Tag Archives: hormone replacement therapy

Can Natural Progesterone Replace HRT?

  By | February 5, 2011 - 4:09 pm | Articles
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HRT or Hormone Replacement Therapy is a somewhat controversial treatment option for menopausal women. Many experts believe that HRT is actually unsafe. It is a synthetic treatment, in other words it is not natural. Whilst some women see positive effects to HRT treatment, others find the long term risks or side effects are not worth it and these women often seek a natural treatment such as natural progesterone.

When HRT is used for long periods of time, as it often is, it is thought to be unsafe to the body. HRT usually involves taking a combined hormonal supplement of both estrogen and progestin. The reason that some experts fear that HRT is unsafe is due to two studies by the Women’s Health Initiative which showed that women who took hormone therapy consisting of estrogen and progestin were at a greater risk of stroke and breast cancer as well as other diseases.

Researchers and doctors were so concerned about the consequences of studying women taking the estrogen-progestin combination that they actually cut short a trial because they found that too many women were suffering health consequences of the treatment.

Besides cancer, some of the other serious effects which synthetic HRT can lead to an increased change of getting include:

Blood sugar disturbances which can lead to diabetes

Blood clots

Gall bladder disease

Liver disease

Heart attacks

High blood pressure and hardening of the arteries

Stroke and thrombosis

On the other hand, natural progesterone does not come with the risks of the scientific form of Hormone Replacement Therapy.

Trials in 1995 showed that natural progesterone is more effective then synthetic progestin when it comes to hearth health. It was also demonstrated that natural progesterone protects against uterine cancer just as well as synthetic progestin does. Unfortunately the drug manufacturers fail to see or acknowledge the benefits of natural progesterone, therefore many women are lead into taking HRT with little regard or knowledge of the consequences.

A study at the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at The University of Texas it was shown that the studied women who were using progesterone cream everyday found relief in their symptoms of menopause. They also did not have the side effects which are so commonly associated with progestins.

Natural progesterone cream can replace HRT when estrogen dominance is a problem. It is a good idea to use natural progesterone cream like NatPro for up to 7 months and if symptoms such as flushes and vaginal irritation persist then an estriol treatment can be used as well. If you do not still have ovaries then your body can still make estrogen from your body fat which means that you may be able to stop your estrogen replacement therapy after around six months.

Natural progesterone is certainly a viable replacement for Hormone Replacement Therapy in some circumstances. You are highly advised to see your doctor before committing to any sort of hormonal treatment as the case will differ for each woman. If you do decide to undertake natural progesterone supplementation as a HRT treatment then do consider NatPro which is an extremely high quality, all natural progesterone cream.


Other sites that may interest you

Definition of menopause - NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms - National ...
Menopause and menopause treatments fact sheet | womenshealth ...
North American Menopause Society - Wikipedia the free encyclopedia


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Natural Plant Estrogen Provide A Natural Hormone Balance

  By | January 7, 2011 - 11:32 am | Articles
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Natural Plant Estrogen Provide A Natural Hormone Balance

To date, the most powerful of these natural products seem to be those that include phytoestrogens plant-based substances containing plant hormones or hormone precursors. These natural plant estrogens are called “phytoestrogens.” They act like your body’s own estrogen and help provide a natural hormone balance. This magic plant contains chemicals called phytoestrogens – natural compounds which mimic the effects of the female sex hormone estrogen. Phytoestrogens (plant-derived estrogen) are a key group of natural substances in natural hormone replacement therapy. Environmental estrogens are a variety of synthetic chemicals and natural plant compounds that are thought to mimic the female hormone estrogen. Black cohosh has plant estrogen hormone qualities and is believed to be a natural hormone replacement.


Mirifem is a safe, all-natural breast supplement rich in plant estrogens and isoflavones. That’s because these substances act as phytoestrogens, naturally occurring plant compounds that bind to estrogen receptor sites in humans cells, including breast cells. The debate centers around whether these natural plant estrogens can stimulate growth of breast cancer cells or not. The bottom line is that plant natural estrogens can protect a woman from breast, ovarian, and uterine cancer in later life.


Phytoestrogens are simply “plant estrogens” that mimic, to a degree, natural estrogen. PHYOTESTROGENS These are natural plant substances that mimic the effects of estrogen without the side effects of synthetic estrogen. Phyto-estrogens, natural plant estrogens, mimic estrogenic activity. Eagon guessed that at least some of the traditional plant medicines for hot flashes contain naturally occurring compounds that mimic estrogen.


