Health For You - FAQ's - Progesterone

FAQ's - Progesterone

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT PROGESTERONE

WHAT IS PROGESTERONE?
Progesterone, is functionally related to, but not a member of, the class of hormones called progestins. Progesterone is the primary building block for all the other steroid hormones. It manufactured by the adrenal glands in both men and women, and in the ovaries in women. Extra quantities of progesterone are also manufactured by the placenta during pregnancy.

WHY IS PROGESTERONE RATHER THAN ESTROGEN, NOW CONSIDERED THE HORMONE OF IMPORTANCE?

Progesterone is capable of transforming itself into estrogen and adrenal steroids. (Adrenal steroids get used up during stress reactions.) It also regulates other vital organ functions, including thyroid performance, glucose metabolism, and mineral mechanisms. When we are oversaturated with estrogen (produced naturally) or estrogen-like substances (obtained from food or environmental pollutants and even from excessive growth of Candida albicans in the gut) we do not seem to be able to compensate with an adequate production of progesterone.

WHY ARE WE ALL SO PROGESTERONE-DEFICIENT?

Contamination of our food supply, pollutants, poor gut ecological balance, poor nutrient status, excessive stress, and ESTROGEN DOMINANCE are all contributing factors.

CAN I USE PROGESTERONE IF I'VE JUST HAD A BABY?

Absolutely! If fact, a major cause for postpartum depression is the reduced progesterone level that sets in about 6 to 10 weeks after delivery. Use of natural progesterone helps to prevent this event, and can help to keep a breast-feeding mother calm.

WON'T HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY PROTECT MY HEART? MY DOCTOR SAYS IT WILL.

Many women are encouraged to take synthetic hormones because of heart-protective reports. A team of Dutch epidemiologists set the record straight. Researchers from Leiden University Hospital in the Netherlands analyzed 18 large HRT studies, comparing the risk of heart disease with the risk of cancer. They showed that the same studies indicating that HRT protected against heart disease also demonstrated low rates of cancer. In fact, the greatest reduction in heart disease correlated with the largest decrease in cancer. But, according to this report, editorialized in the Harvard Health Letter, HRT does not protect against cancer. Endless accepted research validates the increased risk of cancer with the use of HRT. There is no question that women who take HRT have a higher risk of developing cancer. Researchers concluded that the women used in the studies above were healthier than nonusers of HRT and had a lower risk of heart disease in the first place.

CAN PROGESTERONE HELP PMS AND MUSCLE CRAMPING?

Progesterone is a good antispastic. If you have low levels of progesterone or magnesium you may suffer spasms in you temples as well as in your uterus because this impacts on smooth muscle. Rubbing the cream on your temples or pubic area could help your PMS migraine or uterine spasms. Once the migraine or uterine spasm is under way, this remedy won't help.

I'VE HAD BREAST CANCER, CAN I US
PROGESTERONE CREAM?

A study published in Fertility and Sterility in 1995 demonstrated that an increased progesterone level - achieved by applying progesterone to the breast - significantly decreases breast-cell proliferation. Conclusions drawn from this research: Topically -applied progesterone is well absorbed and will reduce the risk of breast cancer because of the decreased cell proliferation. Estrogen Dominance which promotes breast cancer, may be prevented with the use of natural progesterone cream.

I'VE HAD A HYSTERECTOMY, CAN I USE PROGESTERONE CREAM?

Since the hysterectomy has curtailed production of hormones, the use of natural progesterone is highly recommended by nutrition-aware physicians around the country. The longer a woman is exposed to estrogen unopposed by adequate amounts of natural progesterone, the higher the incidence of uterine and breast cancer.

WILL NATURAL PROGESTERONE HELP OVARIAN CYSTS?

At the risk of repetition, natural progesterone cream can help ovarian cysts, PMS, fibrocystic mastitis, infertility, postpartum depression, and more.

I HAVE FIBROIDS, CAN I USE PROGESTERONE CREAM?

William C. Bryce, M.D., of Azusa, California, is among the many physicians recommending natural progesterone cream to his patients. He offers this information about uterine fibroid tumors:

"Fibroids often cause or are coincidental with heavier periods, irregular bleeding, and/or painful periods. Due to their mass, they may cause a dropped uterus later in life when pelvic floor supports weaken, leading to stress urinary incontinence. The good news is that after menopause, they routinely atrophy.

When sufficient natural progesterone is replaced, fibroid tumors no longer grow in size (generally they decrease in size) and can be kept from growing until menopause after which they will atrophy. This is the effect of reversing estrogen dominance."

WHICH IS BETTER? ORAL OR TRANSDERMAL PROGESTERONE?

If you consider that approximately 80% of orally administered progesterone is intercepted by the liver and passed out of the body, unused, and that transdermal cream applied to the skin and is almost 100% biologically available, transdermal cream is the better alternative.

ARE THERE ANY REPORTED SIDE EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH PROGESTERONE CREAM?

There are no reports of any significant side effects or health problems associated with natural progesterone. However, the Physician's Desk Reference has a long list of side effects and contraindications for what is commonly referred to as progesterone, but which are really synthetics.

The information above is from the book, "Hormone Replacement Therapy-Yes or No?"