Perimenopause if often a long, gradual hormonal shift. After the age of 35, our ovaries tend to make a lower level of progesterone, even if we continue to have monthly ovulations.

REMINDER! We only make progesterone after we have ovulated (unlike estrogen, which is secreted for almost the entire cycle). So if (and when) we start to miss ovulations because the ovaries have entered retirement age, we then experience BIG drops in progesterone levels.

If this is combined with a high stress level (as progesterone can be poached and converted to cortisol if the demand is there), then we develop and even more pronounced imbalance between estrogen (medium to high, and fluctuating in the early stages of perimenopause) and progesterone (low).

By introducing bioidentical progesterone, we bolster a woman’s declining progesterone levels, in order to keep the levels balanced with estrogen, until those levels too come down. In terms of menopausal hormone therapy, we usually begin by adding in progesterone only, and then over time, and as estrogen levels drop, we add in transdermal estrogen, and then slowly lower both over time.

• Relief from Menopausal Symptoms: Progesterone-only hormone therapy can alleviate symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings.

• Improved Sleep Quality: Bioidentical progesterone has been shown to promote restful sleep by interacting with calming receptors in the brain.

• Bone Health Support: Progesterone plays a role in maintaining bone density, reducing the risk of osteoporosis.