Progesterone Cream for Men - Surprise, It's Not Just for Women!

July 16, 2020

Hormonal imbalances in men are common. Besides the aging process, an unhealthy lifestyle can also induce a mismatch in hormone levels. Hormonal fluctuations cause a number of symptoms whose intensity ranges from mild to severe. Fortunately, many products help restore hormone balance. Capsules, creams, and other items are easily available and simple to use.

When the term "hormonal imbalance" in men comes to mind, we immediately think about testosterone and its role. But men have many other hormones, all of which affect one another. In this post, we discuss progesterone cream for men and the role of this hormone or its influence on male hormones in the body. Scroll down to learn more about this incredibly important subject.

What is progesterone?

The reality is that most men don’t know much about progesterone, to begin with. As one of the female hormones, progesterone isn’t something that men think it’s relevant for their wellbeing. However, the reality is much different.

Before we go into details about progesterone cream for men and the role of this hormone in males, it’s useful to cover the basics of this hormone itself.

Progesterone is one of several steroid hormones called progestogens. The hormone is mainly secreted by corpus luteum in the ovary during the second half of the menstrual cycle in women. Progesterone plays an important role in the menstrual cycle, but also helps maintain the early stages of pregnancy.

The main function of progesterone, as a female hormone, is to prepare the wall of the uterus so that the lining can accept the fertilized egg. The lining needs to accept the fertilized egg so that it can be implanted and develop. Additionally, progesterone inhibits muscular contractions in the uterus that would otherwise cause the wall to reject the egg.

In instances when the egg is not fertilized, progesterone is secreted by the ovaries until a few days prior to menstruation. When that happens, progesterone levels drop enough to stop the growth of the uterine wall and to make it break down, then menstruation starts.

Okay, now that we've covered the role of this hormone in women, you're probably wondering what the effects of progesterone in men are. You will find out below.

What does progesterone do for a man?

Despite the fact that progesterone is known as a female hormone, men have it too. In fact, progesterone is a precursor of testosterone in males. More precisely, the male body needs progesterone to produce testosterone.

In men, adrenal glands and testes produce progesterone. It’s worth noting that progesterone levels in males in men are similar to those of females in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. The follicular phase occurs when the egg follicle on an ovary is preparing to release an egg.

The truth is that the role of progesterone in the male body is not totally clear, and more research on this subject is necessary. Evidence shows that progesterone influences spermiogenesis, sperm capacitation/acrosome reaction, and testosterone biosynthesis in Leydig cells. Also known as interstitial cells of Leydig, the Leydig cells are found adjacent to the seminiferous tubules in the testicle. These cells produce testosterone in the presence of the luteinizing hormone.

Other effects of progesterone on men include those on the central nervous system (CNS), including blocking of gonadotropin secretion, sleep improvement, and effects on tumors in CNS. The importance of progesterone in men also extends to effects on the immune system, kidney function, cardiovascular system, adipose tissue, respiratory system, and behavior. Progestin may promote weight gain and appetite in men, just like in women. The term progestin refers to synthetic steroid hormones with progesterone-like properties. In women, progestin is useful for the treatment of menopausal symptoms.

Moreover, the detection of progesterone receptor isoforms could have a high diagnostic significance in prostate pathology, including benign prostatic hypertrophy and prostate cancer.

The importance of progesterone in men also lies in its potential to counteract the effects of estrogen on the male body. In a nutshell, although men refer to progesterone as the female hormone, their bodies rely on it to preserve or enhance masculinity through the production of the male hormone.

Low progesterone in men

Hormones go up and down; they aren't always constant. A change in hormone levels can induce a number of symptoms that tell us something's wrong. Like women, men can also deal with low progesterone and experience various changes in their bodies.

