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Health For You
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Topics of Interest
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Topics of Interest
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ESTROGEN DOMINANCE
If progesterone and estrogen are not at their normal levels, an imbalance occurs that can ultimately cause one of many undesirable conditions. When estrogen levels exceed progesterone levels, this imbalance is referred to as Estrogen Dominance
Estrogen Dominance commonly occurs in the following situations:
Estrogen replacement therapy
Premenopause
Exposure to xenoestrogens
Birth control pills (with excessive estrogen component)
Hysterectomy
Postmenopause (especially in overweight women)
It is almost always progesterone, NOT estrogen, that is deficient. When balance is restored by increasing natural progesterone levels, the symptoms usually disappear. Natural progesterone is created by the ovaries at the time of ovulation. A woman can have her period and still not ovulate. If she does not ovulate, she will not create the progesterone necessary to remove the fiber and lining that has been stored. The repeated storing without the essential cleaning can eventually lead to fibrocystic breast disease, endometriosis, uterine cysts, bloating, weight gain and depression. After menopause, ovaries no longer produce at pre-menopause levels. Although estrogen is typically only produced at 40% of previous amounts, it is usually still adequate for most women. It is not a lack of ESTROGEN that creates the problems. It is the lack of PROGESTERONE. If a woman's body is given back the progesterone it can no longer produce, menopausal symptoms may subside! Balance is essential. The following is a list of symptoms that can be caused or worsened by estrogen dominance.
Acceleration of aging process
Irritability
Allergies
Miscarriage
Breast tenderness
Osteoporosis
Decreased sex drive
Premenopausal bone loss
Depression
PMS
Fatigue
Thyroid dysfunction
Fibrocystic breasts
Uterine cancer
Foggy thinking/Memory loss
Uterine fibroids
Headaches
Water retention, bloating
Hypoglycemia
Fat gain
Increased blood clotting
Gallbladder disease
Infertility
Autoimmune disorders
OSTEOPOROSIS
In the United States, approximately 24 million people are affected by osteoporosis, at a medical cost of over $10 billion, and as many as 1.5 million fractures leading to disability, deterioration, and death.
Osteoporosis is the most common metabolic bone disease in the country. The gradual loss of bone slightly increases during menopause, and then reverts back a year or so thereafter. The association of accelerated bone loss with menopause has led doctors to prescribe estrogen supplements during menopause to reduce the chances Dr. John Lee suggests that osteoporosis in women as they age is due to decreasing levels of progesterone, NOT estrogen.
Jerilyn C. Prior, M.D., and her associates also found evidence of progesterone's possible role in countering osteoporosis in a study of sixty-six Premenopausal women between twenty-one and forty-one years of age. All these women were long-distance marathon runners. It was observed after twelve months that: The average spinal bone density decreased by about 2%... However, women who developed ovulation disturbances during the study lost 4.2% of their bone mass in one year. While there was no correlation between the rate of bone losses and serum levels of estrogen, there was a close relationship between indicators of progesterone status and bone loss.
The presence or absence of estrogen supplements had no discernible effect on osteoporosis benefits... Progesterone deficiency rather than estrogen deficiency is a major factor in the pathogenesis of menopausal osteoporosis. (Other factors promoting osteoporosis are excess protein intake, lack of exercise, cigarette smoking, and inadequate vitamins A, D, and C.)
Although there are many forms and ways to take natural progesterone, Dr. Lee acquaints us with the transdermal method. By carefully observing his patients over the course of fifteen years, he proved the effectiveness of transdermal progesterone cream. His work confirmed its safety and its remarkable benefits to his osteoporotic patients who had a history of cancer of the uterus or breast and to those who had diabetes, vascular disorders, and other conditions.
Dr. Lee had hoped that the progesterone would strengthen his patients' bones. To his surprise, it did; their bone mineral density tests showed progressive improvement and the number of his patients suffering osteoporotic fracture dropped to zero.
Dr. Lee points out that the "conventional treatment of osteoporosis with estrogen, with or without supplemental calcium and vitamin D, tends to delay bone mass loss, but not reverse it." His investigation into using transdermal progesterone cream instead of a synthetic estrogen replacement treatment demonstrates that "osteoporosis subsided, musculoskeletal strength and mobility increased, and monthly vaginal bleeding did not occur." Most striking were the results of the dual-photon densitometry tests: "a 5-10% increase in bone mineral density; and this was even evident to the women who were 25 years after menopause."
After years of researching transdermal progesterone supplementation, Dr. Lee observed in his patients "a progressive increase in bone mineral density and definite clinical improvement including fracture prevention..." He concluded that "osteoporosis reversal is a clinical reality using a natural form of progesterone derived from yams that is safe, uncomplicated and inexpensive."
The information above is from the book, "The Estrogen Alternative" (pages 78-83) by Raquel Martin.
