Gynecologist and obstetrician Laia S\u00e1nchez says that delay matters. In her new Spanish-language book, El poder de la progesterona a partir de los 40, or The Power of Progesterone After 40, she argues that progesterone deserves more attention because changes in ovulation can reduce its production before menstrual cycles become clearly irregular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The overlooked hormone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Progesterone<\/a> is made mainly after ovulation, when an ovary releases an egg. It helps prepare the uterus for pregnancy and limits excessive growth of the uterine lining under estrogen\u2019s influence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The hormone also plays an essential role in maintaining pregnancy. S\u00e1nchez, who previously worked at Hospital de Terrassa and Hospital Municipal de Badalona, says its wider effects may also touch sleep, mood, inflammation, bone health, and cardiovascular health<\/a>, although not every symptom can be traced to one hormone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Perimenopause is the transition leading to menopause, which is reached after 12 straight months without a period. It usually begins in the 40s and can last several years, bringing changes in bleeding, sleep, temperature control, vaginal comfort, concentration, and mood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe initial symptoms are often normalized or ignored,\u201d the gynecologist said, especially when work, caregiving, and daily pressure already leave women running on empty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Progesterone rises after ovulation. As the ovaries age, ovulation can become less consistent, so progesterone production may weaken even while periods still look fairly regular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Research supports that broader pattern. In one study, more than six in ten cycles during late perimenopause<\/a> did not include ovulation, showing why hormone changes can be underway before the calendar makes them obvious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sleep trouble, irritability, stronger premenstrual symptoms, and feeling overwhelmed can all appear during this transition. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists reports that about four in ten women<\/a> experience perimenopausal mood symptoms<\/a> resembling premenstrual syndrome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But hormones do not exist in a quiet laboratory. A rough night can make the next workday feel longer, and stress can make sleep even harder, so cause and effect often tangle together. That is why S\u00e1nchez places rest first rather than handing women an exhausting checklist of instant lifestyle changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A review of randomized trials<\/a> found that oral micronized progesterone improved some sleep outcomes, although most participants in those studies were already postmenopausal. The evidence is encouraging, but it does not show that progesterone is a universal sleep treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A 2023 randomized trial<\/a> followed 189 perimenopausal women with hot flashes and night sweats. Its main hot-flash result did not show a clear difference from placebo, but women taking progesterone reported better sleep and fewer night sweats, with no serious adverse events recorded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n S\u00e1nchez describes progesterone therapy as a potentially useful tool when it is medically indicated, not a replacement for sleep, movement, nutrition, or emotional support. Treatment should reduce the burden of the transition, not add another layer of pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Menopause Society says systemic hormone therapy<\/a> is the most effective treatment for bothersome hot flashes and night sweats. For a woman with a uterus who uses systemic estrogen, a progestogen is generally added to protect the uterine lining, while the overall risks depend on age, health history, dose, and delivery method.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Routine hormone testing<\/a> is usually not needed to identify perimenopause because hormone levels can swing sharply from day to day. Clinicians generally look at age, symptoms, menstrual changes, medical history, and other possible explanations<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRead More: That new Alzheimer blood test isn’t a clean bill of health for healthy people, and doctors are warning why you might want to wait<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Signs hiding in plain sight<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ovulation can change first<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sleep and stress blur the picture<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Read More: Do not toss your used coffee grounds: 10 uses that hold up, from compost and garden to odor control, with one caution before you put them anywhere near your skin<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
What research says about progesterone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Gynecologist](\"https:\/\/okdiario.com\/metabolic\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/dr-laia-sanchez-gynecologist-perimenopause-progesterone-expert.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
Hormone therapy needs context<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
No single test tells the whole story<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Read More: Influencers sell nicotine pouches as a focus booster, but doctors in a German fact-check say the lift is modest and brief while the dependence lasts much longer<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n