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Progesterone

Ingredient · In our Progesterone Capsule and Bi-Est + Progesterone Cream

Progesterone (micronized)

Progesterone is the hormone that balances estrogen. Its levels often fall early in perimenopause. For women who still have a uterus and take estrogen, progesterone protects the lining of the uterus. Some studies also suggest it can help with sleep.1,2,3

Abstract champagne liquid ripples, illustrative ingredient artwork
Progesterone

Photos are illustrations, not the medicine. Medical progesterone is made in a lab, usually starting from a compound extracted from wild yam or soy, and it's identical to the progesterone your body makes.6

FDA-approved ingredient (oral)

Oral micronized progesterone is FDA-approved to prevent overgrowth of the uterine lining in postmenopausal women who take estrogen and still have a uterus.1 Our Progesterone Capsule and Bi-Est + Progesterone Cream are compounded by a licensed pharmacy, and compounded medicines aren't FDA-approved themselves. Progesterone in a cream has much weaker evidence than the oral form.4,5

FDA-approved for this useWell studied, used off-labelEarly evidenceLittle or no human data

The studies below used FDA-approved products or other forms. Our compounded version hasn't been studied in trials, and results may differ.

What it is

Before midlife, your ovaries made progesterone after you ovulated each month. In perimenopause, cycles without ovulation become more common, so progesterone often drops before estrogen does.

"Micronized" means the progesterone is ground very fine so your body can absorb it. Chemically, it's the same molecule your body makes.

Why it's in these products

The main medical job of progesterone in menopause care is protection. Estrogen on its own can cause the lining of the uterus to overgrow, which raises the risk of uterine cancer. Adding a progestogen lowers that risk, which is why women with a uterus are usually prescribed one alongside estrogen.1,2

Progesterone also acts on calming receptors in the brain, which is one reason it's usually taken at bedtime.1,3

Progesterone CapsuleBi-Est + Progesterone Cream

What the studies in people show

  • FDA labelProtects the uterine lining (oral)Oral progesterone capsules are FDA-approved to prevent overgrowth of the uterine lining in postmenopausal women taking estrogen who haven't had a hysterectomy.1
  • Meta-analysisSleep: some improvement, mixed resultsA 2021 review of 9 randomized trials (388 people, mostly postmenopausal women) found micronized progesterone improved several sleep measures. Pooled results showed people fell asleep faster, but total sleep time and sleep efficiency didn't clearly change, and studies were inconsistent.3
  • Randomized trialPerimenopausal night sweatsIn a Canadian trial, 189 perimenopausal women took 300 mg of oral progesterone at bedtime or a placebo for 3 months. The main hot flash score didn't differ significantly, though the trial was underpowered. Women on progesterone reported fewer night sweats and better sleep quality.7
  • Research reviewCreams are a different storyProgesterone creams produce low blood levels, and researchers still debate whether they protect the uterine lining. A review in Menopause concluded that this has to be judged by examining the lining itself, not by blood tests.4

What we don't know yet

Most of the strong evidence is for oral progesterone. Whether progesterone in a skin cream reliably protects the uterine lining is still unsettled.4,5 If you have a uterus and use estrogen, your clinician will talk with you about which form fits and how you'll be monitored.

Safety, in plain English

The FDA label says progesterone can cause dizziness and drowsiness, so it's taken at bedtime and you should be careful driving until you know how it affects you.1 Combined estrogen plus progestin therapy carries a boxed warning about blood clots, stroke, heart attack, breast cancer and probable dementia, based on a large trial in older women that used a synthetic progestin.1

A licensed clinician reviews your health history before deciding whether progesterone is appropriate for you. Exploring it here never means you'll get a prescription.

Curious about progesterone?

Start with a free assessment. A licensed clinician reviews your health history and decides whether treatment is appropriate. No pressure, and no prescription unless it makes sense for you.

See Progesterone CapsuleHow care works

Sources

  1. U.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed. Progesterone capsules: prescribing information (indications, boxed warning, warnings, dosage). DailyMed
  2. The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society (now The Menopause Society). Menopause. 2022;29(7):767-794. PubMed 35797481
  3. Nolan BJ, Liang B, Cheung AS. Efficacy of micronized progesterone for sleep: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trial data. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2021;106(4):942-951. PubMed 33245776
  4. Stanczyk FZ, Paulson RJ, Roy S. Percutaneous administration of progesterone: blood levels and endometrial protection. Menopause. 2005;12(2):232-237. PubMed 15772572
  5. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The Clinical Utility of Compounded Bioidentical Hormone Therapy: A Review of Safety, Effectiveness, and Use. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2020. NCBI Bookshelf · PubMed 33048485
  6. PubChem, National Center for Biotechnology Information. Progesterone (CID 5994): Methods of Manufacturing. PubChem
  7. Prior JC, Cameron A, Fung M, et al. Oral micronized progesterone for perimenopausal night sweats and hot flushes: a Phase III Canada-wide randomized placebo-controlled 4 month trial. Sci Rep. 2023;13(1):9082. PubMed 37277418

Sources checked November 8, 2026. This page is general education, not medical advice, and it doesn't mean any treatment is right for you. Photos: Unsplash (Maxence Pira, Alexas_Fotos).