If you’re about to start bioidentical progesterone, you might be feeling a mix of hope and hesitation. Maybe you’ve heard it can help with sleep, mood, and anxiety—but you’re not quite sure what to expect. Or you’re wondering if it’s really necessary, especially if you’ve had a hysterectomy.
Let’s clear it all up.
At Antigravity Wellness, we use progesterone frequently—because for many women in perimenopause or menopause, it’s a game-changer.
What Is Bioidentical Progesterone?
Bioidentical progesterone is a form of progesterone that is chemically identical to what your body produces naturally. It’s not the same as synthetic progestins found in birth control or older forms of hormone therapy.
The most common form we prescribe is oral micronized progesterone, often under the brand name Prometrium® or compounded into a customized dose. It’s typically taken at night—more on that below.
What Benefits Can I Expect?
The top reasons we recommend progesterone include:
- Better sleep (falling asleep faster and staying asleep longer)
- Reduced anxiety and irritability
- Improved mood and emotional regulation
- Protection against estrogen dominance
- Support for breast and brain health
- Lighter, more manageable periods (if still cycling)
A 2018 study published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that oral micronized progesterone significantly improved sleep quality and reduced night awakenings in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women (Prior et al., 2018).
Some women also notice:
- Fewer hot flashes
- Less PMS or menstrual migraines
- Improved libido
- More emotional resilience during stressful times
When Will I Notice the Effects?
Most women start to feel progesterone’s calming effects within 3–10 days, especially if they’re sensitive to hormone shifts. For sleep and mood regulation, benefits often become noticeable within 2–4 weeks, and continue to build with consistent use.
If your system is particularly out of balance, it may take a full 1–2 months to see optimal results.
A review in Menopause (2019) showed that cumulative effects of progesterone over time—not just acute dosing—helped modulate GABA activity in the brain, leading to improved mood and sleep (Girdler et al., 2019).
How Should I Take It?
We usually recommend taking progesterone at night, as it has a natural sedative effect. Most women take 100–200 mg of oral micronized progesterone either cyclically or daily depending on their needs.
Common protocols:
- Daily dosing: For postmenopausal women or those without a cycle.
- Cyclic dosing (14 days/month): For perimenopausal women still cycling, to mimic the body’s natural hormone rhythm.
Always take it with a small amount of fat, like a piece of toast with almond butter or a spoonful of coconut yogurt, to improve absorption.
What Are the Common Side Effects?
Most side effects are mild and temporary, especially when dosed appropriately.
You may notice:
- Drowsiness (this is why we dose at night!)
- Vivid dreams
- Dizziness or “floaty” feeling (usually resolves after a few nights)
- Breast tenderness (rare, usually improves with dose adjustments)
- Headache (if dose is too high or detox pathways are sluggish)
If these persist beyond two weeks, reach out to your provider.
Do I Need Progesterone If I Don’t Have a Uterus?
Yes—many women still benefit.
While progesterone is essential for protecting the uterine lining when taking estrogen, its neurological, emotional, metabolic, and breast-protective benefits are just as important—even without a uterus.
According to a clinical review in Post Reproductive Health (2020), progesterone improves sleep, anxiety, and overall quality of life in women without a uterus, especially when combined with estrogen (Stuenkel et al., 2020).
Progesterone also balances out estrogen—reducing the risk of symptoms related to estrogen dominance, like breast tenderness, fluid retention, irritability, or poor sleep.
What If I Don’t Feel Better… or Feel Worse?
Sometimes the dose or timing needs a tweak. If you’re not feeling better within 4–6 weeks, or if you’re noticing:
- More fatigue during the day
- Feeling too sedated at night
- Ongoing breast soreness
- No improvement in sleep or anxiety
…it may be time to adjust your dose or consider additional support like adrenal testing, gut support, or estrogen balancing.
Remember: Hormone therapy is not one-size-fits-all.
A 2022 analysis in The Journal of Women’s Health emphasized that individualized, adaptive hormone care plans lead to the highest rates of success and long-term satisfaction (Sarrel et al., 2022).
Can I Ask for Additional BHRT Like DHEA or Testosterone Later?
Absolutely. Progesterone is often the first step to restoring balance—but if you’re still experiencing:
- Low libido
- Muscle loss or joint pain
- Brain fog
- Mood dips or fatigue
…it may be appropriate to add in DHEA, testosterone, or targeted adrenal and thyroid support.
We work closely with you and your lab results to build a full hormone ecosystem that works in harmony—not just throw more hormones at symptoms.
Case Study: Meet “Heather”
Name has been changed for privacy
Heather, age 45, came to us after feeling overwhelmed by perimenopause. She was struggling with racing thoughts at night, poor sleep, and emotional reactivity that left her feeling like a stranger to herself. She was still cycling regularly but had zero energy after 3 p.m.
We ran a comprehensive hormone panel and found low progesterone, high evening cortisol, and a sluggish thyroid. We started her on 100 mg oral micronized progesterone, taken nightly for 14 days per cycle, along with calming lifestyle support.
By week 3, she was falling asleep faster. By month 2, she described feeling “stable again”—less reactive, more present, and sleeping through the night for the first time in years. At her 3-month follow-up, we added in DHEA and light strength training to support her motivation and metabolism.
“I didn’t realize how much I needed this until I started feeling like me again.”
Let’s Personalize Your Hormone Plan
Starting progesterone can be the beginning of a transformational shift in your health. But success lies in the right dose, right schedule, and right support system.
At Antigravity Wellness, we don’t just prescribe—we guide, listen, and adjust as your body adapts.
Ready to Get Started?
Join our FREE 5-Day Hormone Reset Mini-Course
Discover how to naturally reset your hormones, optimize sleep and stress, and prepare your body for BHRT if it’s the right fit for you.
Get it here: https://social.antigravitywellness.com/mini-course-freebie
Want one-on-one support?
Book a Brief Initial Consult and work with Dr. Nicole Smith, DNP, FNP-C to explore whether progesterone (or another therapy) is the right next step for your health journey.
Book a call here: https://l.bttr.to/6lFHL
References:
- Prior, J. C. (2018). Progesterone for symptomatic perimenopause treatment. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 103(5), 1827–1834.
- Girdler, S. S., et al. (2019). Allopregnanolone and mood regulation in perimenopause. Menopause, 26(9), 1021–1029.
- Stuenkel, C. A., et al. (2020). Treatment of symptoms of menopause: An Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. Post Reproductive Health, 26(1), 13–29.
- Sarrel, P. M., et al. (2022). Impact of individualized hormone therapy on quality of life in midlife women. The Journal of Women’s Health, 31(4), 458–466.
