How can a hormone connected with pregnancy also affect my mood after menopause?
You have progesterone receptor sites in many parts of your body besides the uterus. Thus progesterone, or a lack of progesterone, may affect other aspects of your health, too, such as fat metabolism, sleeping patterns, thyroid activity, mood, sex drive, water metabolism, and bone health. What does progesterone do? During the reproductive years, progesterone prepares the uterine lining (or womb) for pregnancy. Each month, progesterone levels rise following ovulation. Unless you become pregnant, the progesterone levels drop and trigger a monthly menstrual period. Progesterone also plays an important role in balancing out the effects of estrogen. If you have too much estrogen and not enough progesterone, your body can be thrown out of balance. During menopause this imbalance can lead to symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, vaginal dryness, irritability, or decreased sex drive. During the reproductive years, this imbalance may cause premenstrual complaints such as water re
