Do I need progesterone if I have had my uterus removed?

If the intent of using progesterone is merely to slough off endometrial tissue, then progesterone would not be necessary. But progesterone is needed by the body to balance estrogen’s effect on the breast and other body sites and to prevent ESTROGEN DOMINANCE, a term coined by Dr. John Lee, so perhaps it should be considered. A recent study conducted by Mayo Clinic researchers, determined that there were impressive and significant improvements in the quality of life issues such as hot flashes, menstrual problems, sexual function, physical complaints, anxiety and depression with the use of natural progesterone. These are important issues for women with and without a uterus since unopposed estrogen, due to insufficient levels of progesterone, can lead to a variety of health problems including breast and ovarian cancer, uterine fibroids and fibrocystic breast disease.

What is the difference between wild yam and progesterone?

Wild yam(Dioscorea barbasco)has been used historically in herbal medicine for women’s health. Some of the actions of wild yam include smooth muscle relaxation and a mild diuretic effect. The human body cannot convert diosgenin, the active ingredient in wild yams, into progesterone.

This can only be accomplished in a laboratory setting. The body may absorb wild yam extract through the skin, which may have some effect on menopausal symptoms, however research on both oral and topical applications of wild yam extract have demonstrated no change in progesterone levels in the body!

How to test to determine if you NEED Progesterone?

The most accurate way to determine your need for progesterone is to test accurately with a SALIVA HORMONE TEST!

Does progesterone help raise estrogen levels?

Progesterone seems to work at various stages and at various levels. These changes occur for the majority of women in the first 10 days, 6-8 weeks, then there is a change at 4 months, another at 7 months, a further change around 12 months and finally another roughly at 18 months, based on the individual and her specific condition. If you are not aware of these stages, you may misinterpret the signs as progesterone losing its effect, when in actual fact it can represent the opposite! Because we are reintroducing progesterone back into the body and thereby sensitizing and stimulating the estrogen receptor sites in the body, there are the immediate, and long term benefits and side effects (estrogen dominance wake-up crisis!). From observation, we have found the immediate benefits which generally occur within the first 10 days of usage range from instant calming, clearer thinking, feeling more grounded, able to cope with stress better, reduction or elimination of headaches, bettered sleep, less PMS type symptoms and less breast tenderness.

On the other side of the coin, as a consequence of bringing progesterone back into the body and waking up estrogen receptor sites, women can actually go through a bit of a roller-coaster of symptoms that can be confusing and uncomfortable if they don’t understand what is happening. It is known that progesterone and estrogen, like many of the hormones in the body, work synergistically. The presence of progesterone sensitizes estrogen receptors in the body, making circulating estrogen levels work better without changing the actual levels of estrogen. Progesterone performs this role with other hormones as well. Since a woman’s body has the ability to produce some estrogens after menopause, many women find that supplementation of progesterone is sufficient for management of their symptoms. In women who are very thin, who have had hysterectomies at a younger age, or who have certain risk factors, like high cholesterol or heightened bone loss, some form of estrogen or phytoestrogens may be necessary to completely fulfill their bodies’ needs.

Keep in mind that the balance of the different hormones is important and should be tailored specifically to the individual.

What is natural progesterone’s role in PMS?

Several different types of PMS have been recognized. Women who suffer from certain kinds of PMS may have a relative excess of estrogen, caused by either a low progesterone level or too much estrogen in relation to progesterone. This condition is often called “estrogen dominance”. Common symptoms of estrogen dominance include breast tenderness, bloating, headache, irritability and mood swings. If a women’s PMS is a result of excess estrogen or insufficient progesterone, then supplementation with progesterone during the second half of her cycle (from the time of ovulation until menses) may help reduce PMS symptoms.

Will using natural progesterone with oral birth control pills alter their effectiveness?

Using natural progesterone should not alter the effectiveness of oral birth control pills provided that the oral birth control pills are taken as prescribed. Birth control pills may be “progestin only” pills (synthetic progestins), or a combination of progestins and estrogen. Adding supplemental progesterone will only increase the progestational effect in the body.

Does progesterone affect hair loss in women?

When progesterone levels fall as a result of ovarian follicle failure (lack of ovulation), the body responds by increasing its production of the adrenal cortical steroid, androstenedione, an alternative precursor for the production of other adrenal cortical hormones. Androstenedione produces some androgenic (male-like) properties, in this case, male pattern hair loss. When progesterone levels are raised by progesterone supplementation (oral or topical), the androstenedione level will gradually fall, and normal hair growth will eventually resume. Since hair growth is a slow process, it may take four to six months for the effects to become apparent.

What is progesterone’s role in preventing breast cancer?