Oral Progesterone for Hot Flashes

oral progesterone improves hot flashes and night sweats

Estrogen therapy has long been associated with the reduction of hot flashes. What about progesterone? One study found that hormone replacement therapy using oral progesterone may help alleviate menopause-related symptoms, including hot flashes and night sweats.

Drs. Christine L. Hitchcock and Jerilynn C. Prior conducted a study that indicates support for the idea that progesterone helps with post-menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats. The 2011 study included 133 healthy women, ages 44 to 62, who received either 300 mg oral progesterone or a placebo for a twelve-week trial period.

The women who took progesterone described significant decreases in the frequency and severity of both day and night-time vasomotor symptoms. In addition, they reported significant improvement in their sleep quality.

  • Hitchcock CL, Prior JC. Oral micronized progesterone for vasomotor symptoms-a placebo-controlled randomized trial in healthy postmenopausal women. 2012 Aug;19(8):886-93. doi: 10.1097/gme.0b013e318247f07a.
  • The Center for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research. Hot Flushes. CeMCOR. http://www.cemcor.ubc.ca/resources/topics/hot-flushes. Last accessed July 2020.
  • Clinicaltrials.gov. Vasomotor Symptoms (VMS) Progesterone Study: Vasomotor Symptoms and Endothelial Function – Trial of Oral Micronized Progesterone. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00152438. Last accessed July 2020.
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