Bio-identical progesterone cream

Ladies: are you needing help balancing your hormones?

The conventional medical mindset is that menopause is an estrogen deficiency disease resulting from ovarian failure. Women have been led to believe that at the slightest symptoms, they should run out and get estrogen replacement. While estrogen levels will decrease during menopause, the truth is estrogen levels do not fall appreciably until after a woman’s last period. Most ladies maintain 40 to 60% of their premenopausal levels of progesterone. In fact, far more women suffer from the effects of estrogen dominance during the transition — that is, they have too much estrogen relative to progesterone. And some women can suffer from the symptoms of estrogen dominance for 10 to 15 years, beginning as early as age 35 for some.

A brief review of physiology can explain the above. When a woman’s menstrual cycle is normal, estrogen is the dominant hormone for the first two weeks leading up to ovulation. During the last two weeks of the cycle, estrogen is balanced by progesterone. On about the 14th day of the menstrual cycle, ovulation occurs. This is when the developing ovarian follicle releases an egg to be fertilized. The remaining follicle (now called corpus luteum) then starts to produce the hormone progesterone. Women are born with all the follicles they will ever have and after 30 to 40 years of monthly cycles, these eggs and their ability to produce progesterone becomes aged. As a woman enters perimenopause, she may experience anovulatory cycles in which no egg is released. When little to no progesterone is available to the body, estrogen can often go unopposed, causing symptoms. The term for these symptoms is called estrogen dominance.

When estrogen over stimulates the brain and body, the following symptoms may occur:

• Decreased sex drive

• Irregular or abnormal menstrual periods

• Water retention and bloating

• Breast swelling and tenderness

• Headaches

• Mood swings

• Insomnia and trouble sleeping

Progesterone cream can help balance the above effects. It protects against breast cysts, is a natural diuretic, a natural antidepressant, and can stimulate bone building which may help protect against osteoporosis. In one study, 83% of menopausal women got relief from hot flashes with bio-identical progesterone cream.

A word of caution, though.

In our fast-paced society that demands instant gratification, people often feel there should be a pill to solve our every problem. Progesterone cream is not a cure-all or the answer to every problem. If you can’t control your weight, exercise, get enough sleep, or eat properly, don’t expect to balance your hormones. Stress increases cortisol production, and cortisol can either block or compete for progesterone receptors.

How to administer

Progesterone is best administered in a cream form and will take two to three weeks to deliver its full effect. Topical administration is preferred over oral administration because 80 to 90% of the oral dose is lost through the liver.

If you need help balancing your hormones, remember that for many women, estrogens are the third line of treatment after lifestyle interventions and progesterone supplements. Our compounding pharmacists are always available for your questions and consultations by appointment.