The natural plant derived estrogens have the same chemical structure as the estrogen produced by the body. There is no reason to use it when completely plant-based natural estrogens identical to those made in human body are easily available. These God-created plant estrogens bind to estrogen receptors in the body and function as natural estrogens in alleviating menopausal symptoms. DIET Some foods contain natural plant chemicals that may “fool” the body into producing less estrogen. Lignans are phytoestrogens or natural plant estrogens with estrogen-like actions in the body.


The soy isoflavones of Estromineral (genistin and daidzin) are natural plant estrogens that help replenish and maintain hormonal balance. Research in monkeys suggests that the natural plant estrogens found in soy do not increase markers of breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women. Soy Products, such as tofu or soy isoflavone extract, and flaxseed contain high levels of natural plant estrogens. Skincare line, still one step ahead of the rest thanks to Genistein, its exclusive collagen-boosting ingredient that’s a natural plant estrogen found in soy. The magic ingredient in soy protein are the isoflavones, natural plant chemicals that are basically a weak form of estrogen. Another interesting soy is Daiazein which contains phytoestrogen, a natural plant estrogen that has proven to help fight breast cancer. Soy foods contain isoflavones (natural plant estrogen) that have similar properties to human estrogen, but are much weaker.


Isoflavones are concentrated components from soy and other plants which provide safe, natural plant estrogens. Both the estradiol (estrogen) and the testosterone are derived from soy and other natural plant-based ingredients. Another example is the natural estrogen-type compounds (genistein and others) found in soy and red clover and many other plants. The study compared growth-promoting effects on uterine tissue of synthetic estrogen, natural estrogen and genistein, a plant estrogen found in soy. Liew shows how natural plant estrogens, like those found in soy products, can be beneficial to both men and women of any age. Estroven provides natural support before, during and after this transition with: Soy and other plants, sources of natural estrogens, for hormonal balance. The specific plant estrogens, or isoflavones, in soy include daidzein, genistein, formononetin and other naturally occurring compounds.


Promotes breast health.Promotes heart health.Novogen Promensil Natural plant estrogens for women experiencing normal midlife changes. More and more women rely on plant derived phytoestrogens as a natural way to help support a woman’s transition. Some women find relief with “natural” hormones made from plant estrogens that more closely mimic what is produced in the body, said Dr. These women eat plant foods containing estrogen like substances that augment natural estrogen in their bodies. Currently, an estimated two million women are now benefiting from natural ‘plant-derived bio-identical” estrogens and progesterone. It was first released in 1997 in Australia, where it quickly became the bestselling dietary supplement of natural plant estrogens for women. An estimated two million women are now benefiting from natural “plant-derived bio-identical” estrogens and progesterone. If you are approaching menopause.


Menopause’s Secret

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Pueragold is a premuim grade Thai herbal product derived mainly from the White Kwao Krua (Pueraria Mirifica) which contains. Phytoestrogen (Natural Plant Estrogen). This all-natural herbal formula stimulates and rebalances older women and men hormones level.


Pueraria Mirifica CAPSULE Pueragold THAI FDA. G. 10/2003 (E)


ALL Natural Dietary Supplement


High Phytoestrogens (especially isoflavones):


*Reduces Menopausal/Post-Menopausal symptoms


*Increases sensitivity and vitality


*Enhances physical and mental ability


*Darken white hair & increases hair growth


*Alleviates sleep disorder & improves eyesight


*Enhances Breast and Skin Appearance


*Supports Healthy Prostate Function


*Supports Healthy Bone Structure


Ingredients: Pueraria Mirifica and other herbs


Packaging: 60 capsules per box


Recommended Dosage:


Men/Post-Menopausal Women: Take 1 capsule after breakfast and dinner everyday


Precautions: *If should not be used in pregnant women,nursing cervix mothers, or women diagnosed with tumors in estrogen-sensitive organs, e.g., ovary, uterus and breast.


http://www.phuketherb.com/phytoestrogen-natural-plant-estrogen.html

Valipat Munpan is the webmaster of Menopause’s Secret Natural Plant Estrogen Phytoestrogen Rebalances Women Men Hormones Level To Free BREAST SPRAY

$ 40 at http://www.phuketherb.com online since 2001


Article from articlesbase.com

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How More Women Can Survive The Hot Flash

  By | December 28, 2010 - 11:26 am | Articles
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How More Women Can Survive The Hot Flash

A hot flash is not something that can easily be seen by an onlooker; you almost have to be the one under attack. A hot flash can be described as having an intense fever or the feeling you get after standing too long near a blazing fire. It’s an intense uncontrollable heat within a woman’s body that may last a few seconds or up to an hour. Some women have reported having a hot flash as often as every 90 minutes!


