Prometrium is micronized progesterone (a hormone your body makes naturally) in a soft capsule. And it’s prescribed for one of two reasons:
to help induce periods if they’ve become infrequent due to not enough progesterone; or:
to help protect against uterine cancer when used alongside estrogen for menopause.
Unlike other, synthetic, progesterones, Prometrium is a natural form of the hormone (usually taken from soybeans and Mexican yam roots) that’s been ‘micronized’. Micronization is a process that helps the drug to last for longer in your system by decreasing its particle size. This also helps your body to absorb it better. Evidence shows that natural progesterone is less likely to affect mood, cholesterol levels or fertility than synthetic progesterone.[1]
How does Prometrium work?
Prometrium works by increasing your progesterone levels when your body doesn’t make enough by itself. This can be useful if your lack of progesterone has caused your periods to stop, or to protect you from certain risks when you’re taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopause.
When you go through menopause, your body starts to produce less estrogen (a sex hormone involved in fertility). This drop-off in estrogen levels, though, can cause unwanted symptoms, such as low libido, hot flashes and irritability. To improve these symptoms, doctors often prescribe a form of estrogen. But when estrogen is taken on its own it can increase your risk of uterine cancer. Taking a progestin (like Prometrium) alongside it can help to make sure your hormone levels can remain correctly balanced, and lower this risk.
Treated trusted source:
Malik, S. (2016). Natural Micronized Progesterone Sustained Release (SR) and Luteal Phase: Role Redefined!! JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH. [online]
This page was written by The Treated Content Team.
This page was medically reviewed by Dr Daniel Atkinson on December 11, 2023. Next review due on December 11, 2026.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
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How to take Prometrium for menopause
Make sure you clearly follow the instructions of your doctor when taking Prometrium.
Take a single daily dose at bedtime.
The usual dose is 200mg a day.
Take it for 12 continuous days per 28 day cycle (usually days 15-26, but your doctor will advise you on the best days to take it on).
Are there different doses of Prometrium?
Prometrium capsules come in two different doses: 100mg and 200mg. The standard dose for menopause is 200mg a day, but your clinician may recommend taking a lower dose for longer in certain situations. When 200mg a day is taken for 12 continuous days, you’ll usually have a withdrawal bleed (like a period) afterwards. When 100mg is taken for 25 days of each cycle, the withdrawal bleed is typically lighter.
This page was written by The Treated Content Team.
This page was medically reviewed by Dr Daniel Atkinson on December 11, 2023. Next review due on December 11, 2026.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
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Prometrium isn’t suitable for everyone, and there are some things that you need to be aware of when taking it.
Here’s all the official info on it. If anything is unclear, let our clinician know, and they can talk with you about it.
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Prometrium: FAQ
Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
How is Prometrium different to other treatments for menopause?
Answer:
Menopause treatments can come in a range of types and forms (and navigating them can be a little tricky).
Let’s run through the two main options:
Combined HRT. This is where estrogen and progesterone are taken together, often in one single treatment. This form of HRT is for women who haven’t had a hysterectomy, and is available to take orally (tablets or capsules) or transdermally (in skin patches).
Estrogen-only HRT. This is where estrogen is taken alone, typically when there’s no risk of uterus cancer (due to hysterectomy). If you use this but still have a womb, you’ll need to take a separate progestogen (like Prometrium). It’s available orally, transdermally (as skin patches or gels) or locally (as a vaginal treatment that specifically targets symptoms like vaginal dryness).
Within combined HRT, you can take it either continuously (if you’re postmenopausal) or sequentially (if you still get periods).
Prometrium is a little different from a lot of other HRTs in that it’s not used to improve your symptoms per se. The work it does is more ‘under the radar’. It can’t be taken on its own for menopause, but it can only be used alongside estrogen in order to balance out its effects and protect your long-term health.
Is Prometrium bioidentical?
Answer:
Technically, yes. Because it’s not synthetic (just micronized) it can be considered to be bioidentical to the progesterone that your body produces naturally. The jury’s still out as to how much this actually matters, though. Some evidence suggests that natural progesterone is associated with a lower breast cancer risk than synthetic progestins, but more research is needed.[1]
Our experts continually monitor new findings in health and medicine, and we update our articles when new info becomes available.
Dec 10, 2023
Published by: The Treated Content Team.Medically reviewed by: Dr Daniel Atkinson, Clinical Reviewer
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
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Clinical Reviewer
Dr Daniel is a UK doctor who reviews medical content across the site to make sure it's clinically accurate. On specific pages he's reviewed you'll see his reviewer card.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
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