This is Dr. Lam from DrLam.com and the Adrenal Fatigue Center.
One of the questions we’ve been asked is should men be also taking natural progesterone?
That question is quite interesting because the use of natural progesterone is oftentimes
related and associated with women.
The question is why would a man need to consider that?
Let’s take a step back.
The progesterone’s main action is to oppose estrogen.
Now, estrogen is a pro-growth type hormone.
In the world nowadays, where we are filled with chemicals and environmental toxins and
hormones, it is impossible for the woman or the man to escape hormonal exposure.
These types of hormones, or what we call xenoestrogenic hormones, have molecules that are very similar
to estrogen.
So whether you are a man or a woman, if you take in these hormones, such as hormones from
animals such as chicken or beef, chemicals such as petroleum, ingredients in shampoos
and nail polish, they all have these types of chemicals.
These chemicals, derived from petroleum, have a chemical structure that is very similar
to estrogen.
When these molecules get into the body, they behave estrogenically by sitting on the estrogen
receptor sites.
Now, how serious is this?
It really depends on the person.
Most people have the ability to get rid of it, or at least a certain level of it.
But if you overflow the body day in day out with excessive amounts of estrogen or estrogenic-type
compounds, as we call it xenoestrogenic compounds as we mentioned earlier, then invariably the
body will have excessive estrogen whether you are male or female.
Now in the female, taking natural progesterone can help not only to oppose the estrogen but
also to reduce the menstrual symptoms such as endometriosis, fibroids, or PCOS and that
type of stuff.
In the male, the prostate gland can be vulnerable if there’s excessive amount of estrogen.
Taking progesterone can be helpful and indicated with the right circumstances.
Of course, the dosage and frequency are very different because the body in the male does
not need the same level of estrogenic opposing as that in the female.
In men, if indicated, especially for prostate issues and hormonal issues that is well documented,
then the amount can be considered and is usually lower in quantity and a cream form is usually
quite good.
Normally, there’s no downside, especially males with clinical signs of gynecomastia,
enlarged breasts, may consider these things with the right workup.
But it is not something that you want to just pick up over the counter and start taking
without any consideration.
In the case of adrenal fatigue, then the problem is further compounded because progesterone
is metabolized by the liver.
If you have liver congestion, as is commonly the case in adrenal fatigue, then even a small
amount of progesterone can make adrenal fatigue worse.
So for the male, we don’t find that the use of natural progesterone is so indicated
unless there are very specific reasons.
In those cases, it has to be tracked and followed properly.
The use of natural progesterone for males falls in very different parameters as compared
to females.
If you do it right, it can be quite beneficial especially for the prostate.
At the same time, it is not something you want to embark on without the knowledge and
the supervision of an adrenal fatigue and natural hormone health care specialist.