Symptoms of low levels of progesterone include the following:

• Bone loss
• Cognitive concerns
• Depression
• Erectile dysfunction
• Fatigue
• Gynecomastia (development of male breasts)
• Hair loss
• Impotence
• Loss of muscle mass
• Low libido
• Mood swings
• Weight gain

Men with decreased progesterone levels are at a higher risk of:

• Arthritis and problems affecting joint health
• Osteoporosis i.e., a health condition that weakens bones, making them fragile and more likely to break
• Prostate cancer
• Prostatism i.e., an obstruction of the bladder neck, usually linked to an enlarged prostate gland

 

Progesterone and estrogen dominance

Estrogen dominance is yet another term men associate with women, although they can have it too. The term estrogen dominance was coined by hormones expert Dr. John R. Lee in one of his books. The dominant estrogen problem refers to a condition where a person (both a woman and a man) has higher estrogen levels than progesterone.

Although it’s easy to think that having low estrogen can help avoid the dominance of this hormone, the reality is much different. You see, even low estrogen concentration can still cause dominance if the progesterone levels are still insufficient or nonexistent.

The primary cause of estrogen dominance in men is exposure to xenoestrogens and phytoestrogens. The xenoestrogens are hormone-mimicking chemicals present in consumer-based products, and in the air, we breathe (if you live in a highly polluted area). On the other hand, phytoestrogens are plant versions of the hormone estrogen, such as soy.

 

Other factors that contribute to estrogen dominance in men include obesity, heavy alcohol consumption, chronic stress, and glandular dysfunction. This is yet another reason why stress management is so important – it can help support hormonal balance. 

Testing for progesterone imbalance

As men age, hormone levels tend to decline. Men should get their testosterone levels checked out to have a detailed insight into the hormonal structure and address symptoms of deficiency right away. Besides getting tested for low-T, you should also test for progesterone imbalance.

The whole process of testing your progesterone is incredibly easy. The healthcare professional takes a blood sample from a vein in the arm with a small needle. The test is painless, you may feel a little sting when the needle goes in and out, but it's nothing scary.

When should I use progesterone cream?

Progesterone cream is a form of hormone replacement therapy primarily designed to resolve symptoms of menopause in women, decrease signs of skin aging, and prevent loss of bone mass that would lead to osteoporosis.

As more men deal with progesterone imbalances, there are many creams they can use. Keep in mind that progesterone creams usually require a prescription, and you can't walk into a store and get one.

An important fact to bear in mind is that those creams can induce various side effects.

For that reason, many men and women opt for natural creams.

What makes these creams beneficial is that they contain entirely natural ingredients to help restore hormonal balance. As a result, they are sold in stores and online; you do not need a prescription to get them.

So, the question here is when to use that cream.

You may want to use natural progesterone cream for men if levels of this hormone are low, and you experience the above-mentioned symptoms, but you want to tackle the problem in a natural way.

Since their natural composition ensures these creams are safe, you may want to use them to prevent hormone decline as you age. Remember, the aging process marks the decline of progesterone, which is necessary for the production of testosterone.

Another reason to use progesterone creams is to support your sex drive and performance between the sheets.

When it comes to progesterone creams, options are endless on the market. But, keep in mind that not all products are the same. Some are good, while others are not as much. To buy the perfect progesterone cream, you should take some time to do a little research. Buy the cream from a reputable brand and with a natural yet most effective list of ingredients. The goal is to increase progesterone naturally without having adverse effects. You also need to choose the product with the best and quickest absorption, but also the one that’s easy to use.

Tips for maintaining progesterone

Is your progesterone in balance now? That's perfect, but you may want to follow our tips to ensure they remain in a healthy range:

• Consume foods that stimulate the body’s production of progesterone such as beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, nuts, pumpkin, spinach, and whole grains
• Maintain a healthy body weight
• Reduce stress, avoid ignoring stress and anxiety thinking the problem will go away on its own
• Avoid overtraining

Conclusion

We tend to assume that progesterone is a female hormone, but men need it as well. As seen in this post, men need progesterone to produce testosterone and for many other functions. Since levels of this hormone tend to decline with age and due to other factors, it’s useful to adapt your lifestyle and maintain hormonal balance. For people with low progesterone, the use of natural creams is an effective and natural way to keep this hormone in a healthy range.

References

https://www.britannica.com/science/progesterone

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15669543/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1821029/

 

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