Progesterone and Estrogen

Men and women both have all the same hormones; it is the amounts of each hormone that differentiate the two sexes.  Estrogen, progesterone, androgens, and cortisol are all steroid hormones made in the body from cholesterol, vitamins, and minerals.  In women, hormones are mainly produced in the ovaries, the brain, and the adrenal glands.  In men, hormones are mainly produced in the testes, brain, and the adrenal glands.

The main role that progesterone plays in the body is during the second half of menstruation, it is the dominant hormone during pregnancy, as well as being a precursor to make other hormones.  Another crucial role that progesterone plays is to keep the balance of estrogen in the body.  It is important for women that their estrogen levels and progesterone levels are balanced because unbalance hormones, either way, can lead to symptoms and health issues shown below.

Estrogens                                                               Progesterone

Chart Provided by “You’ve Hit Menopause: Now What?” p. 76-77

If you are experiencing these symptoms, testing through saliva can be done to show the amounts of hormones in your body.  Once these numbers are discovered, bioidentical hormones can be administered via cream or patches in order to put your body back in balance.  Contact ChooseLife2Live for more information on these services.

References:

Gillson, George, MD PhD. Tracy Marsden BScPharm. “You’ve Hit Menopause: Now What? 3 Simple Steps to Restoring Hormone Balance.” 2^nd Ed. Canada. 2004.