|
Up until recently, progesterone has been thought of as a less important hormone than estrogen. Recent work done most notably by Dr. John Lee has revealed that, far from being of lesser importance, progesterone may be the more dominant hormone in premenopausal women. Rather than merely being estrogen’s ugly step-child, useful primarily to "balance" estrogen’s more powerful effects --- we have begun to regard progesterone as the dominant female hormone, while estrogen serves to balance it. Clinically, we have found that progesterone does balance estrogen-dominant symptoms, such as decreased sex drive, depression, abnormal blood sugar levels, fatigue, fuzzy thinking, irritability, thyroid dysfunction, water retention, bone loss, fat gain, and low adrenal function.
Benefits of progesterone
-
balances estrogenic symptoms and estrogen effects
-
enhances bone building and helps avoid osteoporosis
-
serves as precursor to estrogen and testosterone
-
enables pregnancy to continue to term
-
protects against breast and endometrial cancer
-
helps prevent fibrocystic breast disease
-
normalizes blood sugar and promotes fat-burning
Low progesterone levels result when ovulation does not occur. Progesterone plays a critical role in helping women avoid the devastating effects of osteoporosis. This hormone stimulates bone-building cells, so that the very infrastructure of our bones remains strong. Strong bones mean strong bodies --- weak bones can lead to numerous health problems and more rapid physical aging.
Unlike the majority of physicians, Dr. John Lee believes that osteoporosis is actually a disease of progesterone deficiency, unlike conventional wisdom which holds that estrogen plays the major role. When women are in their thirties and forties, their estrogen levels are still relatively high, yet they still begin to loose bone. By the time a woman reaches her thirties, her progesterone levels, however, have begun to decline. This is what led to Dr. Lee to his conclusion that progesterone plays an even more important role in osteoporosis prevention than estrogen.
New research supports use of natural progesterone skin cream as an effective treatment for menopausal symptoms. Women using 1/4 tsp. of 2% progesterone cream (20mg) daily experienced between 85-100% improvement in their hot flashes. In addition, after one year, these women did not demonstrate any progression of bone loss. Bone loss is normally expected in the five years following menopause in women not treated with estrogen.
Historically, the only way around this conundrum has been for natural hormones to be applied topically, i.e. they were mixed into creams and gels and applied to the skin. By this route of administration, they are able bypass both the stomach acid and "first pass" through the liver and enter the circulation directly. This is still a common method used by many people today. Topical hormones creams and gels can be rubbed onto any part of the body, but recently we have begun to suggest application to the soles of the feet. The thinner skin along the inner aspect of the bottom of the foot absorbs topically applied hormones very readily and consistently.
In the last few years, however, "micronized" oral preparations have become available as well. This means that the hormones have been encapsulated into micro-clusters that are able to pass through the GI tract and into the circulation. As such, for many people who found topical application of medications undesirable, oral formulations are now available, and the main advantages of the synthetic hormones are gone.
Typical doses of oral micronized natural progesterone varies from 25-50 mg per day post-menopause up to 100-200 mg daily prior to and during menopause itself. A typical regimen is for natural estrogen (e.g. Tri-Est) to be given for the 1st 25 days of the month, and for progesterone to be added on days 13-25. Alternatively, topical progesterone, which is available without a prescription, may also be used.
|
