Progesterone is a hormone that the body makes naturally during the second two weeks of a woman’s menstrual cycle. It is secreted by the ovary once a woman reaches the reproductive age. Progesterone and similar substances called progestogens and progestin’s may also be taken orally as part of menopausal hormone therapy, in birth control pills, and sometimes independently as a way of controlling abnormal bleeding or to induce a menstrual period if a woman is having irregular periods or is skipping periods. Progesterone has also been used as a therapy hormone for PMS and to help with infertility or frequent miscarriages.
While there have been many studies done about estrogen and its use, until recently, the effects of progesterone have not been studied quite as much. However, in the past ten years, many have studied the effects or progesterone. Progesterone can be taken in several different ways, and there is no major difference between this synthetic progesterone and the progesterone that a woman’s body makes naturally. When taking any type of progesterone, however, it is important for a woman to note if she is taking standard synthetic progesterone or if she is taking a progesterone-like chemical such as a progestogen.
Progestogens are actually chemically different from both natural and artificial progesterone. Because of this, they may actually have various side effects or interact with other hormones or medications differently than progesterone would. They were created as an oral form of progesterone, which at the time could not be orally absorbed. However, now that micronization has been performed on progesterone, it can actually be absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, making it possible for progesterone to be taken in oral form.
There are four different ways you can take progesterone: there are progesterone pills, shots, vaginal suppositories, and creams. All four do basically the same thing, but there is a difference in use, cost, and availability in some areas. In the case of progesterone pills, the body usually absorbs the progesterone in between one and four hours, and the extra progesterone stays in the body for about 24 hours. It is recommended that users take progesterone pills with food to help the body absorb the hormone more quickly.
Progesterone pills are taken to help stabilize the tissue that lines the uterus during pregnancy and during menstruation. If progesterone is absent, heavy or irregular bleeding can occur. Thus, many women who experience bleeding often take progesterone pills to help with this. However, progesterone has to be taken continuously to really help. Progesterone can also be used in the opposite way; if a woman needs to force her body to start menstruating, a large amount of progesterone can be taken at once.
However, it is possible to take too much progesterone over time. This can lead to severe fatigue. Sometimes, however, this is actually desirable. It can be used as a way of preventing premature labor in women who have epilepsy, seizures, or are experiencing uterine contractions. Progesterone can be used to counteract some of the effects of estrogen, including its lubricating effects. It can also decrease menstruation or even completely stop a woman’s cycle.
There is also a progesterone-only birth control pill. These mini pills do not contain any estrogen at all. It is generally used by women who, for one reason or another, cannot use standard birth control pills that use both progesterone and estrogen. This includes women who are nursing or who have a high risk for developing blood clots. There are some side effects to these pills, including changes in the menstrual cycle, nausea, stomach cramps, weight gain, a lack of energy, and depression.
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