Hot flashes are described as sudden waves of heat that primarily affects the head and neck region when blood vessels near the surface of the skin dilate. Some women can predict when they are going to have a hot flash or even the duration and frequency.


During a hot flash, the heart rate increases. The woman begins to react to the heat by perspiring usually on the upper lip or forehead, and some women fan themselves with their hand, a fan, magazine or whatever is available to generate cool air.


Following a hot flash, flushing or redness occurs underneath the skin and for many the body temperature drops as women experience a chill as the body struggles to regain its normal temperature. Some women also experience nighttime hot flashes or night sweats.


Some of the most unpleasant symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes and night sweats, have long been believed to originate in the ovaries. This theory is popular because women experience relief from hot flashes once they replace their lost estrogen.


The most recent theory indicates hot flashes start in the brain because the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland stop reacting normally to estrogen. This occurs because estrogen production affects the part of the brain that controls the body’s temperature. The theory deduces that the drop in estrogen confuses the hypothalamus which is referred to as the body’s thermostat and results in making the body too hot.


Hot flashes can be triggered by spicy food, dairy products, meat products, hot drinks, alcohol, sugar, smoking, caffeine, diet pills, stress, hot weather, hot showers, hot beds, hot rooms, hot tubs, saunas, tobacco, marijuana, anxiety, stress and anger. Women should avoid fried, rich, spicy and sugary foods because they can develop heartburn, acid reflux, and gallstones. Hot flashes are more common in the evening and during hot weather with the most common times identified for hot flashes between six and eight in the morning and six to ten at night.


If you can identify what triggers your hot flashes, that is a good indication of survival during an attack. It is also advisable to keep a record of when your hot flashes happen and what you were eating or doing, or how you were feeling at the time in order to be able to predict when and how the may occur.


The best way to beat a hot flash is naturally. The medical profession has generally ignored natural, less risky remedies for hot flashes to Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Recent studies have shown that medication is not always helpful. However, you should always begin with the least aggressive approach to treating menopausal symptoms which would be natural remedies.


There are some natural remedies that provide relief for menopausal symptoms, such as isoflavones found in soybeans. Isoflavones is similar to the hormone estrogen and when ingested, stimulates estrogen production. Although study results are not entirely consistent, isoflavones from soy and red clover have been found to be helpful for symptoms of menopause.


Bioflavonoids are chemicals found in citrus fruits that have been shown to protect capillaries and other small blood vessels. Bioflavonoids, when taken with Vitamin C, have been found to strengthen and stabilize the capillaries and other small blood vessels which can prevent hot flashes from occurring. The effect on hot flashes may be due to the similarity between certain bioflavonoids and our bodies own estrogens.


Vitamin E supplementation has also been shown to significantly reduce hot flashes. Clinical trials reported that vitamin E controlled flushing in more than 50% of the cases. It is thought that vitamin E may act as an estrogen substitute, thereby reducing the intensity of hot flashes.


Some other herbal supplements that have shown to reduce hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause are: bioflavonoid supplements, evening primrose oil (also used for PMS symptoms), ginseng, black cohosh, chickweed tincture, vitex agnus castii, blue cohosh, dong quai, wild yam root, natural progesterone, licorice root, false unicorn, lachesis, pulsatilla and sarsaparilla. Additionally, other alternative remedies that women can benefit from for relief of hot flashes are sage tea, acupuncture, meditation and biofeedback.


Functional health beverages containing certain fruit or vegetables with the nutrients polyphenols, flavenols and phytosterols also contain estrogen like chemicals that can reduce menopause symptoms.


Testimonials received from functional health beverage users state positive results from menopausal and PMS symptoms when consuming functional health beverages.


Medical Disclaimer

It is important when using herbs and vitamins to pay attention to our bodies’ responses and to remember that natural doesn’t mean we can take large amounts of a substance without thinking of side effects. It is recommended to obtain advice from someone who is familiar with herbs and vitamins for the correct dosages.


