Natural progesterone side effects are of concern to anyone new to the idea of using natural progesterone as a therapy. In recent years, natural progesterone has enjoyed increased popularity and usage among women. Users are interested in restoring hormonal imbalances without the use of synthetic hormones and other pharmaceuticals having potentially very dangerous side effects, including various forms of cancers.

Compounding the concern about natural progesterone side effects is the continued reluctance of mainstream medical practitioners to promote and prescribe the use of natural progesterone among patients. While the effects of natural progesterone and hormonal imbalance has been studied for a number of years, the last 30 years has seen a significant increase in the costs related to medical studies and trials, as well as pharmaceutical testing. These days, a great deal of medical research and testing is conducted in close relationship with pharmaceutical companies. It is very possible, and highly probable that these companies may not be so eager to promote a treatment with a product (natural progesterone) for which there can be no patent, and thus no significant financial gain for any pharmaceutical entity.

So what are the possible side effects of using natural progesterone?

First, let’s make the distinction that natural progesterone,  is bioidentical to progesterone manufactured in a human body. It is not a synthetic hormone. Possible side effects are often the result of the dosage used.

If taken in larger than recommended doses, progesterone may contribute to hormonal imbalance and thus cause bloating, increased breast tenderness, increased headache, increased menstrual cramping, increased weight gain and increased mood swings. In addition, natural progestrone creams are absorbed through the skin and accumulate in fatty tissues. Over time, it is possible that this may cause disruptions in the adrenal hormones such as DHEA, cortisol, and testosterone.

Many women use natural progesterone with no side effects. When first using natural progesterone creams, it is advisable to consult a medical professional, and begin by using the lowest recommended dosage until you find the dosage that works best for relieving your problematic symptoms.

Although natural progesterone side effects may be cause for concern, natural progesterone provides relief for a number of women safely and naturally. Educating yourself about its benefits and uses, and consultation with authorities within the medical and health community will help you to make the best decisions regarding your health issues, and find the greatest possible benefits of using natural progesterone therapy.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Estrogen and progesterone are two extremely important hormones in a woman’s body. These two hormones work together throughout a woman’s childbearing years, and continuing even after menopause, forming a delicate balance in maintaining hormonal health. During the first 10 days of a woman’s menstrual cycle, estrogen is produced, followed then by the production of progesterone when ovulation takes place. If pregnancy does not occur, then the levels of both hormones decrease, resulting in menstruation. After menopause, both estrogen and progesterone continue to be produced in the body at decreased levels. Whenever these two hormones are out of balance, the resulting symptoms may be uncomfortable at best, but can lead to situations that are extremely detrimental.

Estrogen/progesterone imbalance occurs when there is an imbalance in the levels of estrogen versus the levels of progesterone in the body. Most often, this condition is manifested in estrogen dominance where there is an excess in the level of estrogen relative to the level of progesterone.

How do you know if you are experiencing symptoms of estrogen/progesterone imbalance?
Symptoms of imbalance between estrogen and progesterone occur as a result of a disruption between the balance of these two very important hormones. Symptoms may include:

Allergy
Depression
Bloating and water retention
Foggy thinking
Endometriosis
PMS
Fibrocystic breasts
Hair loss
Osteoporosis
Dizziness
Facial hair growth
Fatigue
Anxiety
Headaches
Low sex drive
Uterine fibroids
Weight gain

If you suspect that you may be suffering from symptoms of estrogen/progesterone imbalance, it’s a simple matter to be tested to determine whether or not you are. Don’t simply assume that the above symptoms are simple signs of aging. They aren’t. Take control of your health. Be aggressive in finding out the truth about the condition of your body, and steps you may take to improve your condition. If you are suffering with estrogen/progesterone imbalance, it may be that natural progesterone can help in restoring your body’s hormonal balance.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

The fact is that skin hair has been growing in those areas all along, even on a woman’s face. However, prior to the onset of puberty, her skin and facial hair is much more delicate or “fine”, and is characterized by a type of hair called “vellus”. It isn’t until later that the hair becomes a different type known as “terminal”. Terminal hair is coarser, darker, thicker than vellus. An exception to this sequence of hair development is the case of women whose genetics and heredity dictate that they have more skin hair, or a type of skin hair that appears more prevalent than most, from the very outset of development.

The appearance of darker, coarser or increased skin hair is often simply the result of the aging process (a little surprise your mother likely never told you about). As a woman’s body matures, nears and enters menopause, skin hair can increase and its appearance become more prevalent as a result of natural hormonal changes. In other cases, increased skin hair may be a sign of a condition known as “hirsutism”. However the condition is usually accompanied by additional symptoms including increased baldness, menstruation cessation and voice deepening.

