Hi. It’s Jenny at AnxietyBoss.com. Our question today is from Allison in Daytona Beach. Can synthetic progesterone cause anxiety?
Today more than ever, we are realizing the importance of natural substances. Women taking hormone replacement supplements want to know the difference between natural and synthetic. The truth is that virtually all progesterone is made in a laboratory and is the synthesized version of natural progesterone.
Progestin and progesterone are the same hormone. Known as bio identical progesterone, progestin is made from soya intermediates. The synthetic progestin, medroxyprogesterone, known as Provera, resembles the chemical structure of progesterone as it’s produced naturally in the human body.
Many women experience signs of an allergic reaction such as difficulty in breathing, headache, chest pain, depression, mood changes, dizziness and anxiety. Studies confirm that anxiety can start during periods of hormonal change such as with the start of birth control.
The most common use of synthetic progesterone is for hormonal contraception, but it also has other pharmaceutical applications. Progestin therapy affects all organ systems in the body as well as the brain and the immune system, as well as the cardiovascular system.
Can synthetic progesterone cause anxiety? Synthetic progesterone is not identical to your body’s hormones and has been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer, blood clots, depression and anxiety. Available in tablet form, cream, jelly and capsule, women who wish to increase their progesterone levels need to talk to a health care professional, someone who specializes in hormones.
You should also do research and understand the difference between natural progesterone and combination estrogen and progestin. Take estrogen and progestin combinations only as prescribed by your doctor and always try to take the medication at the same time each day to reduce the possibility of anxiety and to allow it to work better.
Remember, too, that all forms of anxiety can be reduced and many times they can be reduced or cured with some kind of psychological treatment.
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I did IVF and started having anxiety so bad starting at 6 weeks that I could not function. I didn’t know if I could go on living, feeling that bad. My doctor told me to discontinue the progesterone and I lost the pregnancy at 20 weeks. I still live with the guilt and it’s been 3 years. Would like to know if the progesterone actually caused the anxiety and if stopping the progesterone at 6 weeks caused thr miscarriage at 1p weeks. :-(.
Research studies are still mixed with regards to the correlation between anxiety and progesterone…some studies say progesterone induces anxiety, while others say it reduces anxiety. In addition, you may develop withdrawal symptoms when progesterone is discontinued, further worsening anxiety. Please follow-up with your doctor to discuss this further.
I’m sorry for your loss and the guilt you’ve carried for three years. My doctor has always had me stop progesterone at 12-14 weeks because that’s when the placenta produces enough progesterone on its own. Regardless of the anxiety question, I hope that can bring you some peace and reduced guilt about your loss at 20 weeks. You most likely wouldn’t have been taking progesterone that late in your pregnancy anyway.
Thanks for sharing Karyne.
I had the same thing happen 4 years ago. I still search to see if it was the progesterone. This is the first site I’ve found that clearly confirms that it can cause it. I could not function. I wanted to die! I have terrible guilt because I was a gestational surrogate. The mother blames me. I had to stop the progesterone by my doctors advice. I lost the pregnancy at 10 weeks. I live with this daily even 4 years later. No one can possibly know what hell this is unless you’ve been through it. I’m sorry for your loss. Know you are not alone. I’m relieved to know that I’m not alone in this happening. Maybe it wasn’t all my fault. Take care.
Wow, I replied to my own question.ugh. it was lost at 10 weeks. Happy to see that someone else replied as well.
Thanks for sharing.
I have been on Prometrim and I have noticed my anxiety has increased. I almost want to stop it but they said to give it 2 weeks.
Yes, please follow-up with your doctor if your anxiety persists on progesterone.
You should stop taking it ASAP. I took bio-identical progesterone for 3 months, even though I started getting panic attacks the first month on it. My doctor wanted me to continue taking it, but I couldn’t function through the anxiety any more. It’s been a year, and I still feel some anxiety before my period, though it’s progressively getting better. I can’t find any answers as to why this happens to some women, but it definitely does. I take vitex daily now, and took care of my thyroid hormones, and I was able to conceive after three years of infertility.
Thanks for sharing Hannah.
I started the Progesterone only pill a year ago and around the same time started suffering very bad anxiety, panic attacks, shakes and nervousness. I thought it was due to other things going on in my life or perhaps I was suffering mental illness as I had before. However, last week I spoke to my Doctor about it and it was her that suggested trying coming off the pill and see if my anxiety goes before trying any other treatment. I came off it a week ago and already the anxiety, panic and embarrassing shakes have gone!! Who’d have thought it was that causing it!! I’m nearly 41 so think I’ll just stay away from hormones now and use condoms.
Yes, hormones can cause anxiety…glad you found the cause.
I was prescribed a synthetic progesterone while I was going through perimenopause and started having anxiety attacks for the first time in my life. Eight years after my doctor told me to stop taking it, I still suffer from regular anxiety attacks. My daughter, who is her 20s, was using an IUD that released a synthetic progesterone, and she started having anxiety attacks. She had it removed, but is still experiencing bouts of anxiety that she never had before.
Sounds like progesterone may have triggered an underlying anxiety disorder. Please get a referral to a psychiatrist for further evaluation.