Why Progesterone for men?
When many of us think of Progesterone, we think of it as being a hormone strictly for women. However, men need Progesterone too. Progesterone helps to counteract the effects of estrogen on the male body. Not only is Progesterone found in males, but men rely on the alleged “female hormone” to preserve their masculinity. In fact, Progesterone is a precursor to Testosterone – the male sex hormone. As men age and Testosterone begins to decline, estrogen levels steadily rise. As estrogen levels increase, Progesterone levels plummet.
Symptoms of low Progesterone in men include:
- Low libido
- Hair loss
- Weight gain
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Gynecomastia (“man-boobs”)
- Erectile dysfunction
- Impotence·
- Bone loss
- Muscle loss
In addition, men with low levels of Progesterone have a higher risk of developing health conditions, such as osteoporosis, arthritis, prostatism and prostate cancer.
Estrogen dominance
Estrogen dominance is a term coined by hormones expert Dr. John R. Lee, and it describes a condition where a woman (or in this case, man) has more estrogen than Progesterone. Even if a man’s estrogen levels are low, it is still possible that he will experience symptoms of estrogen dominance. The main cause of estrogen dominance in men is exposure to xenEstrogens and phytEstrogens which are hormone-mimicking chemicals found in consumer-based products and even in the air we breathe. In addition to environmental factors, other causes of estrogen dominance in men include alcoholism, obesity, chronic stress and glandular dysfunction.
In addition to testing Testosterone levels, men should also consider having other hormones tested to get a clearer picture of what’s going inside their bodies. This includes estrogen, Progesterone, cortisol, DHEA and thyroid hormones. Hormonal balance is like a jig-saw puzzle – without all of the pieces in place, it just doesn’t work.
Progesterone for men
Why Progesterone for men? Progesterone is commonly thought of as a ‘female’ sex hormone. This is misleading as it is vital to sustain not just health but life itself in all mammals of both sexes.
.As a man gets older Testosterone is converted into di-hydroTestosterone (DHT), which some believe is the cause of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and cancer, but some do not.
Estrogen levels also increase as a man gets older. Estrogen is known to stimulate cell growth. Reading between the lines, because as yet, there is no definitive study done on this, it appears to be the increased Estrogen level which is the problem and not the two Testosterones. As Progesterone is a powerful counter-balance for estrogen, Progesterone for men is essential.
If in fact Testosterone were the culprit, then men aged 22 would have the highest incidence of BPH and cancer, as Testosterone levels are at their highest point in the early 20’s, but of course they don’t. From the early twenty’s to the late twenty’s – Testosterone makes its greatest drop, thereafter it continues to decline, but at a slower rate.
BPH starts affecting a man in his fifties and interestingly Estradiol (E2) levels start climbing from the age of fifty and are at their highest point in men in their late 60’s, but during the same period Progesterone levels are declining. Progesterone for men becomes that much more important with age.
5-alpha reductase inhibitors such as Finasteride are usually given to prevent the conversion of Testosterone to DHT, but research has found that Progesterone is a natural inhibitor of 5-alpha reductase.
Progesterone also down regulates the action of Estrogen if used in a sufficiently high dose. The endogenous Estrogen made by humans is now being supplemented by synthetic Estrogens found in the environment. They are now found in food, air, water, plastics, skin care products, no one can avoid them. Some authorities speculate this is the cause of the increase in problems such as hyperplasia or cancers of any hormonally sensitive tissues, such as the prostate, endometrium, cervix and breasts. So, despite often being, erroneously, thought of as a ‘female’ hormone Progesterone for men is essential to preserve masculinity!
It’s safety for men is without question. It’s now given via IV transfusions for Traumatic Brain Injury, over 70% of TBI victims are men.
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