Progesterone and insomnia Brought to you By Napseason.com Do you have trouble sleeping when your period comes around or find yourself wide awake at 3 a.m. during your pregnancy? For women who are experiencing insomnia during their pregnancy, this could be due to the sudden increase in heartburn, frequent urination or endless nausea that won’t go away. Or perhaps it could be due to the body’s natural clockwork as each phase of a woman’s menstrual cycle differs on sleep. When insomnia is not treated, severe cases may lead to a series of harmful health effects and possibly ruin one's level of productivity. Many women tend to experience insomnia as one of their main side effects of their hormonal changes during menstruation, pregnancy, and even menopause. Insomnia during pregnancy can make it difficult for you to cope with, especially when you’re trying to rest as much as you possibly can before the bundle of joy arrives. Some women even claim to have strange and vivid dreams during their pregnancy. The dreams are so vivid that is becomes difficult to sleep for them Whatever the case may be many factors can cause insomnia in women, and progesterone may be one of them.
What is Progesterone? Progesterone is a steroid hormone that is naturally produced by the ovaries, placenta, and adrenal glands. The hormone also plays a vital role in the female’s reproductive system as it is involved in the stages of conception, fetal development, and the birth. As the levels of progesterone are closely connected to the woman’s reproductive organs, it can cause the hormonal imbalance and lead to many side effects throughout the body. It helps to prepare the body for the stages of conception, birth, sexual arousal, and regulate the monthly menstrual cycle. According to research, the use of progesterone supplements has been found to slow down brain waves in a way that is similar to the use of tranquilizers. This has helped women to sleep and calm down the nerves. Progesterone also shares a connection with GABA, the neurotransmitter within the brain. GABA works to relax the nervous system, which allows people to feel calm and fall asleep. The process of sleep can be effected without the GABA stimulation. So an absence of GABA stimulation can create insomnia.
Menstruation and Hormones One of the primary functional of progesterone is the cause of the endometrium to secrete proteins during the second part of the cycle and prepare it to nourish the implanted egg for fertilization. However, if implantation doesn’t happen, the estrogen and progesterone levels will drop and break down – leading to menstruation. It is believed that the levels of progesterone play a role in enhancing the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, also known as PMS. These common symptoms include breast tenderness, mood swings, and bloating. When a woman misses her period, it may be due to low levels of progesterone and the failure to ovulate. According to Kathryn Lee, RN, Ph.D., associate dean of research and University of California, San Francisco, estrogen is similarly compared to an energy supplement. This what happens with the levels of estrogen and progesterone before and after ovulation. As the body begins ovulation, the levels of estrogen will suddenly increase and cause major sleep disturbances for women. After the stage of ovulation, the progesterone will start to rise and lead to the feeling of drowsiness. Within a few days before the start of your next period, both progesterone and estrogen will drop and lead to more trouble sleeping. The sudden decrease of progesterone is considered to be the primary cause of insomnia. To fight menstrual-related insomnia, studies suggest that sleep should be well considered just as you would with your diet, stress control, daily habits and exercise. In fact, daily exercise will help promote the deep stages of sleep that is necessary for the cells to repair and regenerate.
Progesterone and pregnancy If a pregnancy does occur, the appropriate levels of progesterone will be provided in the placenta and remain elevated throughout the stages of pregnancy. Progesterone is also known to increase the growth of breast milk. It is the combination of progesterone and estrogen that restrains ovulation during pregnancy. According to the National Sleep Foundation, nearly 80% of women have reported to dealing with insomnia during pregnancy, especially in the first and third trimester. The leading cause of insomnia during pregnancy is due to the change in hormone levels. The rise in progesterone can explain the fatigue during the day while the changes in hormones also affect the muscles – increasing the risk of sleep apnea and frequent urination during the late hours. As estrogen and progesterone are the two primary hormones of pregnancy, they are also the main triggers of the development of the fetus and common symptoms in pregnancy. Estrogen helps the uterus grow, protects the lining, increases the blood circulation and regulates hormone production. Progesterone helps to relax discomfort of heartburn and indigestion as well as soften the cartilage and loose joints, which encourages the harsh aches during the last trimester.
Progesterone Reduces Premature Birth by 50% Studies also find that natural progesterone can help minimize the risk of premature birth by half. According to the study, natural progesterone cream has been proven to reduce the rates in women who have a condition known as a short cervix, which is believed to be low in progesterone. This means that by supplementing the necessary levels of progesterone through gel or cream, a woman can help reduce the risk and ensure a healthy pregnancy.
What can you do against the drop of Progesterone levels? To help combat the decrease levels of progesterone, researchers recommend that women use natural progesterone creams to provide the required amount to balance the body’s hormones without the significant side effects that you may have with supplements. Natural progesterone cream has been proven effective for many women both during their menstrual cycle and pregnancy. Lastly, your diet can also make an impact on the body’s progesterone levels. Getting enough exercise, rest and reducing the symptoms of stress can help maintain steady progesterone levels and the hormones in the body.
Sources https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progesterone http://www.naturalnews.com/031684_FDA_drug_monopoly.html http://www.johnleemd.com/physiological-effects-estrogen-progesterone.html https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26079775