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Progesterone
What is Progesterone?
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Oldest known sex hormone.
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Present in every human regardless of age.
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The ovaries and adrenal glands produce it.
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They are secreted by corpus luteum.
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It has receptors in nearly every cell in the body.
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Acts on uterus, kidneys, brain, smooth muscle, breasts, bones, and cellular membranes.
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It is metabolized to other active hormones.
What are some of the functions and roles of progesterone in the body?
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Counteracts estrogen’s tendency to induce excess growth in the endometrial lining of the uterus.
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Builds new bone tissue, leading to increased bone mass and density.
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Necessary for maintenance of pregnancy.
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Decreases uterine contractions.
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Prepares and maintains uterine lining for implantation of a fertilized egg
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Progesterone helps in preparing breasts for lactation.
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Assists in raising HDL-cholesterol levels (if combined with estrogen therapy) and ultimately reduces the risk of heart disease.
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Synthetic progesterone (progestin) has an overall negative effect on HDL-cholesterol levels, causing vasoconstriction.
What is the difference between “progestin” and “progesterone?”
The main difference is in the derivative. Progestins are synthetic (i.e., human-made) molecules developed to act like natural progesterone. Natural progesterone is a molecule that is plant-derived and is bio-identical to the hormone produced in our bodies. Progestins do not have as broad a spectrum of activity as natural progesterone and have a wide range of side effects.
Whereas progesterone may cause some mild to moderate drowsiness, progestin’s can cause:
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breast tenderness
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acne
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depression
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vision changes
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bloating
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migraine headaches
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thrombosis
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decreased glucose tolerance
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gastric regurgitation