What is Progesterone?
Here’s myth busting facts about what progesterone is and is not.
Progesterone belongs to one of the five known groups of steroid hormone. The name stands for progestational steroidal ketone due to its role in gestation, which often is why it has been considered as hormone of pregnancy when in fact it is produced even when pregnancy is not present.
It is not truly correct to say progesterone is a sex hormone nor a female hormone because it does not actually play role in development of sex characteristics and the hormone is also present in males. Rather after progesterone is synthesized within the body it is further converted into other hormones like androstenedione which is precursor of testosterone, estrone and estradiol, the real sex hormones responsible for sexual characteristics in both men and women.
What is Natural Progesterone and How is it Produced?
In humans progesterone is produced in the ovaries, the adrenal glands, and the placenta produces a great amount of it during pregnancy. It is also stored in adipose (fat) tissue. So what is natural progesterone and what is it made from? Progesterone can be converted from steroids found in a number of plant species. Laboratory synthesis of progesterone from plants is possible and this is the natural progesterone you see for sale. The natural progesterone that is obtained from the plant material is bioidentical to the progesterone molecule that is produced by the human body. The molecular structure is exactly the same and when applied the body uses it exactly as it would use progesterone produced by itself. There are no traces of the original plant material remaing just the bioidentical progeterone molecule. When buying any make of natural progesterone ensure that it is USP (United States Pharmacoepia) grade as this ensures quality and means you are getting the best natural progesterone.
Since it is bioidentical the synthesised natural progesterone causes no reactions within the body that could result in side effects. Also by using it in cream form it is absorbed through the skin into the blood and is then transported around the body for use. This is the best way to get progesterone as tablets for example are filtered out by the liver before they have chance to do anything.
When to use progesterone cream
A woman’s cycles can vary from as little as twenty one days to as long as thirty six. The average being twenty eight days. This is the reason that manufacturers of The Pill and HRT pack their product in twenty eight day batches.
The following guide is also based on 28 days, but please bear in mind that if your cycle is longer or shorter, follow that, rather than the average.
How to Gauge Ovulation
To give you some idea, all women, irrespective of the length of their cycle, should start ovulating fourteen days before they start bleeding again. This means that you should start using the cream either at ovulation, if you know when it happens, or fourteen days before your next period is due. The cream should only be used from ovulation,for the last 14 days of the cycle i.e. from day 15If you don’t ovulate or have a period, stick to the 28 day cycle, choosing any day to start.
A twenty one day cycle – Ovulation should occur on day seven
A twenty eight day cycle – Ovulation should occur on day fourteen
A thirty six day cycle – Ovulation should occur on day twenty two
This is the key to understanding how to use natural progesterone cream effectively. If used earlier than ovulation, it will prevent ovulation. In other words it will prevent a woman from making her own progesterone. The idea behind the cream is to supplement the low level of endogenous progesterone i.e. what your body makes during the luteal phase.
The first day of the cycle is the first day of bleeding. There are some women who have what is known as a defective luteal phase, which means that they start bleeding again before the fourteen days are up. A defective luteal phase is often the cause of a failed conception or miscarriage. If this is the case, using progesterone can help to lengthen it.
Using The Cream
A skin cream is the most user friendly of all the ways progesterone can be taken. Oral is wasteful and costly as 80-90% is destroyed as it passes through the gut and the liver and the dose has to be high which causes drowsiness. Injections are painful, buccal drops or pills are very bitter and suppositories are not much fun!
One of the key benefits of understanding how to use natural progesterone cream effectively is that the cream can be applied anywhere… in the vagina or nose for dryness, on piles, painful or achy areas, burns (its amazing on burns), wonderful on the face and so on. Please note: do not use the cream on only one small patch of skin. The continual rubbing on one spot can lead to irritation. The cream will not absorb well either. Although many people believe the thin skinned areas absorb best, a study has shown progesterone is absorbed well by the hair follicles, so it can be used anywhere. It’s best to rotate the area daily.
NB: Progesterone cream is best applied twice a day to keep levels up, so split whatever daily dose is chosen. Some women prefer to use more at night, less in the morning, but it’s up to the individual.
All the successful studies done on progesterone indicate between 100mg to 200mg should be used each day. This equates to 3ml to 6ml of a 3.33% concentration cream per day.
In answering the question how to use natural progesterone cream effectively it must be made clear that there is actually no right or wrong way as it depends on the problem or symptoms one is trying to resolve.
If a woman still has a cycle to follow, then its advisable to follow it, otherwise it can be disrupted. Having said that, if symptoms are severe, the cream can be used every day to get rid of them first and then revert to following the cycle.
Menopause is easier as there are no cycles to follow. In this case the cream can be used every day without a break. If used at the normal daily dose, the body does not become de-sensitised to progesterone.
The correct dosage will invariably depend on your symptoms, the type of hormone imbalance you suffer from-whether it is a peri-or post-menopausal one for instance- as well as many other health factors. However, there is a standard recommended dosage per day, which in most cases will be sufficient to see some improvement within a few weeks. It is best to start with this and then after a couple of months, depending upon symptoms reduce or increase the dose.
Another great tip when using the natural progesterone cream is to rotate the different areas where you apply it. Choosing 2 to 3 three different spots on your body will prevent saturating a particular area of your skin. I rotate between each leg, each arm and torso which gives me 5 spots on the body to use.
Now you know the basics of how to use natural progesterone it is up to you to fine tune the details if you want to. Some women find that the recommended starting dosage is not the right amount for them. Feel free to experiment with the amount you use to tune it to your own needs.
Supplemental progesterone usually stops the food and alcohol cravings, depression, painful breasts, cramps, tiredness and anger that occur just prior to bleeding.
Please be aware that bleeding could be heavier for the first one to two months when first starting the cream. Don’t be alarmed, as its the progesterone cleaning out the lining that has built up in the uterus.
The cycle can also be disrupted. If spotting should occur continue using the cream. If a full period should occur early, discontinue the cream counting the first day of bleeding as day 1. Bleeding may also be delayed for a few days. When this occurs, count the first day of bleeding as day 1. Start using the cream again at ovulation or for the last fourteen days of the cycle.
Oestrogen dominance symptoms can also be experienced.
Please note: Stress drops progesterone levels sharply, so if you find symptoms returning it could be you’re going through a particularly stressful time. The reason for this is cortisol, the stress hormone, is made from progesterone. The stress response is a survival instinct, so the body will use any available progesterone and convert it into cortisol to overcome the stress, be it acute or chronic. You should increase the dose of progesterone you are using if symptoms return and then reduce it once the stress has passed.
People have also find that dividing the dose into 2 and applying twice daily works best for them so feel free to try this and see if it is right for you.
Above all else remember there is no right or wrong way of how to use natural progesterone cream. Experiment until you are getting the best for your body and your needs.
Where Can I Buy Natural Progesterone Cream
Natural progesterone is only available in the UK by Mail Order. It is not available over the counter, Boots, in chemists or health food shops. There are several sites where you can buy natural progesterone such as Buy Natural Progesterone
Before you commit where to buy a natural progesterone cream you should check our comparison of the 4 most popular creams and then apply the same principles to any other creams you discover. This research will save you money, prevent disappointment with a poor product and take you only a few minutes.
It is well worth searching for reviews of each product before making your final choice. Always look to see what the delivery costs, delivery speed, guarantee and customer service is like too. If you do all of this I guarantee two things
1. You will be happy with your purchase
2. You will discover that Natpro is the best product for your needs