Information in this article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to act as a substitute for medical advice provided by a qualified health care provider, nor is any information on this topic intended to diagnose, treat, care or prevent any diseases. Statements have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration.

Janice Willingham is an Internet marketer who likes travel and dabbling in health and wellness products. To find out more information go to:
YourHealthMatters


Article from articlesbase.com


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She needs progesterone, uterus or not! The practice of evidence based medicine and the use of progesterone

  By | December 13, 2010 - 11:27 am | Articles
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She needs progesterone, uterus or not! The practice of evidence based medicine and the use of progesterone

Much too often I get asked about the statement “she doesn’t need progesterone if she doesn’t have a uterus”. It is hard to conceive that medical schools are still teaching the idea that a woman without a uterus does not need progesterone. It’s also hard to believe that large number of practitioners consider this statement true without questioning it. It is not supported by physiology, biochemistry or science.

Synthetic progestins do not imitate well the actions of progesterone outside of the uterus. In fact, medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), the most frequently prescribed synthetic progestin in the U.S., produces the exact opposite effects of endogenous progesterone in almost all, if not all, organs or systems outside of the uterus. The drug first given to us to mimic the effects of natural progesterone works only like progesterone in one organ and everywhere else produces the exact opposite effect of progesterone!

This misguided philosophy results in practitioners not giving progesterone or progestins to patients who have had a hysterectomy, and therefore practitioners never see a direct comparison of the effects of the two different agents on the rest of the body. The above statement helps to keep practitioners from comparing the known proven effects of progesterone on many body systems to the results caused by administration of the “progesterone-mimicking” synthetic progestins. If practitioners would look at the lack of science behind the statement, and the body of evidence supporting overall health benefits of progesterone itself, synthetic progestin use would most likely plummet.

Limiting the use of progesterone to women who have a uterus ignores the science that progesterone has beneficial effects outside of the uterus. Progesterone receptors have been identified in almost every cell in the body; therefore, progesterone has functions throughout the entire body. A quick look at the evidence shows many favorable effects of progesterone, whereas MPA produces unwanted side effects or risks which are the exact opposite of the actions of progesterone.

Breast cancer risk is a chief concern for the majority of women considering hormone replacement therapy. Evidence overwhelmingly shows that any synthetic progestin use, even for a limited time, increases the risk of breast cancer. The longer the use of progestin, or the more testosterone-like the synthetic progestins, the greater the risk becomes. The studies may disagree on how high the risk increase is, but they all agree that synthetic progestins significantly increase the risk of breast cancer. The mechanisms have been identified for the most part, and they are opposite to the mechanisms of endogenous progesterone in breast tissue.

In opposition to the increased risk of synthetic progestins, bioidentical progesterone has been shown to possess anti-proliferative and anti-cancer properties. A low level of endogenous progesterone is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. Clinical studies suggest progesterone therapy protects against breast cancer. Some studies have even shown a decreased risk of breast cancer when natural progestin is added to estrogen therapy.

Speroff’s textbook, Clinical Gynecologic Endocrinology and Infertility, states that the proliferative action of estrogens and the progesterone actions of differentiation and apoptosis are the same in the breast tissue as in the uterus. Therefore, progesterone, and only progesterone, can protect the breast tissue from cancer by the same mechanism that any progestin protects the uterus. Looking at the science, the above statement needs to be modified to “she doesn’t need progesterone if she doesn’t have a uterus or breasts”.

The number one killer of women over the age of 50 is cardiovascular related events. MPA has been shown to completely negate the favorable effects of estrogen on the maintenance of a healthy lipid profile and the cardiovascular benefits of estrogen, and significantly increase cardiovascular risks. In contrast, progesterone works synergistically with estrogen to increase lipid maintenance and cardiovascular health. Based on the difference between MPA and progesterone, the writers of the largest hormone study at its time, the 1995 PEPI study, concluded that “we should be giving woman natural progesterone” (this conclusion has still to be incorporated into mainstream medicine). Based on the evidence, the statement needs to be modified to “she doesn’t need progesterone if she doesn’t have a uterus, breasts or a cardiovascular system”.

