Why do men need progesterone?
Progesterone in men is vital to good health. It is the primary precursor of their adrenal cortical hormones and testosterone. Men synthesise progesterone in smaller amounts than women do but it is still important. The metabolic actions of the prostate gland are determined in large part by hormones, especially estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone, which are made by the testes. These, in turn, are mediated by pituitary hormones, especially FSH and LH, just as ovarian function is women is. Both the prostate gland and the uterus develop from the same embryonic cells, and both respond to the same hormones – estrodiol, progesterone, and testosterone. Adding progesterone back into the body helps restore normal inhibition of 5-alpha-reductase, thus preventing testosterone from changing into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which stimulates proliferation of prostate cells.
