03/11/2025
Thank you Dr Haver for making this information so accessible! Progesterone is one of my favorite secret weapons for perimenopausal anxiety and sleep changes. Read below to learn more!
"Progesterone & the Brain: More Than a Reproductive Hormone
For years, we’ve been told that progesterone is just about reproduction—but the latest research tells a different story. Progesterone is a powerful neurosteroid that impacts multiple neurotransmitter systems in the brain, influencing mood, anxiety, cognitive function, and neuronal excitability.
💡 Here’s what you need to know:
🧠 GABA – The Calm Keeper
Progesterone and its metabolite allopregnanolone enhance GABA-A receptor activity, increasing relaxation and reducing anxiety. This explains why some women feel calmer during certain phases of their cycle and why progesterone therapy may benefit mood disorders in menopause. (Finocchi & Ferrari, 2011; Guennoun et al., 2015)
⚡ Glutamate – The Brain’s Gas Pedal
While estradiol increases glutamate (excitatory neurotransmitter) activity, progesterone helps counterbalance this excitability, which may protect against mood swings, anxiety, and neuroinflammation. (Kapur & Joshi, 2021)
🔥 Noradrenaline – Stress & Mood Regulation
Progesterone reduces noradrenaline levels in the brain, which may explain why hormonal fluctuations impact mood stability. Some researchers even suggest this is one mechanism by which oral contraceptives influence brain chemistry. (Chaudhuri et al., 1992)
🔗 Acetylcholine – Memory & Cognition
Progesterone modulates acetylcholine signaling, which is critical for memory and learning. This may be why some women report brain fog in perimenopause when progesterone levels drop. (Baulieu & Schumacher, 2000)
🔬 What This Means for Menopause
As a menopause specialist, I’ve seen firsthand how hormonal shifts affect mental health. Many women experience increased anxiety, depression, and cognitive changes—yet traditional medicine often overlooks progesterone’s critical role in brain function. Personally, progesterone is magical for my sleep, and my Oura ring agrees.
📢 We need more education, research, and clinical awareness of how progesterone influences the nervous system.
Let’s change the conversation on menopause & brain health! 💪"
Progesterone & the Brain: More Than a Reproductive Hormone
For years, we’ve been told that progesterone is just about reproduction—but the latest research tells a different story. Progesterone is a powerful neurosteroid that impacts multiple neurotransmitter systems in the brain, influencing mood, anxiety, cognitive function, and neuronal excitability.
💡 Here’s what you need to know:
🧠 GABA – The Calm Keeper
Progesterone and its metabolite allopregnanolone enhance GABA-A receptor activity, increasing relaxation and reducing anxiety. This explains why some women feel calmer during certain phases of their cycle and why progesterone therapy may benefit mood disorders in menopause. (Finocchi & Ferrari, 2011; Guennoun et al., 2015)
⚡ Glutamate – The Brain’s Gas Pedal
While estradiol increases glutamate (excitatory neurotransmitter) activity, progesterone helps counterbalance this excitability, which may protect against mood swings, anxiety, and neuroinflammation. (Kapur & Joshi, 2021)
🔥 Noradrenaline – Stress & Mood Regulation
Progesterone reduces noradrenaline levels in the brain, which may explain why hormonal fluctuations impact mood stability. Some researchers even suggest this is one mechanism by which oral contraceptives influence brain chemistry. (Chaudhuri et al., 1992)
🔗 Acetylcholine – Memory & Cognition
Progesterone modulates acetylcholine signaling, which is critical for memory and learning. This may be why some women report brain fog in perimenopause when progesterone levels drop. (Baulieu & Schumacher, 2000)
🔬 What This Means for Menopause
As a menopause specialist, I’ve seen firsthand how hormonal shifts affect mental health. Many women experience increased anxiety, depression, and cognitive changes—yet traditional medicine often overlooks progesterone’s critical role in brain function. Personally, progesterone is magical for my sleep, and my Oura ring agrees.
📢 We need more education, research, and clinical awareness of how progesterone influences the nervous system.
Let’s change the conversation on menopause & brain health! 💪
