All About Progesterone
Progesterone is made in the ovaries. Progesterone production begins just prior to ovulation and increases rapidly until it reaches an average production of about 20mg per day. If an egg is not fertilized, progesterone production falls, triggering the menses. Progesterone is necessary throughout gestation for the survival of the fertilized egg, the resulting embryo, and the fetus. During pregnancy the placenta produces 300mg to 400mg of progesterone per day.
Progesterone has many other functions, among them protecting against fibrocysts, helping the body use fat for energy, and helping normalize blood clotting and blood sugar levels. Today, many health professionals claim that the symptoms associated with PMS and menopause are due not so much to oestrogen, but to a deficiency of progesterone and an overabundance of oestrogen It is believed that progesterone balances oestrogen and that an overproduction of oestrogen can lead to health problems. Too much oestrogen is known as oestrogen dominance.
Natural progesterone is progesterone. It is derived from a natural source and then converted to progesterone. Natural progesterone has the same molecular configuration as the progesterone produced by the body and can be used to supplement the progesterone produced by the body and to balance oestrogen and progesterone levels. Natural progesterone has no side effects when 20 mg to 40 mg a day is used: however, some women experience sleepiness when using large amounts.
