Insulin and thyroid hormones may go up, stay the same, or go down. Perhaps least understood are pituitary growth hormone and melatonin, endocrine factors whose production tapers markedly with age. The feasibility of using these hormones is only just now being explored. Estrogen and Progesterone Hormone replacement therapy with estrogen and progesterone is widely advocated to prevent osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. A recent study suggests that the use of progesterone enhances the cardiovascular benefits of estrogen.
Some research even substantiates a direct anti-oxidant effect of estrogen.
The benefits of estrogen in relieving menopausal complaints, enhancing mood, libido and memory, and even forestalling Alzheimer's have been described. While the majority of women do not, in my opinion, require hormone therapy with estrogen, the value of its companion hormone, progesterone, may be underestimated. Natural progesterone, in addition to enhancing fat breakdown and preventing blood clots, counteracts carbohydrate craving that may promote obesity and cardiovascular risk. In addition, progesterone can relieve menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, reverse osteoporosis, and enhance mood and libido. Natural progesterone can be prescribed in oral capsules, or it can be applied to the skin.