Progesterone has long been used by the women of West Virginia for a variety of reasons, but men and women could be using the female sex hormone for something completely different in the years to come. A new trial has recently begun that could lead to progesterone as a treatment for traumatic brain injuries.

Many people with brain injuries are left unable to work and dependent on disability benefits to cover their medical costs, house payments, food and other costs of living. In two to three years, however, people who have sustained brain injuries may need some down time, but may ultimately be able to continue working and resume living their lives with a new progesterone treatment. The current study is looking into whether progesterone can be used to prevent or diminish brain swelling in patients who received a head injury.

Currently, there are over 100 hospitals across the world that are participating in the brain injury study. Each hospital that is part of the trial is expected to work with 10 to 15 patients who come in with a reported head injury. In total, the trial is expected to include 1,200 patients between the ages of 17 and 70. One snag, however, is that the progesterone injection can only be administered to someone who was injured within the past eight hours.

In the 1980s, American researchers discovered that women were more likely to recover from brain injuries than men, leading to initial conclusions that progesterone had an effect on brain injuries. Studies within the past five years have also shown that progesterone will decrease how much an injured brain will swell, which improves a patient's chances of recovery.

Swelling in the brain cuts off blood to the brain, causing cells to die. This is what leads to partial recoveries or patients who are unable to work after sustaining a head injury. Until the trial is complete, however, West Virginia residents with a traumatic brain injury will need to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits or Supplemental Security Income if they are unable to return to work.

Source: The Daily Mail, "Can female sex hormones beat brain damage? Doctors believe progesterone may have protective effect," Rachel Ellis, Jan. 16, 2012