 Effects of natural progesterone10 Progesterone is a hormone secreted in the ovary in the second half of the menstrual cycle. It is made by the empty follicle (the tiny little sack that holds the ovum) after an egg has been released in the process of ovulation. It is vital to the functioning of the reproductive system, because it keeps the natural estrogen in your body, to some extent, under control. This is called opposing it.
Estrogen is, of course, a very important hormone, but if it becomes too dominant it can cause - in addition to the symptoms of an increase in water retention such as weight gain and bloating - premenstrual mood swings and heavy periods.
One of natural progesterone's functions is to oppose the above effects. In the pill - it has to perform the same role. So far, drospirenone appears to do so more efficiently than any other synthetic progestogen used in combined pills. |