HORMONES

Please note: The terms progestin and progesterone are still being confused. Progestin is the synthetic variety, the mischief-maker. Progesterone is the natural stuff, and, when applied transdermally in a very low-dose cream formula, including tried-and-true herbs (also in small quantities), the mix can be in your best health interest.

Combined estrogen and synthetic progestin doubled the risk of dementia among older women. The latest data on dementia come after findings last year which show that long term use of the drug slightly increases the risks of breast cancer, heart attacks, and strokes in healthy women aged over 50 years. ( JAMA 2002;288: 321-33)

Some facts you can find referenced in the 2002 edition of my book, Hormone Replacement Therapy, Yes or No: How to Make an Informed Decision

~ 1997: Recommendations for hormone replacement therapy for women who do not have symptoms are currently not justified. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology & Reproductive Biology.

~ 1996: Estrogen therapy is associated with a large increase in risk of endometrial cancer, an association that almost certainly is a causal one. Maturitas

~ 1994: Dietary fiber in your diet affects the way prescribed estrogen is metabolized in your liver. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association.

~ 1990: Undesirable effects of estrogen are hard to avoid when estrogen is taken orally. Drugs.

~ 1996: Women with irregular menstrual cycles or other gynecological problems may be at increased risk for chronic fatigue syndrome. Abnormal production of estrogen may play a role in triggering this disease by somehow altering the immune system. This may explain why more women than men are affected by the condition. Medical Tribune News Service

~ 1996: If you are on estrogen replacement therapy, one to two glasses of wine will result in a three-fold increase in the level of estrogen circulating in your blood. Increased blood levels of estrogen may heighten your risk of breast cancer. Estrogen levels of women on estrogen replacement begin to rise within 10 minutes of taking a drink of alcohol. JAMA .

~ 2003: Normalizing progesterone levels increases your natural production of DHEA. Neuroendocrinology Letters; Gynecology & Endocrinology.

~ 1994: Progesin (synthetic progesterone) has an adverse effect on insulin resistance. It can also raise triglycerides. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology

~ 1992: Natural progesterone shows improved lipid profiles (fat), and has no side effects. Optimal Health Guidelines

~ 1993: Natural progesterone is an attractive means of supplementation in postmenopausal HRT without any liver-related side effects. Gynecological Endocrinology.

~ 2003: Progesterone is responsible for increased female libido. This makes sense because of its associated production at the time of maximum fertility. Theriogenology.

~ 1993: With natural progesterone supplements, pregnancies which go to term are significantly better. Journal of Gynecology, Obstetrics, & Biological Reproduction.

~ 1996: Cranberry pills are more effective than cranberry juice for urinary infections. Cranberry pills are more effective than cranberry juice. Medical Tribune News Service.

~ 1996: Progesterone promotes myelin formation in nerves of test animals. [Just think about the benefits this may have for multiple sclerosis patients.] Journal of Steroid Biochemistry & Molecular Biology.

~ 1996: Progesterone inhibits superoxide radical production. Endocrinology.

~ 1995: Progesterone might intensify bone formation and suppress bone resorption, protecting against osteoporosis. Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

~ 1996: Progesterone treatments are used for fibroids. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology Reproductive Biology.

~ 1995: Applying progesterone vaginally leads to significantly higher concentrations and has effects on the uterine mucosa similar to those in a normal cycle. Schweiz Rundsch Med Prax.

~ 1996: Progesterone may be important in the treatment regimens for women with immunological and endocrinological reproductive failure. Human Reproduction.

~ 1987: Supplementation of progesterone beginning in the luteal phase could reduce the risk of spontaneous abortions. International Journal of Fertility.

~ 1996: The vaginal administration of progesterone for 10 days allows useful serum progesterone levels to be reached, especially after estrogen therapy, and induces clear secretary changes in the endometrium. Fertility & Sterility.

~ 1996: The most common cause of painful sexual intercourse is vaginal dryness. Medical Tribune News Service. [Application of a low-dose progesterone cream, described below, with small amounts of several Chinese herbs has been reported to remedy the problem.]

~ 2001: Dry-eye syndrome is an under-recognized side effect of HRT. [Click on the Dry-Eye button for more information at this website.] JAMA.

AN EXCELLENT PLAN FOR WOMEN GETTING OFF HRT

Now that we've put synthetic estrogen to rest, here are some of the scientific conclusions about the benefits of the use of natural progesterone cream: it can protect the cells of the endometrium from proliferating, it can help prevent spontaneous abortions, and it provides an excellent delivery system for this hormone.

Note the details of one study:

Topical progesterone cream has a protective effect on the endometrium.
The average age of women in one study designed to test the effect of transdermal progesterone cream on the endometrium was 55.2 years, and years since menopause was 6.2. All routes and concentrations of progesterone cream (topical and vaginal) resulted in significant decrease in the proliferation of endometrial cells, whereas both topical and vaginal placebo groups showed no change.

Topical and vaginal application of progesterone cream appears to have an antiproliferative effect on the endometrium.

"Transdermal progesterone cream has become a popular alternative to hormone replacement therapy," stated the researchers. And now we have more science to demonstrate its effectiveness.
Source: Obstetrics and Gynecology 2001 Apr;97(4 Suppl 1):S10.

Transdermal (topical) progesterone cream has become a popular alternative to hormone replacement therapy. The cream can be applied vaginally or topically.

Twelve years ago I wrote in my book, Hormone Replacement Therapy, Yes or No, that natural progesterone cream offers an improved delivery method to achieve sustained physiological progesterone levels with a single daily application. New studies confirm this.

For those women who want to get off their synthetic hormone drugs (based on the current widespread news announcement of confirmation of the risks involved), the recommendation is the use of a topically applied cream containing small amounts of tried-and-true herbs, including Siberian ginseng, Dong quai, black cohosh, burdock root, Mexican yam extract, and a small amount of the hormone progesterone. The cream must be formulated for optimal absorption. The reasons for the use of these specific herbs are detailed in my book on hormone replacement therapy.

To avoid temporary symptoms that are likely to occur when you suddenly stop using the hormone drugs, you may want to reduce the drug slowly, while starting the application of the cream. Detailed explanations of how to do this are also cited in the seventh edition of my book, published in 2002 (Hormone Replacement Therapy: Yes or No), available in libraries, at this website, or from Amazon.

Surely you all heard the news about the long-term study on hormone replacement therapy being curtailed because of increased risk of stroke, thrombosis, coronary heart disease events, and invasive breast cancer. Those of you involved in alternative therapies already knew this (especially those who read the first edition of my book twelve years ago).

Switching from an oral HRT synthetic estrogen-progestin combination to the transdermal application of a safe cream decreases the sex hormone binding globulin, thereby increasing free androgens, which increases libido. You may also get rid of bloating, weight gain, depression, etc., when you let go of those drugs. There's lots more good news with making that transition, as explained in my book.

This same cream can also relieve symptoms of PMS, usually caused by the same problems that initiate menopausal symptoms. In other words, if you suffer from PMS, you can look forward to problems with menopause - unless you decide to change your ways now.

If you have trouble finding the right cream at your local health store, send email to us at betty@well.com. You do NOT want a high-dose progesterone cream.

Sources: Journal of the American Medical Association 2002;288:366-368; Hormone Replacement Therapy-Yes or No: How to Make an Informed Decision , B Kamen.