MISCARRIAGE & PROGESTERONE
If a woman has had four or five miscarriages in the first six or eight weeks of a pregnancy, this is always due to luteal phase failure, says Dr. John Lee. Progesterone is needed to facilitate implantation and to prevent rejection of the developing embryo, but the follicle may not respond to the ovum with enough. Dr. Lee's recommendation: "Wait till you ovulate, and then four to six days after possible conception do a blood test ( for HCG) to see if you're pregnant. If you are, start the progesterone; that way you will increase you chance of having a healthy baby." Blood tests for pregnancy tend to be positive within seventy-two hours of conception, whereas he says urine pregnancy tests are not usually positive until two weeks after conception.
One of Dr. Lee's notable findings is that there is an immune-suppressing effect in the uterus from higher doses of progesterone. This is important, because when conception takes place, half of the baby's chromosomes are from the male and half of them from the female. That makes the baby's tissue DNA different from the mother's because of the contribution of the father. If there's not a good tissue match, the difference will create tissue rejection. If you try to do a skin graft or a kidney or heart transplant and the tissue isn't the same, the body will reject it. But this doesn’t happen with pregnancy. Why? Because of the progesterone response in the uterus. It's a site-selective action that doesn’t occur anywhere else in the body; therefore, the baby is not rejected. By giving more progesterone after conception, you thus increase the likelihood that the baby will survive.
Looking at the problem from another perspective, Dr. Lita Lee informs us that "after conception progesterone prevents miscarriages resulting from excess estrogen." It is interesting to note the consistency of the research, as in Dr. Peat's study, indication that "pregnancy toxemia and tendency to miscarry or deliver prematurely are often corrected by progesterone." Dr. Peat goes on to say, "My dissertation research, which established that an estrogen excess kills the embryo by suffocation, and that progesterone protects the embryo by promoting the delivery of both oxygen and glucose, didn't strike a responsive chord in the journals which are heavily influenced by funds from the drug industry."
It is a fact that if a pregnant woman produces too much estrogen, her embryo can be suffocated (hypoxia). Dr. Lita Lee cautions that during the ninth week of pregnancy, a woman can lose her baby if she is a "high estrogen producer and/or [is] consuming commercial meat, poultry and dairy products containing synthetic estrogen (DES)." However, she goes on to say that natural progesterone "has been known to protect against the toxic effects of excess estrogen, including abortion." Make certain, if hormones are prescribed during pregnancy, that they are not the synthetic progestins or estrogens but the natural micronized products. We now know that artificial hormones can be dangerous to the fetus during pregnancy.
Dr. John Lee stresses that synthetic compounds cannot be efficiently "excreted by one’s usual enzymatic mechanisms. Despite their advertisements, synthetic hormones are not equivalent to natural hormones." Side effect can include fatigue, elevation of cholesterol, heart palpitations, headaches, depression, emotional disorders, weight gain, bloating, and more.
The information above is from the book, "The Estrogen Alternative
EPILEPSY & PROGESTERONE
Dr. Ray Peat has detailed studies showing that when epilepsy occurs prior to menstruation, it is often relieved by progesterone therapy. This therapy has also been used with success in suicidal depression, Reynaud's phenomenon, Meniere's disease (inner ear), kidney disorders, and abnormal liver metabolism.
This has been validated by Dr. Dalton, who says, "One of the most satisfying experiences is to diagnose and treat a woman with premenstrual epilepsy. She can be treated with progesterone and freed from all anticonvulsant tablets with their many and unpleasant side effect." Dr. Betty Kamen, in her book Hormone Replacement Therapy: Yes or No?, concurs that progesterone has an effect on epileptic seizures because of its barbiturate-like mechanism of action on brain metabolites.
This item, which appeared on the Internet, seems to corroborate those statements. It came in from a woman who had suffered in the past with epilepsy. She wrote: "Many years ago, at my absolute worst, I was having 30-50 seizures a day. Since I went on 200 mgs. of natural progesterone (capsule form) a day, I have been nearly seizure-free. I know the vitamins and nutrients that I'm on are also helping.
Dr. Dalton confirms from her experience and study that many of the uncomfortable symptoms normally associated with a woman's monthly cycle occur just prior to and during the first few days of menstruation, and occasionally at ovulation. It is not uncommon to experience pain, depression, and headaches continuing through the first day or two of each menses. However, all these ill effects, often aggravated by stress and its consequential depletion of progesterone, can be bypassed. Once the progesterone is replaced in our bodies naturally, many of our problems clear up. We can avoid the sufferings of hormone deficiency, and whether in our teens or in the postmenopausal period, we can be thankful for the efforts of Dr. Katharina Dalton.
