Progesterone (micronized / oral / vaginal)
Hormones · Progesterone replacement
Tier B+
What this is
Bioidentical micronized progesterone (Prometrium) has a distinct safety profile from synthetic progestins (MPA/medroxyprogesterone acetate) that drove WHI breast cancer signal. ESTHER and E3N cohorts suggest bioidentical progesterone does not elevate breast cancer risk materially. Oral dosing benefits sleep via CNS conversion to allopregnanolone.
Mechanism
Endogenous progestagen; balances estrogenic endometrial proliferation; GABA-A positive allosteric modulation via allopregnanolone metabolite (sleep/anxiolytic effect at oral doses)
Dose & route
100-200 mg PO at bedtime (sleep/endometrial protection) or 100 mg vaginal daily
Citations
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23993739/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18657220/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5313437/
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This is an independent synthesis of published research by a non-clinician. Scores are opinions supported by citations, not prescriptions. See the full disclaimer and methodology for how this score was produced and what it does and doesn't mean.