Progesterone for Sleep: Everything You Need to Know

Updated September 13, 2024

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Table of Contents

What Is Progesterone?
Symptoms of Low Progesterone
How Progesterone Affects Sleep
Who Should Consider Taking Progesterone for Sleep?
Talking to Your Doctor About Progesterone and Sleep

Low levels of the hormone progesterone can cause sleep difficulties, including insomnia, sleep apnea, and night sweats. This is especially common in individuals who have reached menopause, as progesterone levels decrease. While progesterone supplementation is not a first-line treatment for sleep problems, it may be beneficial for some who are experiencing hormonal changes.

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What Is Progesterone?

Progesterone Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source is a naturally occurring sex hormone that plays an important role in the menstrual cycle and helps maintain the uterus during pregnancy. Doctors may prescribe progesterone—either in its natural or synthetic form—for a variety of purposes.

Menopausal hormone therapy: Formerly known as hormone replacement therapy, some individuals take progesterone pills as part of menopausal hormone therapy, Trusted Source Medline Plus MedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends. View Source which is prescribed to alleviate menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats.
Contraception: Because progesterone can help prevent ovulation, it is used by itself or in combination with other hormones in birth control pills, injections, rings, and intrauterine devices (IUDs).
Fertility treatments: Progesterone may be used in fertility treatments, and it is sometimes prescribed to re-initiate periods Trusted Source Medline Plus MedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends. View Source in people who are of childbearing age but have stopped menstruating.
Gender-affirming care: Occasionally, progesterone is used to suppress testosterone production for transgender women—but it is not typically considered the best option Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. View Source for suppressing male sex hormones and may pose unnecessary risks.

Symptoms of Low Progesterone

In years leading to menopause, the body naturally begins to produce less progesterone, and after a person’s periods stop, progesterone levels remain low. Low progesterone is one of several hormonal changes that contribute to menopausal symptoms, Trusted Source Medline Plus MedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends. View Source which include:

Hot flashes and night sweats
Flushed skin
Mood swings
Low sex drive

Additionally, low progesterone can contribute both directly and indirectly to the sleep problems that are common during and after menopause. These include insomnia, a sleep disorder that can make it hard to fall asleep and stay asleep, and sleep-breathing disorders, such as sleep apnea.

How Progesterone Affects Sleep

Research suggests that progesterone has a beneficial effect on sleep Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source in certain populations, such as post-menopausal individuals and people with sleep apnea. Experts have offered several explanations for why this might be the case, including:

Progesterone decreases menopausal symptoms Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source
Progesterone may promote sleepiness and reduce anxiety Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source
Progesterone appears to increase your respiratory drive, Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. View Source which may help reduce sleep apnea symptoms

Who Should Consider Taking Progesterone for Sleep?

Progesterone is not currently prescribed for the sole purpose of improving sleep. That said, people with sleep problems who also have symptoms or conditions commonly treated by progesterone should talk to their doctors about whether progesterone is a good choice for them, including:

People who have reached menopause and who have had not a hysterectomy
Individuals interested in preventing pregnancy with hormonal forms of contraception
People with irregular periods

“Menopause can cause a lot of uncomfortable symptoms, like night sweats, that can get in the way of a good night’s rest. For certain patients, treating their menopause symptoms with medications like progesterone can help patients sleep through the night.”

Dr. Dustin Cotliar, Sleep Physician

Talking to Your Doctor About Progesterone and Sleep

If you suspect hormone changes are contributing to your sleep difficulties, talk to your doctor about various treatment options, including progesterone. To understand whether progesterone would be a good treatment option for you, your doctor might ask about:

Any vitamins, supplements, or medications you’re currently taking
If you have a personal or family history of reproductive or breast cancers
If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
If you have experienced a miscarriage or had irregular, heavy, or overly painful periods
If you intend to undergo any surgery while taking progesterone

Talk with your doctor about the possible side effects of progesterone, including irritability, fatigue, dizziness, bloating, and breast tenderness.

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Written By

Lucy Bryan, Contributing Writer

Lucy Bryan is a writer and editor with more than a decade of experience in higher education. She holds a B. A. in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an M.F.A. in creative writing from Penn State University.

Medically Reviewed by

Dr. Dustin Cotliar, Sleep Medicine Physician MD

Dustin Cotliar holds a medical degree from the State University of NY (SUNY) Downstate College of Medicine, and a master’s in public health from Columbia University, where he focused on healthcare policy and management. He is board-certified in Emergency Medicine, with over eight years of practice that includes emergency medicine, urgent care, and telemedicine.

Learn more about our Editorial Team

References
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