The information above is from the book, "The Estrogen Alternative" (page 54-55) by Raquel Martin
HYPOTHYROIDISM & PROGESTERONE
Low progesterone is often misdiagnosed as thyroid deficiency. Nevertheless, Dr. Peat acknowledges that thyroid hormone is basic to all biological functions and that sometimes both thyroid and progesterone supplements are needed, as “each has a promoting action on the other.” To see whether thyroid supplementation might be needed in addition to the progesterone, he recommends a test called the Achilles tendon reflex, which measures muscle energy by the speed at which the calf muscle relaxes.
“Without adequate thyroid,” says Dr. Peat, “we become sluggish, clumsy, cold, anemic, and subject to infections, heart disease, headaches, cancer, and many other diseases and seem to be prematurely aged.... Foods aren’t assimilated well, so even on a seemingly adequate diet there is ‘internal malnutrition.’ Irregular periods, often leading to needless hysterectomies, are common aspects of hypothyroidism; and breast disease, he says, is another classic manifestation. In explaining this, Mark Perloe, M.D., says, “Too little thyroid production may cause... increased prolactin levels and persistent estrogen stimulation.”
In a conversation, Dr. Peat told us that estrogen (which we can try to balance with supplemental progesterone) inhibits the release of thyroid hormone from the gland, whereas an adequate amount of thyroid hormone, on the other hand, raises natural progesterone production and lowers estrogen. That makes it easy to see how thyroid hormone and progesterone can complement each other. He even made the interesting observation that since estrogen and cortisone weaken the blood vessels, progesterone (along with thyroid supplements) is a good way to help prevent easy bruising.
The information above is from the book, "The Estrogen Alternative" (page 65-66) by Raquel Martin
UTERINE FIBROIDS & OVARIAN CYSTS
Of fibroids that develop in the uterus, Dr. John Lee states they are:
"...another example of estrogen dominance secondary to anovulatory cycles and consequent progesterone deficiency. They generally occur in the 8-10 years before menopause. If sufficient natural progesterone is supplemented from day 12 to day 26 of the menstrual cycle, further growth of fibroids is usually prevented (and often the fibroids regress)."
Ovarian cysts are also a problem in many women. Dr. Peat says these are usually associated with a low thyroid condition, and that administration of thyroid hormone can get rid of them by lowering estrogen levels and making the ovaries produce more progesterone.
Dr. Lee's approach, on the other hand, is to administer just the progesterone directly. He says that "natural progesterone, given from day 5 to day 26 of the menstrual month for two to three cycles, will almost routinely" cause disappearance of these cysts by suppressing normal FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), LH (luteinizing hormone), and estrogen production and giving the ovary time to heal. Furthermore, studies have been reported in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute as far back as 1951 in which progesterone even produced evidence of regression of cervical tumors.
It's reassuring to know that progesterone can protect us in so many ways; but we must all be alert to the fact that the long-range harmful effects of "estrogen dominance" in the body are not widely recognized.
ENDOMETRIOSIS
Majid Ali, M.D., calls endometriosis, which he says afflicts five million American women, “a painful, often disabling disorder that can lead to infertility.” Endometriosis is sometimes treated, mistakenly, with synthetic birth control pills. He blames estrogen “overdrive” for the “growth outside the uterus of misplaced cells that normally line the uterine cavity.” Linda G. Rector-Page, N.D., Ph.D., adds that this tissue often attaches to other organs, and there is a backup of some of the heavy menstrual flow.
Dr. Ali maintains that treatment with synthetic estrogen, so widespread among doctors, is a grave error. In fact, Women on Menopause, by Ann Dickson and Nikki Henriques, reveals that unopposed estrogen was first linked in 1970 to “abnormal cell growth in the endometrium,” resulting also in the possibility of endometrial cancer. Today, women need to be aware of the many other serious side effects when estrogen is administered alone and their progesterone levels are down: nausea, anorexia, vomiting, headaches, and fluid retention leading to weight gain. It is important, say the authors of this book, for women who have other physical disorders to avoid supplementation with only estrogen, for it can exacerbate high blood pressure, diabetes, migraines, and epilepsy.
A study in Sweden also showed that women using high doses of the synthetic estrogen known as ethinylestradiol (used in lower doses in the birth control pill in the United States) had an increased rate of breast cancer. Sandy McFarland, who was suffering from endometriosis, was only nineteen when her gynecologist said she should have a hysterectomy. According the Endometriosis Association, this condition, which affects girls and women from the ages of eleven to fifty, is the leading cause of hysterectomy. Fortunately, Sandy’s father was a nutritionist, and he decided to try to correct what he thought might be a hormone imbalance with natural progesterone. This decision not only saved Sandy’s uterus but also normalized her once irregular periods.
The information above is from the book, " The Estrogen Alternative" (pages 43-44) by Raquel Martin
SO YOU'RE ON PREMARIN?
Have you read the fine print?
If your doctor has precribed Premarin, have you taken the time to read the literature included with your prescription? The following partial product information is furnished by the manufacturer of Premarin, American Home Products, in accordance with FDA regulations. The partial description includes contraindications, warnings, precautions, adverse reactions, acute overdose, when estrogens should not be used, daners of estrogens, side effects,and reducing risk of estrogen use.
