Progesterone doesn't always get the attention it deserves. Estrogen tends to steal the spotlight — but research keeps turning up reasons to take a closer look at what progesterone is doing during menopause.

One area researchers have examined is how women tolerate progesterone compared with other hormonal options. A review published in the journal Menopause found that, overall, many women in the study group reported progesterone to be well-tolerated, with a meaningful decrease in reported temperature change frequency among participants. The researchers also noted no cardiovascular safety concerns in a randomized controlled trial examining cardiovascular endothelial function.

Sleep and mood are two areas that come up repeatedly in progesterone research. Some studies suggest progesterone may support restful sleep and positive mood as part of overall hormonal wellness — though, as with all hormone research, individual experiences vary and this is an evolving field.

What makes progesterone particularly interesting is the breadth of systems it appears to be involved in. Researchers continue to explore its associations with sleep quality, cardiovascular wellness, and mood — and the picture that's emerging is of a hormone with a wider role in midlife wellbeing than many women (or their doctors) were taught.

Curious about the research? The original study is available here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13697137.2018.1472567

This article is for educational and general wellness purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you are noticing changes in your body or have questions about your health, please consult a knowledgeable healthcare provider.