Difference Between Estrogen & Progesterone
When women are young, their progesterone and estrogen levels are working optimally, unless they have some specific medical disorder. This allows them to physically mature, get pregnant, give birth and nurse their babies. These hormones are essential to a woman's overall health. If one or the other is out of kilter, you will experience unpleasant symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, lack of a menstrual period or too many periods, weight gain, water retention and a host of other possibilities including infertility.
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Progesterone's Role
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Progesterone prepares the lining of your uterus so that it is a good host for an implanted egg. Progesterone is manufactured when you ovulate. If you don't ovulate, progesterone is not produced and this can cause you to experience too much estrogen, which can result in nasty PMS symptoms. If you have deficient progesterone levels, you may find it difficult to get pregnant or maintain a pregnancy.
Effects
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Progesterone makes your body temperature rise, which is why women who are trying to determine when they are ovulating take their temperature. If they are ovulating, their temperature will rise.
Progesterone causes water retention although it doesn't make you gain weight as can estrogen.
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Estrogen
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Estrogen plays a crucial role in a woman's sexual development as well as her reproductive capabilities. Estrogen regulates the menstrual cycle and keeps your bones, blood vessels, heart and hair healthy. It does stimulate tissue growth and in that respect it can be problematic. It can result in uterine fibroids and breast cancer if there is too much estrogen or too much exposure to estrogen or xenoestrogens, such as pesticides.
No Estrogen
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If you have a hysterectomy and your ovaries are removed, you are immediately in menopause because you are no longer producing estrogen. You are then at risk for developing heart disease, Alzheimer's and osteoporosis, according to Womentowomen.com.
The Good and the Bad
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Progesterone has a calming effect on women while estrogen has the opposite effect. Progesterone also boosts the libido whereas estrogen doesn't. Estrogen keeps your brain sharp.
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