Other major health concerns for the aging female patient are the development of osteoporosis and dementia. Progesterone works synergistically with estrogen to provide better bone remodeling through stimulation of bone growth, while progestins do not. While progesterone provides neuroprotective benefits for the nervous system, side effects of synthetic progestins are the opposite. Now we need to correctly state, “she doesn’t need progesterone if she doesn’t have a uterus, breasts, a cardiovascular system, bones, or a brain”!

Additional evidence continues to demonstrate the opposite effects of progesterone vs. the synthetic substitutes. MPA is proliferative and inflammatory; progesterone has been demonstrated to be neutral or slightly anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative in its actions. Progesterone is the drug of choice for protection from further damage in traumatic brain injuries, and in at least two small studies progesterone has been shown to help reverse the debilitating effects of brain injury. MPA causes degenerative changes in the liver, while progesterone does not. Physiologic levels of progesterone augment the release of insulin from the pancreas, while synthetics increase insulin resistance.

The evidence clearly indicates that bioidentical progesterone provides a number of protective benefits not offered by synthetic progestins. Synthetic progestins instead increase risks associated with loss of these protective benefits. Therefore, I would recommend that our health professional educators examine the evidence and teach what the scientific evidence demonstrates: a woman does not need a progestin if she does not have a uterus, but she requires progesterone when it becomes deficient in perimenopause to continue to provide protection of her breasts, heart, blood vessels, bones, nervous system muscles, liver, skin, and perhaps much more yet to be discovered.

Jim Paoletti, R.Ph, FAARM is Director of Provider Education for ZRT Laboratory, Beaverton, Oregon. Jim has over 25 years experience with bio-identical hormone therapies both in clinical practice in retail pharmacy, as a pharmacy consultant, educator, and educational program developer.


Article from articlesbase.com


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Natural Progesterone Cream Inhibits Effects of Too Much Estrogen

  By | November 18, 2010 - 11:36 am | Articles
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Natural Progesterone Cream Inhibits Effects of Too Much Estrogen

Progesterone cream is beneficial for both men and women. Progesterone is a hormone that is made naturally by the human body. It effects every tissue in the body including the uterus, cervix, vagina, the endocrine system, brain cells, fat metabolism, thyroid hormone function, water balance, peripheral nerve myelin sheath synthesis, bone cells, energy production, the immune system, and more. It is not strictly a female hormone. For men progesterone is produced in the adrenal glands in the testes. For women progesterone is made by the corpus luteum of the ovary. The use of natural progesterone cream inhibits the harmful effects of too much estrogen and reverses the effects of “Estrogen Dominance.”

All natural progesterone creams are completely safe. It is a highly fat-soluble compound that is well absorbed when applied to the skin. There have been no known side effects associated with natural progesterone creams. It’s also good to know that progesterone cream is non-toxic. Cape Fear Naturals sells a 2 oz jar of Natural Progesterone Cream, made with 1000mg of USP Micronized progesterone, for only .95. USP stands for “United States Pharmacopia” which refers to the grade or purity of the product. Any product that is labeled USP pharmaceutical grade will be made of the highest quality and purity. It is much better to use natural progesterone versus synthetic progesterone know as progestins. Synthetic progesterone has been show to have undesirable side effects and the body does not process it as well.

Estrogen dominance is a term that refers to what happens when the normal ratio or balance of estrogen to progesterone is changed by excess estrogen or inadequate progesterone. When estrogen is not balanced by adequate progesterone it is very potent and potentially dangerous. Symptoms include weight gain, bloating, mood swings, irritability, tender breasts, headaches, fatigue, depression, hypoglycemia, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and fibrocystic breasts. Women who suffer from PMS and menopausal symptoms will recognize these familiar symptoms. Estrogen dominance has been known to cause or contribute to breast cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrium cancer, and prostate cancer.

For men, having too much estrogen leads to many problems. These include adiposity, breast development, cancer, prostate problems, baldness, and more. Progesterone prevents prostate disease. It inhibits the enzyme 5-alpha reductase, which prevents excess DHT from being produced from testosterone. Having an excess of DHT can lead to cancer and even male baldness. By ensuring that your progesterone levels are balanced you can ensure that your body is not producing too much DHT. A man’s prostate has progesterone receptors and it must constantly have enough blood progesterone to keep them filling in order to have a healthy prostate gland. In men, progesterone is anti-feminizing. It actually increases the libido in men, and in women. All men over the age of 50 should use natural progesterone cream to balance the excess estrogen in the body. A man only needs to use 1/8 teaspoon 5 days a week. It should be applied directly to the scrotum.

