. If you do use a combination product when you no longer have a uterus, you are more likely to get breast cancer, a heart attack or a stroke.
4. Recognize the symptoms of progesterone deficiency in men. Over time, men can also experience a change in their hormone levels.
   • In men, progesterone plays an important role in testosterone production.
   • As men age, progesterone and testosterone levels drop, changing the balance and making estrogen the dominant hormone.
   • Some of the symptoms that men may experience when progesterone levels fall include decreased sex drive, gaining weight, fatigue, hair loss and depression.
   • Talk to your doctor if you are male and are experiencing these changes. The doctor can examine the different hormone levels in order to give the best treatment.
5. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience serious side effects. If your doctor prescribes medications containing progesterone, or a combination of progesterone and estrogen, go to the emergency room immediately if you experience signs of allergy. Signs of an allergic reaction may include chills, trouble breathing, and swelling of the face, mouth, or throat.
   • Also, get emergency help right away if you have calf or chest pain, sudden headache, or feel numb or faint, especially if it is only on one side of the body, if you are having trouble breathing, or if you are coughing up blood . Go to the emergency room right away if you have trouble seeing or speaking, if you become very dizzy, pass out, experience balance disorders, if you have chest pain spreading to your arm or shoulder, if one arm or leg is weak or numb if you develop pain or swelling in your legs, are sick, vomit, develop a fever, or if your urine starts to look different.

Part 4 of 4: Making lifestyle changes and taking supplements

1. Always talk to your doctor before making any changes. Your doctor can give you directions, specifically tailored to your body and your situation, to help you choose the best way to increase your progesterone levels.
   • Your doctor is your best resource when it comes to understanding the changes or problems you are experiencing. Before starting supplements and lifestyle adjustments, always talk to your doctor to make sure it's the best option for you.
2. Take vitamins and supplements. Vitamin C, Vitamin E, L-arginine, Vitamin B6, selenium and beta-carotene have been proven to increase progesterone levels.
   • While the natural sources of these supplements are part of a healthy diet, getting it from your food alone is not enough if you want to boost your progesterone levels. Consider taking a supplement that contains higher levels of these substances.
3. Consult with your doctor or pharmacist to choose reliable products. Research has shown that the following amounts are good for increasing your progesterone levels:
   • Take 750mg of vitamin C daily (which increased the progesterone levels in no less than 77% of the people studied).
   • Take 600mg of vitamin E every day (this increased progesterone levels in 67% of subjects).
   • Take 6mg L-arginine daily (this increased progesterone levels in 71% of patients).
   • Take 200-800mg of Vitamin B6 daily (which lowers estrogen and increases progesterone in the blood).
   • Take selenium every day (each dose of selenium has been shown to improve progesterone levels).
   • Eat more beta-carotene (animal studies have shown that this improves progesterone levels and fertility).
4. Eat healthy. Losing weight, avoiding oversized meals, more protein and less carbohydrates, less saturated fats and more unsaturated fats are all recommended changes to improve progesterone levels.
   • Research among overweight women has shown that even 5% weight loss helps to improve progesterone levels.
   • Animal studies have found that when the amount of food was limited during the early stages of pregnancy, there were higher levels of the hormones needed to support pregnancy in the blood.
   • Dietary changes that include more protein and fewer carbohydrates have been positively associated with improved progesterone levels in women.
   • An animal study showed a significant increase in progesterone when more omega-3 and omega-6 from linseed was administered, in combination with less saturated fats.
5. Eat more dairy. Although dairy is low in progesterone, research has shown that men who eat three servings of full-fat dairy daily have significantly higher progesterone levels.
6. Stop smoking. The nicotine in cigarettes can affect the way your ovaries naturally produce hormones, disrupting a normal cycle.
   • Smoking also poses a risk of serious, potentially life-threatening conditions if you combine it with swallowing products containing estrogen or progesterone.
7. Reduce stress. Stress only adds to the complications you already have when you're trying to get a normal hormone balance.
   • Use relaxation techniques to learn to breathe deeper and stretch your muscles so that you can release tensions better.
   • Make time for a massage and regularly do things you enjoy doing.
   • Take good care of your body by getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly.

Tips

• While there are sources that recommend black cohosh to increase progesterone, the studies on its effectiveness are very conflicting. The research that shows it to be effective cannot be put together properly. Most gynecologists don't recommend black cohosh.

Warnings

• Testing hormone levels is controversial, as hormone levels can fluctuate drastically throughout the day. Beware of therapists who prescribe hormone therapy based on your hormone levels; good medical treatment is to address the underlying cause, not the hormone levels themselves.