Do Men Have Progesterone? Here’s How It Affects Men


Posted by Prescription Hope - See Editorial Guidelines (Last Updated On: Mon Jul 10 2023)

There are multitudes of hormones that provide specific functions in the body—the common ones of these being testosterone and estrogen. But progesterone also plays a part in helping manage the body’s day to day functions, which can be affected by health and age. But do men have progesterone?

In this article, we’re going to look at whether men have progesterone and how it affects functions of the body and mind. Along with symptoms and treatments. But first, here’s a quick summary.

Do men have progesterone? Males produce progesterone in their adrenal glands and testes. Progesterone is often better known as a female hormone but is crucial in producing testosterone. Men with low progesterone levels have a higher risk of developing osteoporosis, arthritis, and prostate cancer.

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With that short explanation in mind, we can further examine progesterone and its effect on men.

What is progesterone?

Progesterone is a steroid hormone belonging to a class of hormones called progestogens.

Do Men Have Progesterone

Progesterone occurs naturally in the body, but laboratories can also produce it. Synthetic steroid hormones with progesterone-like properties are called progestin.

Progestin is available as:

  • Injections
  • Capsules
  • Implants
  • Vaginal gels
  • Intrauterine devices (IUD)

In women, progesterone is secreted by the corpus luteum, a temporary endocrine gland that the female body produces after ovulation during the second half of the menstrual cycle.

So, if this hormone is most associated with the female body, do men have progesterone? Yes, they do. But according to medical journals, there is surprisingly very little known about progesterone in men, despite the fact, there is not much that can be accurately measured in the difference between progesterone secretion and progesterone levels in both men and women.

What does progesterone do?

Now that we know that men have progesterone let’s take a look at what progesterone’s function is in men.

Progesterone in men

One of the main hormones in men is testosterone. Well, progesterone is a precursor for testosterone and is considered one of the building blocks for testosterone.

Unfortunately, the natural production of hormones by the testes and adrenals in men starts to decrease with aging and can lead to an imbalance.

This imbalance can lead to lowered testosterone and an increase in estrogen. A man’s health largely relies on a balance between testosterone, progesterone, and male estrogen.

Therefore, irregular progesterone levels in men can lead to a series of problems.

Although progesterone is known mainly for its effects in women, it does have a series of known effects in men, which are listed below.

  • Sleep improvement from issues such as sleep apnea
  • The process by which our bodies turn fat into energy
  • Thyroid hormone production
  • Production of bone mass
  • Brain activity
  • Blocking of gonadotropin secretion in the central nervous system

Other effects

Progesterone also has other important effects on:

  • The immune system
  • Adipose tissue (specialized connective tissue consisting of lipid-rich cells called adipocytes)
  • Kidney function
  • Cardiovascular system
  • Behavior
  • Respiratory system
  • Weight gain and appetite in both men and women

In men, some important effects of progesterone are mediated non-genomically, through different molecular biological modes.

In molecular biology and genetics, a genome is all genetic material of an organism, and mode of action (MoA) describes a functional or anatomical change resulting from the exposure of a living organism to a substance.

So, experts predict that men who have any issues relating to progesterone require a different pharmaceutical approach than women because of the above information.

This would be medication to target the endocrine system, where difficulties with progesterone lie.

Some issues of the endocrine system for both men and women include:

  • Low testosterone
  • Diabetes
  • Thyroid disorders
  • Osteoporosis
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Both men and women can have low progesterone levels. This can cause health problems for both sexes.

If your doctor prescribes any treatments for progesterone, then you may be able to get at a cheaper cost than what you think. It’s worth enrolling with us here at Prescription Hope. It’s quick and easy to enroll.

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Low progesterone

Hormone imbalance is one of the leading causes of depression, weight gain, sexual dysfunction, and many other life-changing symptoms.

As mentioned above, progesterone is a precursor for testosterone. So, when men have low levels of progesterone, they will also have low levels of testosterone.

This decrease in testosterone production is sometimes referred to as andropause or male menopause. This phenomenon is similar to female menopause.

However, like progesterone, testosterone treatment is also available to address an imbalance in male testosterone levels.

As men age, testosterone levels gradually decline, with a decrease of around 1% each year after the age of 30. Unlike women, there isn’t any specific situation that marks the entry into this phase, as women have an end to menstruation.

However, in both female and male menopause, hormone levels drop. Some of the symptoms in men are the same as in women, such as low libido, depression, and irritability.

The symptoms experienced may differ from person to person and vary by age. Here are some symptoms you might experience:

  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Muscle loss
  • Fatigue
  • Memory loss or trouble concentrating
  • Arthritis
  • Prostate cancer

What is a normal progesterone level for men?

Do Men Have Progesterone

Progesterone levels in males are similar to those of females in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. This is when the egg follicle on an ovary is getting ready to release an egg.

For men, progesterone levels drop with age. Your doctor will measure progesterone levels with a blood test. The results are shown in nanograms (ng) of progesterone per milliliter (mL) of blood.

A normal progesterone level will depend on many factors. These will include your age and health history.

For men, 300 – 11109 (ng/dl) are given as a normal laboratory range for men 20 to 70 years of age.

However, a drop of 70% from more youthful levels will still produce symptoms that could be termed as within the normal range.

The healthy range that many doctors and professionals work to is the upper end of a normal range with an age adjustment.

Symptoms of low progesterone in men

As males age, testosterone begins to decline, estrogen levels rise, and progesterone levels fall dramatically.

Low progesterone levels in men can lead to:

  • Low libido
  • Weight gain
  • Impotence
  • Aches, pains, and stiffness
  • Fatigue
  • Depression
  • Gynecomastia (breast development in males)
  • Infertility
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Sleep difficulties
  • Depression
  • Lack of skin elasticity
  • Thinning of bones or bone loss
  • Thinning hair, dry hair, and hair loss

How to treat low progesterone in men

Women with low progesterone, especially during or near menopause, might receive hormone replacement therapy, commonly known by its abbreviation as HRT.

The treatment combines progestin and estrogen in a pill or skin patch.

Low progesterone in men can be more problematic to treat, as there is usually an underlying cause for the low progesterone.

When the cause has been discovered and treated by your doctor, it could be that progesterone levels might go back up to healthier levels.

Leading a healthy lifestyle, including exercise, a nutritious diet, 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night, and managing your weight can help keep your hormones in balance.

By restoring the balance between all of your hormones, such as testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, and thyroid, symptoms can be alleviated.

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Closing Thoughts

We hope this has provided an overview of progesterone and answers the question, do men have progesterone. If you’re concerned about any of the above information, then, as always, we recommend you consult your doctor for potential treatments.

For more questions regarding your specific condition, always consult your healthcare provider.

If you’re having trouble affording any of the medications you’ve been prescribed, visit our home page to learn more about Prescription Hope’s medication access service, compare the costs of your current prescriptions, and see how we can help obtain your medications at a cheaper price. Fill out an application today and start receiving Brand-Name prescription medications at your doorstep. Call us at 1-877-296-HOPE (4673) to speak to one of our representatives, we’re always happy to see how we can help.


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