Why I Still Take Progesterone After My Hysterectomy... And Why You Might Want to Consider It Too
Why I Still Take Progesterone After My Hysterectomy... And Why You Might Want to Consider It Too
As a coach specialising in burnout and leadership for women, I often talk about stress, resilience, and hormones. But today, I want to share something personal... why I still take progesterone, even though I’ve had a hysterectomy.
For many women, the conversation around hormones is focused on oestrogen and while it’s crucial, progesterone is just as important - especially for sleep, mood, and resilience to stress. Whether you’re in perimenopause or teetering on the edge of burnout, understanding how progesterone affects your brain might be the missing piece in your wellbeing puzzle.
Progesterone: More Than Just a "Pregnancy Hormone"
As I'm studying Neuroscience currently to enhance my executive coaching practice, I'm uncovering lots of really useful science to give more depth to what's happening and how best to manage things. Here's a flavour of what I've learned in the last year...
Progesterone is often associated with fertility and pregnancy, but its role goes far beyond reproduction. It is a neurosteroid, meaning it has direct effects on the brain and nervous system. Even after a hysterectomy (which removes the uterus but not necessarily the ovaries), or in perimenopause when progesterone fluctuates wildly, supplementing it can still enhance mental and emotional wellbeing.
The Neuroscience of Progesterone
Progesterone Calms the Nervous System
Progesterone binds to GABA receptors, the same calming neurotransmitter that makes you feel relaxed after a glass of wine or a deep breath. This helps explain why low progesterone is linked to anxiety, insomnia, and irritability.
In burnout, when cortisol is chronically elevated, progesterone helps buffer the stress response, reducing the overstimulation of the nervous system.
Progesterone Improves Sleep Quality
Unlike oestrogen, which helps you fall asleep, progesterone helps you stay asleep. I don't know if you're anything like me but I could fall asleep on a washing line in 0.3 seconds but I was waking up bang on 3am every morning like someone had electrocuted me (my progesterone too low and my cortisol too high).
Studies show that progesterone has a sedative effect, making it a natural alternative to sleeping pills. Many women notice deeper, more restorative sleep when taking bioidentical progesterone.
Progesterone Reduces Inflammation in the Brain
Chronic stress and high cortisol contribute to neuroinflammation, which can lead to brain fog, fatigue, and even depression. Oh hello! If I had a £1 for every woman I meet with brain fog each day I'd be a millionaire!
Progesterone has anti-inflammatory properties, protecting brain cells from damage and supporting cognitive function.
Progesterone Supports Dopamine and Serotonin
Low progesterone can lead to dopamine dysregulation, making motivation and focus harder to sustain (an issue both in perimenopause and burnout).
It also influences serotonin, the brain’s mood stabiliser, which is why low progesterone is linked to low mood and emotional sensitivity.
Why This Matters If You’re Perimenopausal or Burned Out
If you’re perimenopausal, progesterone is one of the first hormones to decline, often leading to sleep issues, mood swings, and heightened anxiety, long before oestrogen levels drop. Supplementing with bioidentical progesterone can help balance the transition.
If you're close to burnout, progesterone can act as a brake to an overstimulated nervous system, helping you feel more grounded and less reactive to stress.
But I Don’t Have a Uterus… Do I Still Need It?
Yes! The brain and nervous system still need progesterone, even if there’s no uterus to support. Many doctors focus only on oestrogen replacement post-hysterectomy, but progesterone remains critical for mood, sleep, and stress resilience. My doctors tried to take it off me because I'd had the hysterectomy and I had to push to keep it because I needed it to support my wellbeing.
How to Support Progesterone Naturally
If you’re not ready to try bioidentical progesterone, here are some ways to support your body's natural production:
Manage stress: Chronic cortisol suppresses progesterone levels.
Eat magnesium-rich foods: Magnesium is essential for progesterone synthesis.
Prioritise sleep: Poor sleep worsens hormonal imbalances.
Reduce alcohol and caffeine: Both can interfere with progesterone metabolism. I've been alcohol free now since the beginning of the year and I'm feeling much more settled.
It’s About Feeling Good, Not Just “Getting Through”
For too long, women have been told to “push through” exhaustion, mood swings, and brain fog. But understanding the role of progesterone can be a game changer, whether you’re perimenopausal or recovering from burnout.
This isn’t about hormone replacement for the sake of it. It’s about understanding how your brain and nervous system function best. If you’ve been struggling with poor sleep, anxiety, or feeling like your resilience is shot, progesterone might just be the missing piece of the puzzle.
If this resonates, let’s start the conversation... have you ever considered progesterone as part of your burnout or perimenopause support? Get in touch and share your experience...