Over the years, there have been various methods for combating unwanted skin hair including shaving, tweezing, waxing, hormone treatments, electrolysis and laser treatments. There is an old myth or “wives tale” that continues to be promoted which states that shaving unwanted hair causes the hair to grow back thicker, darker and coarser. It’s not true. What actually happens is that razor shaving causes the shaved hair tip to be cut off bluntly. Consequently, the blunt hair end, as opposed to a fine end, appears larger, coarser and/or darker.

Tweezing and waxing can be their own forms of minor torture, and laser treatments are costly and must be used with caution. Women with darker skin pigments can experience “blotching” of skin tones as a result of laser treatments. Electrolysis is the only permanent form of hair removal, but it can be costly as well, and is often described as a painful process.

For women who experience minimal skin hair growth, the use of natural progesterone can help. Unlike other hormonal treatments, natural progesterone is not manufactured synthetically. It restores progesterone to the body, with the very same chemical makeup of the hormone that the body produces naturally. By restoring the natural hormonal balance of estrogens and progesterone in the body, especially post-menopausal, skin hair can actually decrease and become less noticeable again.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Your head is pounding and it just won’t stop. You can’t eat. You’re nauseated. You can’t stand the thought of even the slightest movement. Light is excruciatingly painful. You simply want to crawl into a hole and die. You have a migraine headache, again.

Migraine headaches are a type of vascular headache, and occur when blood vessels in the skull enlarge, stretching the nerves that surround the temporal artery causing them to release chemicals which cause pain and inflammation, and further artery enlargement. The headaches often cause the activation of the sympathetic nervous system which controls the body’s “primitive” responses. The resulting effects are unpleasant and include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

It is often a difficult task to find effective remedies for migraine headaches. The reason lies in the secondary effects of the headache (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) which make it difficult for any type of oral medication to be absorbed into the system to relieve the problematic symptoms.

While different medications or remedies may alleviate your migraine, causing it to eventually dissipate, it will most likely be back and continue to return repeatedly. Why? Because often times, migraines are treated as ailments in and of themselves. Their fundamental causes then, likely go unidentified and uneliminated, being left to develop again.

Often people think of migraines in terms of cause rather than effect. Unfortunately, migraines can be caused by a number of different factors, yet they’re not always treated as symptoms of another ailment or condition. Are your migraines ever accompanied by other symptoms like mood swings, bloating, painful cramps, hot flashes, breast tenderness, fatigue, unclear thinking? If so, then it is quite possible that your migraines are part of a larger problem; an imbalance of hormones or estrogen dominance.

Estrogen dominance is a condition that exists when the levels of estrogen in the body are unchecked by sufficient levels of progesterone. The condition of estrogen dominance may exist prior to the onset of menopause as well as post-menopausally, and it has the potential of reeking havoc with a woman’s hormonal systems.

Natural progesterone may be a solution to your migraine headaches. If it is determined that your migraines are symptoms of estrogen dominance and hormonal imbalance, then it is possible that treatment with natural progesterone to restore your body’s balance will help in the elimination of migraine headaches and the pain and discomfort that comes with them.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

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.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Natural Progesterone And Hot Flushes

Natural progesterone and hot flushes. How in the world could they possibly be related?

You’ve heard about them for years. Your mother, grandmother, aunts or neighbor ladies have most likely all offered their personal, and animated, descriptions. When a woman gets close to “the change”, she may expect to experience the dreaded hot flushes (hot flashes). They’re “sneaky”, merciless, unforgiving and indiscriminate. They attack with little or no prior warning (other than your heart feeling as if it’s about to beat through your chest), often at the most inopportune times, and causing affected women to feel flush (reddening of the skin surface), overheated, dizzy, sweaty, and weak. According to personal accounts, hot flushes can be miserable experiences, often viewed as having no recourse for prevention or relief.

A majority of women can experience hot flushes (flashes) as they approach menopause. The condition is actually caused by a drop in the level of estrogen in a woman’s body. The decreased level of estrogen somehow affects the hypothalamus, the part of a woman’s brain which regulates such things as sleep, appetite, sex hormones, and body temperature.

With the drop in estrogen, the hypothalamus misinterprets signals and believes the body to be overheating. It then sends messages to other parts of the body; the nervous system, heart, blood vessels, that causes them to act in such a way as to reduce the body’s “overheatedness”. Consequently the heart pumps faster as the blood vessels widen, moving the flow of blood more quickly, in an effort to release heat from the body and cool the body’s system.