The information on this page is not intended to be construed as an opinion of the product, Premarin, or as a recommendation to use or not use the product. Please consult your physician for this advice.
1. ESTROGENS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO INCREASE THE RISK OF ENDOMETRIAL CARCINOMA IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN.
Close clinical surveillance of all women taking estrogens is important. Adequate diagnostic measures, including endometrial sampling when indicated, should be undertaken to rule out malignancy in all cases of undiagnosed persistent or recurring abnormal vaginal bleeding. There currently is no evidence that "natural" estrogens are more or less hazardous than "synthetic" estrogens at equiestrogenic doses.
2.ESTROGENS SHOULD NOT BE USED DURING PREGNANCY.
Estrogen therapy during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of congenital defects in the reproductive organs of the male and female fetus, an increased risk of vaginal adenosis, squamous cell dysplasia of the uterine cervix and vaginal cancer in the female later in life. The 1985 DES Task Force concluded that women who used DES during their pregnancies may subsequently experience an increased risk of breast cancer. However, a causal relationship still is unproven, and the observed level of risk is similar to that for a number of other breast-cancer risk factors.
There is no indication for estrogen therapy during pregnancy. Estrogens are ineffective for the prevention or treatment of threatened or habitual abortion.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Estrogens should not be used in women (or men) with any of the following conditions:
1. Known or suspected pregnancy (see Boxed Warning). Estrogen may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman.
2. Known or suspected cancer of the breast except in appropriately selected patients being treated for metastatic disease.
3. Known or suspected estrogen-dependent neoplasia.
4. Undiagnosed abnormal genital bleeding.
5. Active thrombophlebitis or thromboembolic disorders.
6. Women on estrogen replacement therapy have not been reported to have an increased risk of thrombophlebitis and/or thromboembolic disease. However, there is insufficient information regarding women who have had previous thromboembolic disease.
Premarin Tablets should not be used in patients hypersensitive to their ingredients.
WARNINGS
1. Induction of malignant neoplasms. Some studies have suggested a possible increased incidence of breast cancer in those women on estrogen therapy taking higher doses for prolonged periods of time. The majority of studies, however, have not shown an association with the usual doses used for estrogen replacement therapy. Women on this therapy should have regular breast examinations and should be instructed in breast self-examination. The reported endometrial cancer risk among estrogen users was about 4-fold or greater than in nonusers and appears dependent on duration of treatment and on estrogen dose. There is no significant increased risk associated with the use of estrogens for less than one year. The greatest risk appears associated with prolonged use—five years or more. In one study, persistence of risk was demonstrated for 10 years after cessation of estrogen treatment. In another study, a significant decrease in the incidence of endometrial cancer occurred six months after estrogen withdrawal.
Estrogen therapy during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of fetal congenital reproductive-tract disorders. In females there is an increased risk of vaginal adenosis, squamous cell dysplasia of the cervix, and cancer later in life; in the male, urogenital abnormalities. Although some of these changes are benign, it is not known whether they are precursors of malignancy.
2. Gallbladder disease. A recent study has reported a 2.5-fold increase in the risk of surgically confirmed gallbladder disease in women receiving postmenopausal estrogens.
3. Cardiovascular disease. Large doses of estrogen (5 mg conjugated estrogens per day), comparable to those used to treat cancer of the prostate and breast, have been shown in a large prospective clinical trial in men to increase the risk of nonfatal myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, and thrombophlebitis. It cannot necessarily be extrapolated from men to women. However, to avoid the theoretical cardiovascular risk caused by high estrogen doses, the doses for estrogen replacement therapy should not exceed the recommended dose.
4. Elevated blood pressure. There is no evidence that this may occur with use of estrogens in the menopause. However, blood pressure should be monitored with estrogen use, especially if high doses are used.
5. Hypercalcemia. Administration of estrogens may lead to severe hypercalcemia in patients with breast cancer and bone metastases. If this occurs, the drug should be stopped and appropriate measures taken to reduce the serum calcium level.
PRECAUTIONS
A. GENERAL
1. Addition of a progestin. Studies of the addition of a progestin for seven or more days of a cycle of estrogen administration have reported a lowered incidence of endometrial hyperplasia. Morphological and biochemical studies of endometrium suggest that 10 to 13 days of progestin are needed to provide maximal maturation of the endometrium and to eliminate any hyperplastic changes. Whether this will provide protection from endometrial carcinoma has not been clearly established. There are possible additional risks which may be associated with the inclusion of progestin in estrogen replacement regimens. The potential risks include adverse effects on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. The choice of progestin and dosage may be important in minimizing these adverse effects.
