Your doctor isn’t telling you this, but I will. What you’re experiencing: “I started HRT progesterone and now I’m bloated, hungry, and gaining weight. My friend is on the same thing and she’s fine. What’s going on?” What nobody’s explaining: The SAME hormone works completely differently depending on YOUR metabolic health. And if this is happening to you, you’re not stuck. Here’s what the research actually shows: 🧬 The Insulin Connection: Research published in the American Journal of Physiology found that progesterone can inhibit insulin signaling in adipocytes. BUT this effect is dramatically amplified in women with existing insulin resistance. 💡 The Metabolic Context: A 2020 study in Scientific Reports showed progesterone increases glucose production via the liver ONLY when insulin action is already impaired. In metabolically healthy women? It supports normal glucose regulation. 😴 The Cortisol Trade-Off: Your body makes cortisol from the same precursors as progesterone. When y...