Progesterone and the Parasympathetic Nervous System
You may have heard that women are ruled by their hormones and that we are indeed four different people in one month!
Well, in many cases that is true – and we are learning so much about how to support this delicate balance between hormones and symptoms.
While there has been a focus on estrogen dominance, in part because our environment is full of estrogen mimicking chemicals, some of which are toxic, known as xenoestrogens, the other hormone, progesterone, is just as important for the rest and digest phase of being in balance. When estrogen is dominant there will be a natural imbalance causing progesterone to be lower in proportion. This can create a host of health challenges for women including infertility, miscarriage and later in life, sleep disturbances, anxiety and depression. We see this especially around perimenopause and post-menopause.
Progesterone is calming to the nervous system and it supports healthy bone metabolism, reduces cancer risk, assists with cognition and enhances the production of BDNF (brain derived neurotrophic factor), a favorite chemical of mine! BDNF is abundant when we are younger but as we age, the production declines affecting mental and cognitive health, cardiovascular and bone health, all areas that are important as women approach menopause and beyond.
I personally know the roller coaster ride really well because I experienced hormonal imbalances from a very young age with a lack of progesterone causing infertility and late miscarriage. Mom was on a fertility medication, now banned and Dad used insecticides and herbicides, now also banned due to being potent endocrine disruptors and causing cancer and birth defects. I work closely with my healthcare team, often educating them about these concerns and request certain labs. If they are unable or unwilling to order these tests, I can order them in my practice.
I will work with you to unravel the complex physical, environmental and emotional imbalances so that your body can restore its natural balance.