2. Physical examination. A complete medical and family history should be taken prior to the initiation of any estrogen therapy. The pretreatment and periodic physical examinations should include special reference to blood pressure, breasts, abdomen, and pelvic organs, and should include a Papanicolaou smear. As a general rule, estrogen should not be prescribed for longer than one year without another physical examination being performed.
3. Familial hyperlipoproteinemia. Estrogen therapy may be associated with massive elevations of plasma triglycerides leading to pancreatitis and other complications in patients with familial defects of lipoprotein metabolism.
4. Fluid retention. Because estrogens may cause some degree of fluid retention, conditions which might be influenced by this factor, such as asthma, epilepsy, migraine, and cardiac or renal dysfunction, require careful observation.
5. Uterine bleeding and mastodynia. Certain patients may develop undesirable manifestations of estrogenic stimulation, such as abnormal uterine bleeding and mastodynia.
6. Uterine fibroids. Preexisting uterine leiomyomata may increase in size during prolonged high-dose estrogen use.
7. Impaired liver function. Estrogens may be poorly metabolized in patients with impaired liver function and should be administered with caution.
8. Hypercalcemia and renal insufficiency. Prolonged use of estrogens can alter the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus. Estrogens should be used with caution in patients with metabolic bone disease.
B. INFORMATION FOR THE PATIENT
See text of Patient Package Insert which appears after the "How Supplied" section.
C. LABORATORY TESTS
Clinical response at the smallest dose should generally be the guide to estrogen administration for relief of symptoms for those indications in which symptoms are observable. However, for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis see "Dosage and Administration" section. Tests used to measure adequacy of estrogen replacement therapy include serum estrone and estradiol levels and suppression of serum gonadotrophin levels.
D. DRUG/LABORATORY TEST INTERACTIONS
Some of these drug/laboratory test interactions have been observed only with estrogen-progestin combinations (oral contraceptives):
1. Increased prothrombin and factors VII, VIII, IX and X; decreased antithrombin 3; increased norepinephrine-induced platelet aggregability, decreased fibrinolysis.
2. Increased thyroid-binding globulin (TBG) leading to increased circulating total thyroid hormone, as measured by T4 levels determined either by column or by radioimmunoassay. Free T3 resin uptake is decreased, reflecting the elevated TBG; free T4 concentration is unaltered.
3. Impaired glucose tolerance.
4. Reduced response to metyrapone test.
5. Reduced serum folate concentration.
E. MUTAGENESIS AND CARCINOGENESIS
Long-term continuous administration of natural and synthetic estrogens in certain animal species increases the frequency of carcinomas of the breast, cervix, vagina, and liver.
F. PREGNANCY CATEGORY X
Estrogens should not be used during pregnancy. (See "Contraindications" and Boxed Warning.)
G. NURSING MOTHERS
As a general principle, the administration of any drug to nursing mothers should be done only when clearly necessary since many drugs are excreted in human milk.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
(See "Warnings" regarding induction of neoplasia, adverse effects on the fetus, increased incidence of gallbladder disease.) The following additional adverse reactions have been reported with estrogen therapy.
1. Genitourinary system. Changes in vaginal bleeding pattern and abnormal withdrawal bleeding or flow. Breakthrough bleeding, spotting. Increase in size of uterine fibromyomata. Vaginal candidiasis. Change in amount of cervical secretion.
2. Breasts. Tenderness, enlargement.
3. Gastrointestinal. Nausea, vomiting; abdominal cramps, bloating; cholestatic jaundice, pancreatitis.
4. Skin. Chloasma or melasma that may persist when drug is discontinued; erythema multiforme; erythema nodosum; hemorrhagic eruption; loss of scalp hair; hirsutism.
5. Eyes. Steepening of corneal curvature; intolerance of contact lenses.
6. CNS. Headache, migraine, dizziness; mental depression; chorea.
7. Miscellaneous. Increase or decrease in weight; reduced carbohydrate tolerance; aggravation of porphyria; edema; changes in libido.
ACUTE OVERDOSE
Numerous reports of ingestion of large doses of estrogen-containing oral contraceptives by young children indicate that acute serious ill effects do not occur. Overdosage of estrogen may cause nausea and vomiting.
WHEN ESTROGENS SHOULD NOT BE USED
Estrogens should not be used:
During pregnancy. Although the possibility is fairly small, there is a greater risk of having a child born with a birth defect if you take estrogens during pregnancy. A male child may have an increased risk of developing abnormalities of the urinary system and sex organs. A female child may have an increased risk of developing cancer of the vagina or cervix in her teens or twenties. Estrogen is not effective in preventing miscarriage (abortion).
If you have had any heart or circulation problems. Estrogen therapy should be used only after consultation with your physician and only in recommended doses. Patients with a tendency for abnormal blood clotting should avoid estrogen use (see below).
If you have had cancer. Since estrogens increase the risk of certain cancers, you should not take estrogens if you have ever had cancer of the breast or uterus. In certain situations, your doctor may choose to use estrogen in the treatment of breast cancer.
