Progesterone is a sex hormone. It is significantly produced in human females to develop secondary sexual characters like endometrial lining and breast tissue.
It is a natural chemical compound that acts as a hormone in animals and humans. Besides, it is a steroid-derived vitamin C-rich biomolecule.
Its greater significance is related to its structure. The hydrophobic steroidal molecule is easily crossed through membranes and accelerates the actions produced by them.
Why Is Progesterone Necessary?
Here is a list of the uses of progesterone in the human body.
- Regulates breast tissue development
- Guides sperm into the female tubes and aids in fertilization
- Prevents miscarriages
- Involved in female libido
- Eases anxiety and promotes sleep
- Maintains blood volume and water balance
What’s more, progesterone is a precursor to testosterone. Thus, it is crucial for the activity of male reproductive organs too.
Deficiency Of Progesterone - Causes And Effects
Progesterone is an essential precursor of testosterone. Lower levels of testosterone can cause a multitude of symptoms. A careful analysis of several studies showed that reduced testosterone in men could be due to decreased progesterone.
Researchers working at the University of Rochester medical center have found that a lower level of progesterone is associated with decreased libido, weak erection, weak bones or bone loss, reduced muscle mass, low efficiency at work, rapid changes in cholesterol levels, higher body fat percentage, and poor decision making.
These lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, increased risk of death from a cardiovascular event, and increased risk of metabolic syndromes such as high blood pressure, elevated insulin levels, and diabetes.
Strong linkage with atherosclerotic disease of the aorta and higher incidence of prostate cancer may also occur. All these unfortunate symptoms lead to people looking for replacements. Fortunately, natural as well as medical replacements are available.
Tackling Progesterone Deficiency
If you have any of the above signs, you may be suffering from one of the following underlying disorders.
Progesterone deficiency is a part of many syndromes like PCOS, hypothyroidism, Kallmann syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome, congenital androgen deficiency, streak ovaries, ovarian tumors, endometrial tumors, adrenal tumors, thyroid disorders, various enzymes deficiencies, pituitary disorders, and prolactin disorders.
Doctors address human progesterone deficiency either by administering hormone supplements or by fixing the underlying disorder.
Different specialists handle different pathologies. Besides, doctors are required to perform surgeries to correct the structural abnormalities leading to the diseases. They also prescribe various medications to cure the enzyme deficiency. Different tests are carried out to figure where exactly the problems are.
After careful observation and diagnosis, a proper treatment plan is discussed with the patient, which involves administering hormone supplements.
Natural Herbs For Progesterone Supply
Considering the side effects of hormone replacement therapy, the organic sources of progestin precursors do not seem so bad. These therapeutic agents are safe and non-toxic. They are plant-based and extremely tolerant of the body environment.
- Soy
- flax seeds
- Beans
- Broccoli
- Brussel sprouts
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Nuts
- Kale
- Pumpkin
- Chasteberry
- Primrose oil
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Hormone replacement therapy means giving patients synthetic hormones required by the system. These hormones are either produced in labs or isolated from animals. Progesterones are also given along with other medications. If you are using a mixture of drugs, make sure to take each one correctly and not mix them.
Ask a doctor to help you prepare a way to remember to take your medications at the right times. The prescription you get depends on the nature of the medicine. Also, depending on your health issue, the number of doses you take every day, the time between doses, and the time you take the drugs can vary. Different types and forms of progesterone used are listed below.
Megestrol, medroxyprogesterone, norethindrone, and progesterone are the most common. The safe dosage, as mentioned by the mayoclinic,is as follows:
- Megestrol: 400-800mg
- Medroxyprogesterone: 5-10mg
- Norethindrone: 5-10mg
- Progesterone: 200mg before bed
Disadvantages of hormone replacement therapy include an increased risk of gallbladder stones and ovarian cancer, increasing the risk of various cancers, endometrial cancer, and breast cancer.
A higher incidence of deep vein thrombosis and stroke is also commonly seen in such patients. However, in women within five years of menopause, there was no statistically significant rise in stroke risk.
Studies also say that the chance of blood clots can be further decreased if estrogen is given from the skin with a patch or cream.
There is a growing chance of dementia if hormone treatment starts after ten years of menopause. It is still unclear if it would be helpful to women in their fifties who begin hormone therapy. Hence it is well known that younger patients with lesser-known causes of progesterone deficiencies.
Efficacy Of Herbs In Boosting Progesterone Levels
WebMD, the famous medical site, says that a detailed comparison of natural and clinical medicine has reported the effectiveness of various supplements or herbs for increasing progesterone.
The crop is rich in estrogen-like compounds, including Trifolium pratense. Pomegranate juice can increase motility and normal phenotype of sperm. Rubus fruticosus can decrease the probability of ovulation disturbances.
Testing methods are approved for sweet potatoes, and maca plants enhance progesterone and fertility parameters. Plants such as Azadirachta indica, the bitter extract of olive, Green cumin, Celery, Physalis Asiatica, and Falcaria Vulgaris are also declining problems in lab rats. Plasma testosterone, LH, FSH, and histological modifications of testes significantly decrease the effect on Mentha Pulegium.
Researchgatehas an article that says roughly 119 purely active ingredients, plant-based, are used in medication.
Plants contain benefits such as relative safety, reduced prices, and the absence of severe adverse effects compared to traditional therapies. Therefore, these therapies' efficacy is unclear, but one can understand that the medical society must take it into account to enable communities to meet health goals.