Simultaneously, the sweat glands are activated to produce sweat, further advancing the cooling process. And this would be okay, if your body was overheated in the first place, but when it isn’t and the above takes place, the experience is usually one of physical overheating where the body temperature actually rises and then falls, sometimes causing a “chilled” effect. These “episodes” can last from a very brief few seconds to a considerably longer period of time. The length and intensity of hot flushes (flashes) can vary, depending on a number of factors, including medications a woman may be taking, general health, stage of peri-menopause or menopause, whether a woman has experienced a hysterectomy, etc.

So what do natural progesterone and hot flushes have to do with one another?

One of the ways a woman may avoid hot flushes is with the use of natural progesterone. If her hot flushes are not a result of stress related issues or medicine she’s taking as a part of medical treatment, it is likely that she is experiencing a hormonal imbalance of which the hot flushes are a symptom. Natural progesterone can be used as a means of returning a woman’s body to a natural flow. By replacing low levels of natural progesterone in the body, and as a result, the natural balance between estrogen and other hormones, it is quite possible that hot flushes can be reduced or eliminated altogether.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Estrogen dominance is a term originally developed by Dr. John Lee, an extensive researcher of the relationships between estrogen and progesterone. The term estrogen dominance describes the condition that occurs in a woman’s body when estrogen is the dominate hormone in relationship to its natural counter balance with progesterone.

Many people are unaware that women can experience estrogen dominance even with deficient or normal levels of estrogen present in the body. Estrogen dominance in and of itself does not necessarily mean a condition of excessive estrogen. What it does mean is that estrogen is the dominate hormone in its relation to the level of progesterone in the body. So, the overall level of the body’s estrogen can be at a normal level, or it can even be at a deficient level, however, if the level of progesterone is also deficient and at levels not sufficient to counterbalance the effects of estrogen, then there will exist the circumstance of estrogen dominance.

Estrogen dominance can have a number of causes, especially considering the excessive estrogen (or “estrogen-like” chemical compounds) that are now present in our everyday environment. These include products and substances we’re constantly exposed to such as pesticide residue, plastics, meat products, an even furniture.

Symptoms of estrogen dominance make for a long list. They include, but are not limited to, the following:

Allergies, including asthma, hives, rashes, sinus congestion
Early onset of menstruation
Endometrial (uterine) cancer
Autoimmune disorders (lupus, thyroiditis)
Anxiety
Depression
Breast cancer
Breast tenderness
Cervical dysplasia
Decreased sex drive
Breast cysts
Foggy thinking
Infertility
Uterine Fibroids
Increased fat gain (especially abdomen, hips and thighs)
Fatigue
Mood swings
Bone loss
Ovarian cysts
Hair Loss
PMS
Headaches
Hypoglycemia
Increased blood clotting (increasing risk of strokes)
Uterine cancer
Irregular menstrual periods
Irritability
Insomnia
Magnesium deficiency
Memory loss
Water retention
Osteoporosis
Sluggish metabolism
Thyroid dysfunction

It may be difficult for a woman to determine that she may have a condition of estrogen dominance from any one of these symptoms when considered individually. However, if you are experiencing several or a number of these symptoms in conjunction with one another, then there is reason to suspect that your body is operating in a state of estrogen dominance. As soon as you suspect that this may be a possibility, you should visit your medical practitioner and be tested to confirm the condition.

If it is discovered that you are indeed experiencing estrogen dominance, it will be to your benefit to carefully explore and consider all of the options available to you, then select the course of treatment that you and your medical practitioner deem most appropriate to your situation.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

You used to feel sassy, sexy and full of life. You enjoyed the aspects of physical closeness; the natural desire that coincides with a natural, healthy libido. But, that interest in sex, the desire for sex is long gone. You may assume that it’s a natural part of the aging process. But, what if it’s not? Healthy women enjoy a natural interest in and desire for sex. That includes healthy women who are past their childbearing years. Just because a woman has reached or passed her menopausal life stage, by no means indicates that she is no longer interested in sexual activity.

There are many women of all ages who suffer from a lack of libido or low sex drive. And a decreased sex drive can be caused by a number of factors including a low-active pituitary gland, alcoholism, prescription drugs including tranquilizers, diseases such as diabetes, hormonal changes associated with childbirth, and a number of others. However, menopause is not, as popularly believed, a cause of diminished libido. In fact, often times women who have gone through menopause relate increased interest in sexual activity. With the relief of concerns, especially that of unwanted pregnancy, related to sexual activity, some women at later life stages feel a greater sense of freedom and liberation in exploring their sexual desires.

