Progesterone is a female hormone used for reproduction but it is also found in men. While progesterone still largely functions as a female reproduction facilitator, it can also be beneficial to men suffering from benign prostatic hyperplasia or an enlarged prostate. One way for men to increase their progesterone levels is through a topical cream.
Even though progesterone is a female hormone, it can aid in the treatment of prostate conditions.
Progesterone
Progesterone is often called the pregnancy hormone because it produces changes in the female anatomy that promote conception and pregnancy. These changes include the thickening of the uterus, the formation of the mucus plug and the production of milk ducts for breastfeeding. While progesterone is a female reproductive hormone, men also produce it. Men produce about half as much progesterone as women. They use it to make testosterone, the main male hormone, and produce cortisone, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
The prostate is a gland a little larger than a walnut that wraps around the urethra just under the bladder. It helps the fertilization process by producing a fluid filled with nutrients that mixes with the sperm to form semen and helps the sperm survive in the vagina's environment. The prostate experiences a growth spurt from male puberty to about the age of 20. It begins to grow again during a man's 40s as a natural part of aging. This is called benign prostatic hyperplasia and most men will have it by their 50s and 60s.
How Progesterone Cream Can Help
Men produce both testosterone and estrogen, another female hormone. The ratio of testosterone to estrogen is very high in a healthy man, but as men age that ratio can change. Many scientists believe that this is what causes the growth of the prostate as men age. Progesterone counteracts the effects of estrogen in men and improves the testosterone/estrogen ratios. It prevents testosterone from being converted into DHT, a weaker version of testosterone that dilutes the male hormone ratio.
Using Progesterone Cream
Progesterone cream can be bought over the counter. You can massage up to half a teaspoon into your chest and arms each day for treatment. Even though you don't need a prescription for this cream, you should talk to your doctor before starting to use it. He will exam your prostate and test your blood for prostate specific antigens. If he diagnoses you with benign prostatic hyperplasia, you can discuss using progesterone cream as treatment. Always follow your doctor's advice about your condition.
Warnings
Each brand of progesterone cream is different. Read all the directions and warnings. It is possible to use too much progesterone cream. Too much of it can reduce the maturity of your sperm and make it hard to conceive. On the other hand, if your benign prostatic hyperplasia symptoms are not getting better, you should speak to your doctor. He may suggest discontinuing progesterone cream and trying another form of treatment.
Tags: benign prostatic, prostatic hyperplasia, female hormone, testosterone estrogen, your doctor, benign prostatic hyperplasia