For women, having too much estrogen also causes numerous problems such as breast cancer and reproductive cancers. Progesterone balances and opposes the effects of the estrogen. It is also used in hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women. The prostegerone levels fall dramatically when women experience menopause. For some women there is no progesterone being made at all by the body. Women who are experiencing both pre-menopause and menopause can benefit greatly from the use of progesterone cream. When you balance the hormone levels with the use of progesterone cream you can diminish the symptoms associated with pre-menopause and menopause. It has also been show to stimulate bone building, which prevents osteoporosis. Premenopausal women should apply ½ teaspoon daily to stomach, chest or abdomen daily from day 12-26 of the menstrual cycle. Day 1 of the menstrual cycle is the first day of your period. Postmenopausal women should apply ¼ teaspoon daily to chest, stomach or abdomen for 3 out of 4 weeks of the month.

So balance your estrogen and progesterone levels with the use of Natural Progesterone Cream. Be sure you purchase natural, not synthetic, progesterone cream as it is the only one that is proven to work without the adverse side effects. This is a great product for both men and women. As always consult your doctor before the use or addition of any supplement or natural product.

Cape Fear Naturals is a family run business on the Cape Fear River in North Carolina. We only offer products that are clinically proven to be effective and made from natural and safe ingredients. Cape Fear Naturals – (910) 392-3212.


Article from articlesbase.com

Hi Erika, I just wanted to share some things that I’ve learned about natural progesterone and herbs that increase female hormones and also tell you a little about myself. I hope you enjoy. You are such a gentle spirit. Thanks for being you. Take care!


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Q&A: hot flashes?

  By | November 8, 2010 - 11:21 am | Articles
12 Comments

Question by mlipson71: hot flashes?
Got any info about hot flashes?

Best answer:

Answer by iowajessejames
YES YOU ARE GETTING OLD

Give your answer to this question below!


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Natural Progesterone and Bloating

  By | January 26, 2008 - 12:15 pm | Uncategorized
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We’ve all been through it. That “time of the month” when your wasteband seems to have shrunk two sizes, your fingers look like mini sausages and your rings are mysteriously cutting, your feet swell and become at least a half size too big for your shoes, or your blouse and shirt sleeves seem to squeeze the very life blood from your arms. It’s bloating, and it happens to many women coinciding with phases in the menstrual cycle, and beginning often a few days before the onset of menstruation.

Bloating affects a number of women in their childbearing years, and is considered a common complaint. Besides the issues relating to bloating itself, the condition is usually accompanied by weight gain of up to several pounds. Most women learn to expect it, and if the symptoms appear especially troublesome, turn to some form of over-the-counter remedy for a measure of relief. Others turn to more “natural” remedies like increased exercise to “sweat out” the excess water, reduction of salt intake, increased intake of fiber-rich foods or water to “flush out” excess sodium, or an increase in vitamins, especially calcium or magnesium to help alleviate symptoms.

Premenstrual bloating is caused by the body’s retention of water. Seven to ten days prior to the onset of menstruation, the change (increase) in the hormonal levels of estrogen and progesterone cause the body to retain sodium. Hormone replacement therapy (especially estrogen replacement therapy) can also cause bloating. High sodium levels cause the body to retain more fluid from blood in the cells, and the fluid becomes trapped in skin tissues leading to bloating.

Some women have found success in the alleviation of the symptoms of PMS (premenstrual syndrome), including bloating, with the use of natural progesterone. Although there are doctors who discount the effectiveness of natural progesterone in relief of these symptoms, there are other doctors and medical professionals, as well as experts who study the effectiveness of natural remedies that believe it is indeed effective. In this case, natural progesterone is used to restore a better balance between the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which subsequently relieves symptoms of imbalance, including bloating.

Any treatment or remedy should be thoroughly investigated and considered before use. It just may be that you find that the use of natural progesterone is beneficial to you in relieving a number of symptoms of PMS, including bloating.


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What Benefits Are There From Using Natural Progesterone

  By | January 16, 2008 - 2:26 pm | Uncategorized
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During the years that a woman is able to bear children, the hormone progesterone is produced from within her ovaries. In her post-menopausal years, her body continues the production of progesterone in the adrenal glands and fat cells.