When they are ineffective. Sometimes women experience nervous symptoms or depression during menopause. There is no evidence that estrogens are effective for such symptoms. You may have heard that taking estrogens for long periods (years) after menopause will keep your skin soft and supple and keep you feeling young. There is no evidence that this is so and such long-term treatment may carry serious risks.
DANGERS OF ESTROGENS
Cancer of the uterus. The risk of cancer of the uterus increases the longer estrogens are used and when larger doses are taken. One study showed that when estrogens are discontinued, this increased risk of cancer seems to fall off quickly. In another study, the persistence of risk was demonstrated for 10 years after stopping estrogen treatment. Because of this risk, it is important to take the lowest dose of estrogen that will control your symptoms and to take it only as long as you need it. There is a higher risk of cancer of the uterus if you are overweight, diabetic, or have high blood pressure.
If you have had your uterus removed (total hysterectomy), there is no danger of developing cancer of the uterus.
Cancer of the breast. The majority of studies have shown no association with the usual doses used for estrogen replacement therapy and breast cancer. Some studies have suggested a possible increased incidence of breast cancer in those women taking estrogens for prolonged periods of time and especially if higher doses are used.
Regular breast examinations by a health professional and self-examination are recommended for women receiving estrogen therapy, as they are for all women.
Gallbladder disease. Women who use estrogens after menopause are more likely to develop gallbladder disease needing surgery than women who do not use estrogens.
Abnormal blood clotting. Taking estrogens may increase the risk of blood clots. These clots can cause a stroke, heart attack or pulmonary embolus, any of which may be fatal.
SIDE EFFECTS
In addition to the risks listed above, the following side effects have been reported with estrogen use:
Nausea and vomiting.
Breast tenderness or enlargement.
Enlargement of benign tumors of the uterus.
Retention of excess fluid. This may make some conditions worsen, such as asthma, epilepsy, migraine, heart disease, or kidney disease.
A spotty darkening of the skin, particularly on the face.
REDUCING THE RISKS OF ESTROGEN USE
See your doctor regularly. While you are taking estrogens, it is important that you visit your doctor at least once a year for a physical examination. If members of your family have had breast cancer or if you have ever had breast nodules or an abnormal mammogram (breast X ray), you may need to have more frequent breast examinations.
Reevaluate your need for estrogens. You and your doctor should reevaluate your need for estrogens at least every six months.
Be alert for signs of trouble. Report these or any other unusual side effects to your doctor immediately:
Abnormal bleeding from the vagina.
Pains in the calves or chest, a sudden shortness of breath or coughing blood (indicating possible clots in the legs, heart, or lungs).
Severe headache, dizziness, faintness, or changes in vision, indicating possible clots in the brain or eye.
Breast lumps.
Yellowing of the skin.
Pain, swelling, or tenderness in the abdomen.
NATURAL PROGESTERONE BENEFITS
Helps prevent breast cancer
Protects against breast cysts
Is a natural anti-depressant
Facilitates hormone action
Increases libido (sex drive)
Counterbalances excess estrogen
Is a natural diuretic
Normalizes blood clotting
Normalizes zinc and copper levels
Normalizes blood sugar levels
Restores proper cell oxygen levels
Prevents endometrial cancer
Increases bone building
Helps use fat for energy
WHAT IS IT?
The word "progesterone" was first proposed by William Allen and George Corner in 1934, when they isolated this newly discovered sex hormone. Since then, more than 5,000 plants have been identified as containing substances with "progesterone-like" chemistry. In 1943, Russel Marker successfully manufactured progesterone from the roots of Mexican yams. With minor conversion in the laboratory, the Mexican yam extract, diosgenin, has been made to match natural progesterone exactly. But the manufacture of cortisone and progestogens from the same raw materials attracted far more attention at the time. However, the success of many practitioners has helped progesterone "catch up."
When is the use of progesterone appropriate? Most women could benefit from some type of assistance and, for many, progesterone could be the answer.
Reports of improved well-being with the use of transdermal natural progesterone are impressive. Less anxiety and depression, increased vitality, reduced sleep disturbances, and enhanced sexual libido are all benefits of a product with a track record of total safety!
Compare the differences between estrogen use and progesterone use.
ESTROGENS EFFECTS PROGESTERONE EFFECTS
Stimulates breast cysts Protects against breast cysts
Increases body fat storage Helps use fat for energy
Salt and fluid retention Natural Diuretic
Interferes with thyroid hormone Natural anti-depressant
Increases blood clotting & risk of stroke Normalizes blood clotting
Decreases libido (sex drive) Increases libido
Impairs blood sugar control Normalizes blood sugar levels
Loss of zinc & retention of copper Normalizes zinc & copper levels
Reduced oxygen levels in all cells Restores proper cell oxygen levels
Increase risk of endometrial cancer Prevents endometrial cancer
Increased risk of breast cancer Helps prevent breast cancer
Helps prevent bone loss slightly Increases bone building
The information above is from the book, "Hormone Replacement Therapy - Yes or No?" (page 201-203) by Betty Kamen, Ph.D.