Decreased libido may also be associated with psychological factors in addition to or in place of the physical conditions mentioned above. These may include fatigue, increased stress, depression, anxiety, overwork, living environment, and relationship problems. Ensuring your physical and mental health provides the optimum environment for healthy libido.

One of the circumstances that may manifest itself in low libido is hormonal imbalance. Progesterone is one of the body’s essential hormones, especially for women. It is essential for many of the body’s functions including embryo survival during pregnancy, it is a precursor for the production of cortisone, helps in the use of fat for energy, helps to stabilize blood sugar levels, promotes optimal operation of the thyroid, acts as a natural diuretic, and a natural antidepressant. But one of progesterone’s most important functions is that it works in counterbalance to the varying levels of estrogen in a woman’s body during differing pre and post menopausal stages.

When the cause of diminished libido is found to be due to hormonal imbalance, the restoration of normal levels of progesterone through the use of natural progesterone can help to restore a normal hormonal balance, and thus a normal libido.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Mood swings can be triggered and affected by a number of factors, including those that are mental and emotional, environmental, or physical in origin. Simple things like failing to get enough sleep, going for long periods of time without eating, or being overwhelmed and overworked can affect a woman’s mood. Similarly, equally simple things such as being able to enjoy an extended period of relaxation, or successful completion of an especially difficult task can also have a particular affect on a woman’s mood. But mood swings can also be symptoms of much more serious issues.

After successful studies and the publication of subsequent findings in the 1970’s with regard to premenstrual syndrome and the relationship between hormones and mood, it is now accepted that hormonal changes can and do affect the moods of women, and have the capacity to make women more susceptible to mood swings in general. Some look to the numbers of women being treated for mood disorders including depression and anxiety as evidential proof.

Therefore, maintaining optimum levels and balance between hormones including serotonin, epinephrine and dopamine together with correction of nutrient deficiencies (such as vitamins B12, B6 or folic acid) can be beneficial in regulating mood swings and controlling instances of depression or anxiety. Both serotonin and dopamine are neurotransmitters and act as “messengers” within the nervous system, having the ability to enhance mood. Serotonin tends to have an overall calming effect.
Progesterone has a direct relationship in the body’s process of these “mood altering” hormones.

The use of natural progesterone can help to affect hormone levels, bringing them back to a balanced state, and thus alleviating physical triggers for mood swings. This can provide immense relief for women suffering from mood swings or bouts of anxiety or depression which are related to their hormonal balance.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Do any of the above symptoms sound familiar to you?

Have you ever awakened in the middle of the night only to find your clothing and even your bedding soaking wet with sweat? Do you find that you just never seem to have enough energy, in spite of getting what is considered to be normal or sufficient amounts of rest? Has your husband or “significant other” begun dropping not-so-subtle hints about your lack of interest in sex?

Have you ever visited your doctor and complained of weight gain, breast tenderness or cramps, only to be told your experiences are “normal”? Have you experienced migraine headaches, mood swings or increasing bouts of depression with no real relief? Have you suffered with a combination of the above symptoms for a considerable amount of time, but never considered that they all may be indications of one, single underlying problem?

If any of the above is true, it’s quite possible that you are experiencing symptoms of hormonal imbalance. Your hormones control and affect a number of bodily systems that rely on and impact one another. When any one of those hormones, or a group of them, become imbalanced in relation to each another, that imbalance may cause a number of problems. Your body was designed to work as a system. Just as the system in your automobile or your computer has different parts that are required to work together for optimum performance, so does your body. And, in order for your body to maintain its best condition and operate most beneficially, your hormones need to work in balance.

The level of natural progesterone and hormonal imbalance are intricately related to one another. When natural progesterone is not present in your body in sufficient amounts to counterbalance the amounts of estrogen present, the condition can manifest in the symptoms previously described. The addition of natural progesterone can help you to restore the balance of hormones in your body. Many of the symptoms described above can be the result of one hormone’s (estrogen) disproportionate presence in your body.

Suffering from a deficiency of natural progesterone and hormonal imbalance is no way to live. Happy hormones make happier and healthier people. By adding natural progesterone back into your body’s chemistry, you can elevate your body’s overall progesterone level and bring it back into balance with the levels of estrogen, and return your body’s hormonal system to a normal state of being.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.