“Natural progesterone” is a hormone produced from plants that is biologically identical to the progesterone created in a woman’s ovaries. It is made from soybeans and yams, and is readily accepted by the body.

Natural progesterone works within the body exactly as progesterone manufactured in the body would, causing few if any side effects. For many years, natural progesterone has been used by women consistently and successfully in hormone replacement.

Synthetic progesterone, or progestin, is a man-made hormone that is made using chemical compounds. Also used in hormone replacement therapy (HRT), it can produce various and undesirable side effects including headache, breast tenderness and PMS.

The use of natural progesterone provides women with a means of boosting unacceptably low levels of progesterone in their bodies. Low progesterone levels may allow the hormone estrogen to reach a “dominate” level causing problems such as breast tenderness, water retention, irregular menstrual periods, as well as other, more serious, health issues.

When natural progesterone has been used in treatment, it doesn’t interfere with the performance of estrogen hormones, but works in a balance as it would under natural conditions. One of the concerns of synthetic progesterone use is that it may diminish estrogen benefits.

Some of the benefits of natural progesterone include:

helps prevent fibroids in the uterus
improves sleeping
restores sexual desire
works as an antidepressant
relieves water retention
helps stabilize blood sugar
helps eliminate postpartum depression
helps fight obesity
facilitates thyroid activity
stimulates bone building
helps to restore clear thinking

The use of natural progesterone can help to re-establish hormonal balances in a woman’s body and relieve worsening premenstrual symptoms as a woman approaches menopause. It can be used safely in hormone replacement to restore a woman’s hormonal health to natural, optimal levels both comfortably and successfully.


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What Exactly Are Hot Flashes?

  By | January 16, 2008 - 2:21 pm | Uncategorized
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You may have heard a woman complain about having “hot flashes” and had visions of her head suddenly going up in flames or perhaps you thought she was having brilliant flashes of inspiration for that next greatest product. Hot flashes are actually a symptom some women experience as they go through menopause. Not all women experience them, but enough do that it is a very commonly heard phrase for women in their fifties to hear and to utter – “I am having hot flashes!”. Women going through the life change referred to as “menopause” will experience different symptoms that may be linked to the declining hormone levels in their bodies. Some women experience insomnia, others will swear they have more joint pain then they previously experienced. Many will experience the phenomena known as “hot flashes” which makes them feel flushed, they perspire and feel very warm all in a span of about 30 seconds to several minutes and then it is gone, until the next time it occurs.

The cause of hot flashes has not yet been determined so it is not entirely understood yet what is happening to these women, but the fact that hot flashes makes them feel uncomfortable is understood. Scientist believe that hot flashes may be the result of hormonal and biochemical fluctuations within the woman’s body that is brought on by the decline in her estrogen levels.

The symptom, hot flashes can actually begin for some women (40% of menstruating women) as early as their forties; approximately 10 years before menopause. Most women (80%) who experience hot flashes will see them end within five years. Unfortunately there are the unlucky 10% who will continue to experience the uncomfortable feeling of hot flashes for 10 years.

As if hot flashes were not enough some women who experience them also experience night sweats. Night sweats are when they wake up during the night drenched in wet, uncomfortable sweat! This of course will seriously disturb her sleep and lead to daytime tiredness.

Doctors have traditionally treated the women who experience hot flashes with oral or transdermal (patch) forms of estrogen to replace the declining levels. This is called hormone therapy (HT) or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or simply postmenopausal hormone therapy (PHT). What ever you chose to call it the oral and patch form are available by prescription only so it is necessary to make a doctor’s appointment in order to receive this type of treatment. Women have reported receiving some relieve using these treatments at least in that the frequency of hot flashes were reduced. Studies showed that the frequency could be reduced as much as 80 to 90% so this kind of therapy can bring relief.

The downside to hormone therapy is that women being treated with both estrogen and progesterone therapy experienced an increase in the risk for heart attack, stroke and breast cancer as compared to women who did not undergo hormone therapy. Women receiving only estrogen therapy were only at a higher risk for endometrial cancer (lining of the uterus) in those women who had not had their uterus surgically removed.

Given the risks of hormone therapy each woman who experiences hot flashes and is uncomfortable enough to seek medical help must carefully weigh the benefits of the therapy against the risks. Her decision should be guided by the medical advice of her doctor who can share the latest studies and statistics with her. Her medical history will be a deciding factor as it may influence her particular risk factor.