PREGNANCY & PROGESTERONE
RELIEF OF TOXEMIA
A study reported in the British Journal of Psychiatry observed that administering progesterone from the middle trimester of pregnancy for relief of the symptoms of toxemia had some unexpected benefits: "A significant improvement in educational performance was demonstrated among children [whose mothers] received progesterone before the sixteenth week" following conception; and after giving birth their mothers seemed to have greater success at breastfeeding. Clinical observations involving ninety children whose mothers received progesterone were summarized thus:
BREAST FEEDING
More progesterone children were breast-fed at six months, more were standing and walking at one year, and at the age of 9-10 years the progesterone children received significantly better gradings than controls in academic subjects, verbal reasoning, English, arithmetic, [and] craftwork, but showed only average gradings in physical education.
Dr. Katharina Dalton, who conducted these studies, first discovered the amazing benefits of progesterone through personal experience when she found that her own menstrual migraines disappeared during the last six months of pregnancy. She concluded that the high levels of progesterone during pregnancy might have made the difference. She then tested the use of progesterone on other women and found the same rapid relief of both headache and other symptoms. Noting that if symptoms normally associated with PMS should return at any stage of pregnancy, a resumption of progesterone treatment would be indicated, she advises: "You could be wise to arrange prophylactic progesterone during pregnancy."
Dr. Dalton is one of the many scientists and doctors who have discovered that progesterone in the natural form: protects the fetus from miscarriage
increases the potential IQ of the child
produces calmer, less colicky babies
To protect the fetus the body secretes ten to fifteen times more progesterone during pregnancy than at other times. Dr. Lee tells us that the placenta becomes the major source of progesterone, producing 300 to 400 mgs. per day during the third trimester. What a great protection we have during pregnancy with this incredible hormone! And with no known dangerous side effects.
MORNING SICKNESS
Dr. Dalton calls morning sickness "a sign that the ovarian progesterone is insufficient and the placenta is not yet secreting enough progesterone." She says that giving the woman extra progesterone will ease the symptoms. Says Dr. Ray Peat, "Since natural progesterone has been found to reduce the incidence of birth defects, it would seem reasonable to be sure that your own progesterone has returned to normal before getting pregnant."
The information above is from the book " The Estrogen Alternative" (pages 73-74) by Raquel Martin
INFERTILITY & PROGESTERONE
Increasingly in the area of fertility therapy, medical doctors are concentrating on prescribing more natural substances for women. It would be wise to try to locate one in your area who will work with you and understand your needs when it comes to natural hormone replacement therapy. A case in point: natural progesterone for conception. Although under ideal conditions it sometimes works as a contraceptive, progesterone is also, conversely, used in some fertility clinics.
Jerome Check, M.D., an infertility specialist and professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Thomas Jefferson University and Hahnemann University, says that "too often physicians will treat the infertility problem with strong medication or even surgery without checking progesterone levels first...But for many women, progesterone therapy has been very effective in helping them to become pregnant and to carry the child to term. Only after this treatment in tried should more drastic procedures be considered."
An adequate amount of progesterone is crucial to a woman who is trying to become pregnant. It actually prepares the uterine wall for implantation of the fertilized egg. Without sufficient progesterone, the egg will be expelled. Progesterone treatment can also be used to induce fertility when there appears to be ovulatory dysfunction. A study was performed involving fifty women who had lived with infertility for a minimum of one-and-a-half years. Seventy percent of the women conceived within six months while exclusively using progesterone therapy, reports Dr. Check. The Efficacy of Progesterone in Achieving Successful Pregnancy describes this group: Five patients had a history of previous spontaneous abortions; all others had primary infertility. The range of ages was 18 to 39, with an average of 31. Their average period of infertility was 2.8 years in the 35 patients who conceived, and 2.7 years for the entire group.
From all the data it seems clear that natural progesterone therapy offers no risks to the patient and will be likely to benefit those wishing to conceive. Additional reports indicate that without progesterone treatment, women with luteal phase defect are at very high risk for spontaneous abortion. Progesterone has been found to be important in maintaining a pregnancy during the early months.
The information above is from the book, "The Estrogen Alternative" (page 71-72) by Raquel Martin
MENOPAUSE
If has been found that the body stops producing estrogen and progesterone from the ovaries at menopause, but estrogen secretion continues. How is this possible? The adrenal glands, sitting on top of the kidneys, secrete a hormone called androstenidiol. This hormone is converted into estradiol in the fat cells of the body, the main estrogen hormone. Menstruation ceases, but estrogen is continued to be produced at a level of 40% to 50% of normal.