Highly Effective Products For Regulating Progesterone Levels
Organic Ashwagandha root powderis another plant-based herbal product with numerous benefits like the ones listed below. Go on to find out more about herbs to increase progesterone.
Ashwagandha is perfect for use as a progesterone supplement; this particular product recipe mixes Ashwagandha 4:1 extract with organic whole root powder for a robust herbal mix. It is boosted with Bioperine for optimum nutrient uptake. Our potent blend is a strong alpha-blocker that calms the nervous system, offering a simple, healthy, and natural way to alleviate stress and anxiety. Also, it supports the expected energy of the body and ends exhaustion.
Ashwagandha’s mechanism includes Withania somnifera recorded as an Ayurveda and Unani medicine system for its tension relieving powers. However, we found little research literature on this element of W. somnifera.
Withania is a significant molecule that stays in the blood after Ashwagandha is metabolized. It redirects the human body in ways to combat stress and cancers.
Furthermore, the well-researched benefits of ashwagandha powder are:
- Scientists have experimentally proven the reduction in blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes
- It may also reduce blood sugars in normal healthy
- Ovarian cysts treated with withaferin (a compound in Ashwagandha) alone or in conjunction with an anti-cancer drug reported a 70–80 percent decrease in cancer The procedure also stopped the transfer of cancer to other organs.
- It reduces the levels of stress hormones hence relieving anxiety and other harmful effects of Ashwagandha.
- It showed a 14% more likelihood of pregnancy in previously infertile people who took Ashwagandha
- Muscle power and height were slightly higher among those who took In contrast with the control group, the reduction in body fat index was two times greater.
- It is a memory booster as opposed to the hormone replacement therapy that causes
- It reduces inflammatory markers and inflammatory cells like white blood cells in the blood, which can be suitable for autoimmune
Frequently Asked Questions
It is crucial to understand the concerns and manufacture the products that help the patient in the exact ways they need. So, we made a list of all the questions about our product and the patient's possible needs that can be met.
These questions helped us tailor the product right according to the market. Let's look into some problems we reviewed and their possible answers to help our population benefit from our product. Following is the list of faqs.
What is natural progesterone?
Progestins are the naturally occurring progesterone, the source they are derived from most plants. SOYBEAN has proven to be a wealthy source of naturally occurring progestins.
Progesterone is formed from progestins by a little bit of modification in the human body. So it is safe to say that soybeans are a practical source of progesterone. All kinds of seeds are some form of steroids since they are a rich source of energy. Hence research has been carried out on seeds. These are naturally occurring progestins or herbs that increase progesterone.
What is the best natural progesterone replacement therapy?
The best natural progesterone hormone therapy acts fast and provides desired results without causing any side effects.
The best part of using natural supplements is that they have no side effects. Folate (vitamin B-9 or folic acid) and herbs that increase progesteroneSt. John's wort, black cohosh, licorice root, valerian root, red clover, evening primrose oil, omega-3 fatty acids.
Consuming a diet full of carbohydrates and omega-three fatty acids, such as salmon or flax, increases the body’s capacity to produce progestin. Take in Vitamin B and C-rich foods daily since the body does not entirely store them, and they are critical to minimize hormones to balance progesterone.
What are the signs of low progesterone?
Low progesterone signs include rough skin, disturbed cholesterol profile, loss of hair, abnormal menses, and miscarriages in pregnant women.
Low progesterone is highly dangerous for developing loss of libido and lack of erection. Infertility due to erection problems and many others. Endometriosis and fibroids are also common in progesterone deficiencies.
Which foods are high in progesterone?
Licorice Root, Rhodiola, Ashwagandha, and Schisandra: are herbs for increasing progesterone that reinforce the adrenals, helping them develop and release sex hormones.
Essential oils like primrose oil also help increase progesterone. A higher intake of folic acid does increase progesterone levels. Use flax seeds and pumpkin seeds. Zinc-containing foods should be used to enhance the levels of progesterone.
Green tea has also been used to increase estrogens and progesterone. These were of the herbs that grow progesterone.
Can I take progesterone pills every day?
Yes, you can have a daily dose of 400mg per day.
Can I buy progesterone pills over the counter?
Yes, many progestin releasing pills and patches, injections, and subcutaneous devices are available over the counter. Still, they are not natural and have to be appropriately regulated to avoid overdose and side effects.
Do low progesterone levels in the body cause hair loss?
Yes, low progesterone levels increase the androgens (another hormone), which leads to receding hairline in men and women. They make your hair grow.
How long does it take for progesterone supplements to work?
It takes about two to three months for natural progesterone supplements to work and show results.
The Bottom Line
The above article discusses the possible causes of the deficiency and decreased level of progesterone in humans. We further discussed the management plan, which included hormone therapy. Apart from hormone therapy, people wish to help herbal medicine because of its better safety profile.
Among herbs to increase progesterone naturally, Ashwagandha turned out to be one of the most well-researched and beneficial herbs. Its powder is used to produce various supplements for medical diseases ranging from boosting memory to curing infertility.
Ashwagandha is a herb that has shown not to help men with fertility problems but also to cure cancers. Herbs are safe to use with zero to no side effects. Despite various benefits, it is not one of the first-line treatments. It is a supplement for life. Use for better health and energy levels.