Does Progesterone Cause Weight Gain?
Does progesterone cause weight gain? We all want to be in optimal health, so anything that can get us there faster is something we want to learn about. If you’ve heard about the benefits of using progesterone cream but are concerned about weight gain, let’s look at the science behind it.
What Is Progesterone?
We say that Progesterone is a hormone. This hormone helps regulate the menstrual cycle. It also plays a vital role in maintaining pregnancy and supporting healthy breast tissue. While it does not cause weight gain on its own, progesterone alters a person’s metabolism and body composition, leading to weight gain. For example, one study found that women who received progesterone injections for their menopause symptoms gained more weight than those who didn’t take the medication. In these cases, weight gain was typically around five pounds within six months of starting treatment. Another study found that when women with heavy periods took a combination of estrogen and progesterone (in addition to having IUDs inserted), they had less water retention and better quality sleep than those who only received IUDs. However, another study found no significant difference between participants’ weights after three years of hormone therapy (which included both estrogen and progesterone).
How do our hormones affect our weight?
Many people believe that hormones cause weight gain, but is it true? The answer about this question depends on what you ask. However, from a scientific perspective, there is no evidence that progesterone causes weight gain. Progesterone’s many potential benefits for women, including relief from menstrual cramps and increased sex drive.
Potential reasons for weight gain
Weight gain is one of the most common side effects of progesterone. Research has found that progesterone stimulates appetite and increases fat storage, leading to weight gain. In addition, studies have shown that when a woman’s estrogen levels are low, progesterone makes it easier for her body to break down fatty acids into energy. Therefore, the longer you take oral contraceptives (birth control), the more likely you will experience a weight increase due to hormonal changes. In addition, if you have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) or endometriosis, your body produces more androgens, such as testosterone or DHEA-S (which interfere with ovulation). These hormones also cause higher levels of male sex hormones called androgens in women with PCOS or endometriosis – this leads some women with these conditions to experience hair loss on their face or chest and male pattern baldness on their head and facial acne.
How to test and monitor your progesterone?
It can be challenging to determine whether progesterone is causing weight gain. The best way to determine this is to have your doctor perform a blood test and monitor your weight. You may also want to talk with a practitioner about what other factors might contribute to weight gains, such as stress or hormonal changes due to perimenopause. A few studies show an association between low levels of progesterone and obesity. Still, most of these are observational studies that cannot prove cause-and-effect relationships.
How can I prevent hormonal weight gain?
Because progesterone is a hormone that causes weight gain in some women, it’s essential to track your periods and eat healthy during your period. Additionally, you may want to try taking a natural progesterone supplement so you can reap the benefits of this hormone without the side effects. Since progesterone stimulates fat storage and reduces metabolic rate, if you have trouble with weight gain, start tracking your menstrual cycle to see if it coincides with times when you are gaining pounds. If so, you might want to talk with your doctor about taking an oral contraceptive pill that doesn’t contain estrogen or going on a birth control injection instead.
Otherwise, staying active will help reduce the chance of gaining excess fat while increasing muscle tone because muscle weighs more than fat. Another good idea would be to avoid sugar as much as possible because sugar triggers insulin production, leading to increased fat storage in your body.
