Ep 48 | Progesterone in Perimenopause: Sleep Savior, Uterus Protector, Internet Celebrity

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Progesterone: soothing hormone, sleep savior, uterine bodyguard… or wildly overhyped perimenopause celebrity?

In this episode of OvaryActive, Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su and Dr. Amy Voedisch take on micronized progesterone, progestins, and the many confident claims the internet has made about both. Because apparently even hormones need a PR team.

The Docs explain the difference between progesterone, progestogens, and progestins; why micronized progesterone is formulated the way it is; and why progesterone creams and "natural" wild yam products are not doing what TikTok may have promised.

The episode also looks at progesterone's reputation for improving sleep, why some people feel dramatically better while others feel absolutely nothing, and the small subset who can experience poor mood effects instead of calm. Finally, Rebecca and Amy tackle the complicated evidence around micronized progesterone, breast cancer risk, and long-term hormone therapy.

Listeners will walk away knowing what the research actually says, what it definitely does not say, and why "it depends" remains medicine's least satisfying but frequently most correct (for now) answer.

What you'll hear in this episode:

[0:46] Progestogens: Pick a Lane

[3:43] Micronized, Not Magical

[5:34] Please Don't Put That There

[8:10] Protecting the Uterus, Ideally

[12:12] Bleeding: Worth Investigating

[17:51] Allopregnanolone Enters the Chat

[21:27] When "Calming" Backfires

[23:16] More Doesn't Always Mean Better

[25:10] Sleep Savior? Let's Check the Data

[32:20] Breast Cancer Risk: Hello, Nuance

[41:07] The Five-Year Rule That Isn't Really a Rule

[42:17] Progesterone: Neither Villain Nor Savior

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Estrogen, Interrupted by Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su & Dr. Amy Voedisch

Support the show: patreon.com/cw/OvaryActive

Meet the Docs:

More information about Dr. Rebecca Dunsmoor-Su:

Gennev: www.gennev.com/clinician/dr-rebecca-dunsmoor-su

LinkedIn @rebecca-dunsmoor-su

More information about Dr. Amy Voedisch:

Stanford Medical Clinic: stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/v/amy-voedisch.html

This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.