Women who do decide to use hormone therapy to combat hot flashes should be started out at the lowest possible dosage that will be effective for her to help minimize the risk.

There are alternative medications to hormone therapy they include:

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) – low does of this class of drug has been shown to decrease the occurrence of hot flashes. Some of the drugs tested to show relief are: Effexor, Paxil, Paxil CR and Prozac.

Clonidine, which decreases blood pressure, also has been shown to relieve hot flashes in some women and not in others.

Megestrol acetate is a type of progesterone female hormone that has been shown to be effective in reducing hot flashes, but can only be used short-term. This drug has resulted in weight gain in women who have tried this therapy.

Gabapentin is moderately effective in treating hot flashes but may cause drowsiness in some women.

Women who suffer the symptom of hot flashes should seek medical advice and consider carefully the risk of certain treatments before they start them. As bad as hot flashes are to endure, having to be told they have breast cancer or are suffering from a cardiac condition would be worse as these things may cause permanent health issues where hot flashes will eventually go away.


Other sites that may interest you

Menopause (journal) - Wikipedia the free encyclopedia
Climacteric (human) - Wikipedia the free encyclopedia
Perimenopause: Rocky road to menopause - Harvard Health ...


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Why Wild Yam based Progesterone may not benefit you

  By | January 16, 2008 - 2:19 pm | Uncategorized
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There is a divide in the world of progesterone. On one side are those who believe that wild yams provide the perfect base for progesterone products and on the other side are those who believe that wild yam is of no benefit to humans when used in progesterone formulas.

A yam is a tuber which is grown in Central and South America as well as in certain parts of Africa and Asia. Yams are similar to sweet potatoes (and are often confused as such) but they are in fact a different species of plant.

Wild yams contain diosgenin which is a plant steroid. Our bodies are unable to metabolize diosgenin from wild yam into progesterone; it must be processed by chemical means in laboratories. Obviously this detracts from the “natural” claims of wild yam based progesterone. A product simply can not be classes as natural if it has undergone chemical processing in a laboratory!

In stark contrast to the misleading claim of wild yam being a natural basis for progesterone, NatPro is made from the soya bean and this is actually identical to the progesterone that your body manufacturers itself. No chemical altering and no processing. This makes NatPro all natural compared to the non natural wild yam forms of progesterone.

Wild yam actually stopped being widely used in 1976 when it was found that diosgenin should not be used a principal sterol to synthesize progesterone. Why did people start realizing that wild yam was not beneficial to people? Simply because it was discovered that they do not contain progesterone in their extracts.

It is important for a progesterone cream to have a certain amount of progesterone in it. The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology stated in a study in 1999 that this level should be at least 30 milligrams per gram.

Wild yam based progesterone creams were found to have as little as 5 milligrams per ounce. Some even had none at all!
The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology even stated “the creams that are made from Mexican yams are not metabolized to progesterone by women”. Thankfully people are now realizing that wild yam based progesterone is of no benefit to humans.

As mentioned, Natpro uses progesterone which is derived from the soya bean. Being identical to the progesterone found in the human body, soya bean extracts form the perfect base for progesterone creams.

The website Quackwatch.com which keeps track of frauds, myths and misleading information concerning medical products, states that dioscorea villosa, from which the wild yam based cream is supposedly made, is not a source of progesterone and in fact is may even be estrogenic. They claim that the plant is useful in a lab but not in humans.

Quackwatch also go on to say “Not only is there little reason to suppose that Wild Yam Cream would be helpful for the medical conditions for which it is being promoted, but it doubtful that it ever could be as useful as synthetic progesterone.” It should be noted that these comments were made by a qualified doctor and therefore by someone who knows both sides of the story.

It is even said that there is a danger that menopausal women who use wild yam based progesterone could forego or even stop their hormone replacement therapy due to the sometimes deceptive promotion of wild yam based progesterone.

The greatest danger posed by this product and its deceptive promotion is that it will lead many menopausal women to forego or even discontinue appropriate hormone-replacement therapy (HRT).

Wild yam based progesterone is not recommend for women due to the fact that it is not natural and undergoes chemical processing before being sold to the public.


Other sites that may interest you

Category:Menopause - Wikipedia the free encyclopedia
Hormone replacement therapy (menopause) - Wikipedia the free ...
Menopause and menopause treatments fact sheet | womenshealth ...


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