progesterone

Progesterone is a man-made medication derived from a plant source and is identical to the female hormone, progesterone produced in the ovaries. It promotes the development of the mammary glands, causes changes in the endometrium, which lines the uterus, relaxes uterine smooth muscles, blocks ovulation within the ovaries, and maintains pregnancy.

The synthetic version of progesterone is used to help regulate the uterine lining in post-menopausal women.  Progesterone was approved in May, 1998.

Side effects of progesterone are

• headache,
• dizziness,
• fatigue,
• abdominal pain,
• nausea,
• breast tenderness,
• joint pain,
• depression,
• mood swings, and
• hot flashes.

Progesterone is also associated with cardiovascular disorders, breast cancer, and possibly dementia in postmenopausal women.

• Prevention of Endometrial Hyperplasia: 200 mg by mouth once daily at bedtime for 12 consecutive days per 28-day cycle.
• Treatment of Secondary Amenorrhea: 400 mg by mouth once daily at bedtime for 10 days.

Progesterone should be used with caution with ketoconazole (Nizoral), clarithromycin (Biaxin), and erythromycin (Ery-Tab) because they slow the breakdown of progesterone and increase its levels in the body.

• Progesterone should not be used during pregnancy.
• Progesterone may be found in trace amounts in breast milk in women taking progesterone capsules.

What preparations of progesterone are available?

• Capsules: 100 and 200 mg

How should I keep progesterone-oral stored?

• Progesterone capsules should be stored between 20 C to 25 C (68 F to 77 F) and should be protected from excessive moisture.