Since the body fat cells are converting androstenidiol into estrogen, and the ovaries have stopped making progesterone, the hormonal problem then becomes too much estrogen, and no progesterone to balance the effects of estrogen. This is called estrogen dominance. This hormonal imbalance is what causes the symptoms of menopause. Some of these symptoms are listed below:
Hot Flashes, Vaginal Dryness,
Headaches, Fatigue,
Depression, Memory Losses,
Water Retention, Dry Skin,
Sleep Disturbances, Thinning Hair,
Decreased Libido, Increase of Facial Hair,
Mood Swings, Aches and Pains,
Irritability
What can be done to relieve these symptoms? There are two choices!
Synthetic estrogen and synthetic progestins- for more information about Premarin, one of the most commonly prescribed estrogen replacements, or
Safe Natural Progesterone, call us at 800-327-8701 or email us at minerals@cyberport.net!
PMS
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is by far the single most common complaint of premenopausal women. Current estimates are that severe PMS occurs in 2.5 to 5 percent of women, and mild PMS occurs in 33 percent of women. PMS was first described in 1931 as a "state of unbearable tension," a description most women can understand to a certain degree. Some women have PMS from the time they begin having menstrual cycles but for most, PMS begins in the premenopausal years, around the mid-thirties, and becomes increasingly severe as the years go on. Although it's possible to create a list of dozens and dozens of PMS symptoms, the most common are bloating/water retention and the resulting weight gain, breast tenderness and lumpiness, headaches, cramps, fatigue, irritability, mood swings, and anxiety. In women with severe PMS, irritability and mood swings can become outbursts of anger and rage. By definition PMS symptoms occur in the two weeks before menstruation and sometimes for a few days into menstruation.
You should know right up front that there is no magic bullet for PMS. A little bit of progesterone will help a lot, and in some women it solves the problem, because it offsets the effects of environmental estrogens and anovulatory cycles, but PMS is a multi-factorial problem that needs to be handled on many physical levels as well as on the emotional level.
Stress is almost always involved in PMS. Stress increases cortisol levels, which blocks progesterone from its receptors. Therefore, normal progesterone levels do not mean that supplemental progesterone is not needed. Extra progesterone is necessary to overcome the blockade of its receptors by cortisol. When a woman discovers she has a handle on controlling her PMS, it will help her manage stress better. Then lower levels of progesterone will work normally again.
For years it was assumed that since PMS symptoms occur when progesterone levels are normally relatively high, that it was progesterone that was causing the symptoms. Theoretically, symptoms could relate either to elevated progesterone levels or progesterone deficiency (estrogen dominance). Elevated levels of progesterone are unlikely since, during pregnancy, progesterone levels are 10 to 20 times higher than normal mid-cycle levels and similar symptoms do not occur. Progesterone deficiency (estrogen dominance) is much more likely since many of the symptoms correlate with estrogen dominance symptoms, most notably water retention, breast swelling, headaches, mood swings, loss of libido, and poor sleep patterns.
A woman's response to her own cyclical hormones is extremely individual, and this is part of the reason that it has been so difficult to pin down the causes of PMS. Estrogen levels that cause anxiety and bloating in one woman will have virtually no effect on another. A woman who sails through an anovulatory cycle with hardly a ripple is in complete contrast to the woman who is plagued by migraines or anger premenstrually when she doesn't ovulate. Birth control pills and premenopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) will cause a long list of side effects (including PMS) in many women, while others will say they feel fine. This is why it's so important that you become familiar with your own body and your own symptoms, and don't let anybody tell you that what you're experiencing is "just an emotional problem," or that an antidepressant or tranquilizer is all you need.
The information above is from the book, "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause", by Dr. John Lee
HORMONE TESTING KITS
Saliva Hormone Testing Kits are available by calling 1-800-327-8701 or e-mail minerals@cyberport.net.
WEANING GUIDE FOR WOMEN WHO ARE USING SYNTHETIC HORMONES
There is nothing harmful in stopping your synthetic hormones immediately when you start using the progesterone cream, however, there could be some uncomfortable symptoms. To help make the transition more comfortable, here is a suggested guide for weaning yourself off the synthetic hormones you are now taking. Ultimately, you have to decide for yourself how fast you can wean yourself off, based on how you feel during the weaning process. The guide below is a good rule of thumb to start with.
First two weeks: Apply the cream in conjunction with your prescription.
Next two weeks: Skip prescription every fourth day.
Next two weeks: Skip prescription every third day.
Continue this process every two weeks, until you have eliminated the used of the synthetic.
This is only a suggested weaning guide. Some women may feel that they need a longer time to get off the prescription, others are able to stop "cold turkey" with little or no effects. Many factors come into play when you are balancing hormones. A lot of the process depends on how long a woman has been taking the synthetics, how much her dosage is, and in what form she is taking the medication. The important thing to remember is to be consistent with the cream during the weaning process. The progesterone will be working to help your body produce the estrogen that you need.
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