Progesterone Side Effects

During a woman's reproductive cycle, once an egg is released, the follicle from which it is released begins to produce progesterone. If the egg is fertilized, progesterone continues to be produced, which keeps the egg implanted and growing. However, if the egg is not fertilized, the production of progesterone and estrogen is stopped, which causes the lining of the uterus to break and release, along with the unfertilized egg.

Progesterone falls under a class of medications called progestins (female hormones). Progesterone treatment is administered as a part of hormone replacement therapy, and performs the function of reducing the amount of estrogen in the uterus. Women who have gone through menopause without having a hysterectomy are usually the ones in need of HRT, which includes estrogen too. The treatment helps manage menopause symptoms, and can reduce a woman's risk of developing certain diseases. Progesterone side effects include bringing on menstruation in women of childbearing age, thus it is often administered to help correct and regulate a woman's menstrual cycle.

Side Effects of Progesterone
Progesterone is usually taken as a pill, and may cause dizziness, headaches, breast tenderness or pain, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, tiredness, muscle, bone or joint pain, sneezing, mood swings, runny nose, irritability, cough, excessive worrying, problems urinating and vaginal discharge. These progesterone side effects are fairly common, and may be experienced irrespective of the form in which the hormone is taken. However, if you experience more severe side effects such as depression, breast lumps, severe dizziness or faintness, migraine headache, coughing up blood, slow or difficult speech, leg swelling or pain, weakness or numbness of an arm or leg, unexpected vaginal bleeding, shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, sharp chest pain, lack of coordination or loss of balance, loss of vision or blurred vision, double vision, bulging eyes, shaking hands that you cannot control, stomach pain or swelling, seizures, hives, skin rash, itching, difficulty breathing or swallowing, hoarseness or swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs, ensure that you inform your doctor about them at the earliest.

Progesterone Cream Side Effects
In addition to the other side effects, a person may also experience breast enlargement or pain, a change in sex drive, cramps, difficult or painful sexual intercourse, fluid retention/bloating, increased appetite, nausea, nervousness, pain around vaginal area, and difficulty sleeping while using a form of progesterone cream or gel. Severe side effects may include (along with the above mentioned ones) inflammation of the eye, pain in the groin, partial or complete loss of vision, and yellowing of the skin or eyes may take place. Progesterone suppositories side effects include all of these and the above mentioned symptoms.

A frightful progesterone side effect is the increased risk of tumors in humans. It has been observed that lab animals who were given the hormone developed tumors. It may also cause abnormal blood clotting, which can cut off blood supply to any vital organ. According to recently published reports, scientists at Michigan State University have found that exposure to progesterone in menopausal hormone therapy causes inflammation and is likely to be a key factor in raising the risk of breast cancer.

As severe progesterone side effects can be life-threatening, a natural 'safe' alternative is in big demand. Products containing 'natural progesterone' are made from a plant steroid called diosgenin contained in yams. Scientific evidence that the human body can metabolize diosgenin into progesterone does not exist, for which reason natural progesterone side effects and effectiveness is disputed.