Research Papers & Clinical Trials
1) Progesterone for treatment of symptomatic menopausal women
Prior JC. Progesterone for treatment of symptomatic menopausal women. Climacteric. 2018 Aug;21(4):358-365. doi: 10.1080/13697137.2018.1472567. Epub 2018 Jul 2. PMID: 29962247.
2) Oral micronized progesterone for perimenopausal night sweats and hot flushes a Phase III Canada-wide randomized placebo-controlled 4 month trial
Prior JC, Cameron A, Fung M, Hitchcock CL, Janssen P, Lee T, Singer J. Oral micronized progesterone for perimenopausal night sweats and hot flushes a Phase III Canada-wide randomized placebo-controlled 4 month trial. Sci Rep. 2023 Jun 5;13(1):9082. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-35826-w. Erratum in: Sci Rep. 2024 Jul 27;14(1):17229. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-68283-0. PMID: 37277418; PMCID: PMC10241804.
3) Progesterone: A Steroid with Wide Range of Effects in Physiology as Well as Human Medicine
Kolatorova L, Vitku J, Suchopar J, Hill M, Parizek A. Progesterone: A Steroid with Wide Range of Effects in Physiology as Well as Human Medicine. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Jul 20;23(14):7989. doi: 10.3390/ijms23147989. PMID: 35887338; PMCID: PMC9322133.
4) Percutaneous administration of progesterone: blood levels and endometrial protection
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15772572/
Stanczyk FZ, Paulson RJ, Roy S. Percutaneous administration of progesterone: blood levels and endometrial protection. Menopause. 2005 Mar;12(2):232-7. doi: 10.1097/00042192-200512020-00019. PMID: 15772572.
5)Endorphins: The brain's natural pain reliever
© 2025 Harvard Health Publishing® of The President and Fellows of Harvard College
6) Progesterone reduces wakefulness in sleep EEG and has no effect on cognition in healthy postmenopausal women
Schüssler P, Kluge M, Yassouridis A, Dresler M, Held K, Zihl J, Steiger A. Progesterone reduces wakefulness in sleep EEG and has no effect on cognition in healthy postmenopausal women. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2008 Sep;33(8):1124-31. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2008.05.013. Epub 2008 Aug 3. PMID: 18676087.
7) Percutaneous absorption of progesterone in postmenopausal women treated with transdermal estrogen
Burry KA, Patton PE, Hermsmeyer K. Percutaneous absorption of progesterone in postmenopausal women treated with transdermal estrogen. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1999 Jun;180(6 Pt 1):1504-11. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9378(99)70046-3. PMID: 10368498.
8) Pharmacokinetics of progesterone in postmenopausal women
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF03192300
Mircioiu, C., Perju, A., Griu, E. et al. Pharmacokinetics of progesterone in postmenopausal women. Eur. J. Drug Metab. Pharmacokinet. 23, 397–402 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03192300
9) Percutaneous progesterone delivery via cream or gel application in postmenopausal women: a randomized cross-over study of progesterone levels in serum, whole blood, saliva, and capillary blood
Du JY, Sanchez P, Kim L, Azen CG, Zava DT, Stanczyk FZ. Percutaneous progesterone delivery via cream or gel application in postmenopausal women: a randomized cross-over study of progesterone levels in serum, whole blood, saliva, and capillary blood. Menopause. 2013 Nov;20(11):1169-75. doi: 10.1097/GME.0b013e31828d39a2. PMID: 23652031.
10) A study to look at hormonal absorption of progesterone cream used in conjunction with transdermal estrogen
Vashisht A, Wadsworth F, Carey A, Carey B, Studd J. A study to look at hormonal absorption of progesterone cream used in conjunction with transdermal estrogen. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2005 Aug;21(2):101-5. doi: 10.1080/09513590500128583. PMID: 16109596.
11) Progesterone as a bone-trophic hormone
Prior JC. Progesterone as a bone-trophic hormone. Endocr Rev. 1990 May;11(2):386-98. doi: 10.1210/edrv-11-2-386. PMID: 2194787.
12) Expression of progesterone receptor in human keratinocytes
Im S, Lee ES, Kim W, Song J, Kim J, Lee M, Kang WH. Expression of progesterone receptor in human keratinocytes. J Korean Med Sci. 2000 Dec;15(6):647-54. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2000.15.6.647. PMID: 11194191; PMCID: PMC3054703.
13) Systemic distribution of progesterone receptor subtypes in human tissues
Asavasupreechar T, Saito R, Miki Y, Edwards DP, Boonyaratanakornkit V, Sasano H. Systemic distribution of progesterone receptor subtypes in human tissues. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2020 May;199:105599. doi: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2020.105599. Epub 2020 Jan 25. PMID: 31991170; PMCID: PMC9968951.
14) Micronized progesterone regulation of the endometrial glandular cycling pool
Moyer DL, Felix JC, Kurman RJ, Cuffie CA. Micronized progesterone regulation of the endometrial glandular cycling pool. Int J Gynecol Pathol. 2001 Oct;20(4):374-9. doi: 10.1097/00004347-200110000-00010. PMID: 11603222.
15) Oral micronized progesterone for vasomotor symptoms--a placebo-controlled randomized trial in healthy postmenopausal women
Hitchcock CL, Prior JC. Oral micronized progesterone for vasomotor symptoms--a placebo-controlled randomized trial in healthy postmenopausal women. Menopause. 2012 Aug;19(8):886-93. doi: 10.1097/gme.0b013e318247f07a. PMID: 22453200.
