Progesterone: For men?
Not only do men need estrogen, but also progesterone. In fact, progesterone helps counteract the effects of estrogen on the male body. As men age and testosterone levels decline, estrogen levels begin to rise and when they do it's typical for men to deal with weight gain, muscle loss, low libido and fatigue. In a lot of ways progesterone helpsmen maintain their edge.
Progesterone Levels in Men
Why progesterone for men?
When many of us think of progesterone, we think of it as being a hormone strictly for women. However, men need progesterone too. Progesterone helps to counteract the effects of estrogen on the male body. Not only is progesterone found in males, but men rely on the alleged "female hormone" to preserve their masculinity. In fact, progesterone is a precursor to testosterone - the male sex hormone. As men age and testosterone begins to decline, estrogen levels steadily rise. As estrogen levels increase, progesterone levels plummet.
Symptoms of low progesterone in men include:
- Low libido
- Hair loss
- Weight gain
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Gynecomastia ("man-boobs")
- Erectile dysfunction
- Impotence· Bone loss
- Muscle loss
In addition, men with low levels of progesterone have a higher risk of developing health conditions, such as osteoporosis, arthritis, prostatism and prostate cancer.
Estrogen dominance
Estrogen dominance is a term coined by hormones expert Dr. John R. Lee, and it describes a condition where a woman (or in this case, man) has more estrogen than progesterone. Even if a man's estrogen levels are low, it is still possible that he will experience symptoms of estrogen dominance. The main cause of estrogen dominance in men is exposure to xenoestrogens and phytoestrogens? which are hormone-mimicking chemicals found in consumer-based products and even in the air we breathe. In addition to environmental factors, other causes of estrogen dominance in men include alcoholism, obesity, chronic stress and glandular dysfunction.
In addition to testing testosterone levels, men should also consider having other hormones tested to get a clearer picture of what's going inside their bodies. This includes estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, DHEA and thyroid hormones. Hormonal balance is like a jig-saw puzzle - without all of the pieces in place, it just doesn't work.