16) Progesterone in Peri- and Postmenopause: A Review
Regidor PA. Progesterone in Peri- and Postmenopause: A Review. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd. 2014 Nov;74(11):995-1002. doi: 10.1055/s-0034-1383297. PMID: 25484373; PMCID: PMC4245250.
17) Protective actions of progesterone in the cardiovascular system: potential role of membrane progesterone receptors (mPRs) in mediating rapid effects
Thomas P, Pang Y. Protective actions of progesterone in the cardiovascular system: potential role of membrane progesterone receptors (mPRs) in mediating rapid effects. Steroids. 2013 Jun;78(6):583-8. doi: 10.1016/j.steroids.2013.01.003. Epub 2013 Jan 25. PMID: 23357432.
18) Progesterone and Progestin Receptors in the Brain: The Neglected Ones
Jeffrey D. Blaustein, Progesterone and Progestin Receptors in the Brain: The Neglected Ones, Endocrinology, Volume 149, Issue 6, 1 June 2008, Pages 2737–2738, https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2008-0395
19) Erectile Function and Sexual Behavior: A Review of the Role of Nitric Oxide in the Central Nervous System
Melis MR, Argiolas A. Erectile Function and Sexual Behavior: A Review of the Role of Nitric Oxide in the Central Nervous System. Biomolecules. 2021 Dec 11;11(12):1866. doi: 10.3390/biom11121866. PMID: 34944510; PMCID: PMC8699072.
Pang Y, Dong J, Thomas P. Progesterone increases nitric oxide synthesis in human vascular endothelial cells through activation of membrane progesterone receptor-α. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2015 May 15;308(10):E899-911. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00527.2014. Epub 2015 Mar 24. PMID: 25805192.
21) Progesterone receptor function from a behavioral perspective
Mani SK, Blaustein JD, O'Malley BW. Progesterone receptor function from a behavioral perspective. Horm Behav. 1997 Jun;31(3):244-55. doi: 10.1006/hbeh.1997.1393. PMID: 9213138.
22)Progesterone Prevents Sleep Disturbances and Modulates GH, TSH, and Melatonin Secretion in Postmenopausal Women
Anne Caufriez, Rachel Leproult, Mireille L'Hermite-Balériaux, Myriam Kerkhofs, Georges Copinschi, Progesterone Prevents Sleep Disturbances and Modulates GH, TSH, and Melatonin Secretion in Postmenopausal Women, The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Volume 96, Issue 4, 1 April 2011, Pages E614–E623, https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2010-2558
23) The Estrogen-Progesterone Induction of Mating Responses in The Spayed Female Rat
JOHN L. BOLING, RICHARD J. BLANDAU, THE ESTROGEN-PROGESTERONE INDUCTION OF MATING RESPONSES IN THE SPAYED FEMALE RAT, Endocrinology, Volume 25, Issue 3, 1 September 1939, Pages 359–364, https://doi.org/10.1210/endo-25-3-359
24) Feminine sexual behavior: cellular integration of hormonal and afferent information in the rodent forebrain Feminine_sexual_behavior_cellular_integration_of_hormonal_and_afferent_information_in_the_rodent_forebrain
Blaustein, J. D. (2002) “Feminine sexual behavior: cellular integration of hormonal and afferent information in the rodent forebrain.” doi: 10.1016/B978-012532104-4/50004-4.
25) Effectiveness of compounded bioidentical hormone replacement therapy: an observational cohort study
Ruiz AD, Daniels KR, Barner JC, Carson JJ, Frei CR. Effectiveness of compounded bioidentical hormone replacement therapy: an observational cohort study. BMC Womens Health. 2011 Jun 8;11:27. doi: 10.1186/1472-6874-11-27. PMID: 21651797; PMCID: PMC3131235.
26) Progesterone alters GABA and glutamate responsiveness: a possible mechanism for its anxiolytic action
Smith SS, Waterhouse BD, Chapin JK, Woodward DJ. Progesterone alters GABA and glutamate responsiveness: a possible mechanism for its anxiolytic action. Brain Res. 1987 Jan 6;400(2):353-9. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(87)90634-2. PMID: 2880640.
27) Exercise for health for early postmenopausal women: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials
Asikainen TM, Kukkonen-Harjula K, Miilunpalo S. Exercise for health for early postmenopausal women: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Sports Med. 2004;34(11):753-78. doi: 10.2165/00007256-200434110-00004. PMID: 15456348.
28) Physical Activity and Health During the Menopausal Transition
Sternfeld B, Dugan S. Physical activity and health during the menopausal transition. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2011 Sep;38(3):537-66. doi: 10.1016/j.ogc.2011.05.008. PMID: 21961719; PMCID: PMC3270074.
29) Exercise and Quality of Life in Women with Menopausal Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Nguyen TM, Do TTT, Tran TN, Kim JH. Exercise and Quality of Life in Women with Menopausal Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Sep 26;17(19):7049. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17197049. PMID: 32993147; PMCID: PMC7579592.
30) Healing hormone provides hope for brain injury Martha Nolan McKenzieApril 22, 2013, Emory University, Emory News Center.
31) Progesterone inhibits growth of neuroblastoma Emory University, Emory News Center, Dec. 21, 2011.
32) A comprehensive review of the safety and efficacy of bioidentical hormones for the management of menopause and related health risks Moskowitz D. A comprehensive review of the safety and efficacy of bioidentical hormones for the management of menopause and related health risks. Altern Med Rev. 2006 Sep;11(3):208-23. PMID: 17217322.
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