Functions of
PROGESTERONE in the body
|
Controls reproductive function
|
PROGESTERONE is an essential building
block for a normal, balanced supply of:
- Estrogens (ESTRONE, ESTRADIOL,
ESTRIOL) - also sensitizes
estrogen receptors enabling
estrogen to work more efficiently
- TESTOSTERONE
PROGESTERONE controls menstruation; Causes the endometrium to
shed; Normalizes length of period;
PROGESTERONE is a natural inhibitor of the
aromatase enzyme, preventing
conversion of androgens to
estrogen.
PROGESTERONE optimizes libido/restores normal sexy feelings;
PROGESTERONE, not
estrogen, is the primary sex drive
hormone in women.
PROGESTERONE significantly reduces menopausal symptoms,
including hot flashes and night sweats;
PROGESTERONE levels greatly
decrease at menopause since ovulation has ceased, at which time the
adrenal cortex is the only source;
Erectile
Dysfunction - a PROGESTERONE
/TESTOSTERONE cream was
able to help correct a commonly found associated hormonal imbalance;
Spermiogenesis
- PROGESTERONE influences
sperm production, sperm capacitation/acrosome reaction and
TESTOSTERONE biosynthesis
in Lehdig cells
PROGESTERONE is THE Pregnancy hormone:
-
Necessary for implantation
(reduces failure in assisted reproduction);
-
Thickens the uterine
lining ready for the fertilized egg;
-
Sustains baby's survival
during pregnancy:
Inhibits labor onset;
Reduces frequency of uterine
smooth muscle contraction (reduces rate for spontaneous abortion or
preterm labor in those at risk);
Inhibits immune response
against fetus;
Inhibits in-vitro embryo-toxic
Th1 cytokine production to trophoblast in women with recurrent pregnancy
loss;
PubMed
Relaxes placental arteries
and veins;
Inhibits lactation
Increases intelligence in
fetus.
Natural PROGESTERONE
aids conception and pregnancy
In contrast:
Synthetic
PROGESTERONE prevents pregnancy or may lead to abortion,
Shealy, "Natural PROGESTERONE Cream -Safe and Natural Hormone
Replacement", 1999;
|
Prevents reproductive organ cancers
/ Promotes natural cell death
|
PROGESTERONE promotes normal cell death in the breast which is
important in the prevention of cancer -Promotes activation of
the protective tumor suppressor gene p53, which preserves stability
by preventing genome mutation and promoting apoptosis
(natural cell death) -if P53 is inactive or mutated, apoptosis
would otherwise be prevented;
PROGESTERONE
is involved in the maturation of breast cells and decreases the
rate of multiplication - Helps prevent hormone-sensitive breast, uterine/endometrial
cancer - inhibits estrogen-promoted
cell division (mitosis) on the endometrium and enhances differentiation;
Protects breast tissue against fibrocystic breasts (a likely precursor
to breast cancer);
Helps prevent enlarged prostate
(Benign Prostate Hyperplasia) /prostate cancer, similar to saw palmetto
berry and nettle root, PROGESTERONE
is a natural inhibitor of 5-alpha
reductase, an enzyme needed to convert
TESTOSTERONE to growth-stimulating
di-hydroTESTOSTERONE (DHT) implicated
in BPH and prostate cancer.
(17-0PROGESTERONEhad highest effect); treatment via transscrotal delivery system;
PROGESTERONE against
BPH and Prostate Cancer
|
Anti-Depressant, Calms nervous system
|
Calming / Anti-depression.
In the brain, PROGESTERONE
activates receptor sites for GABA, an inhibitory
neurotransmitter, which decreases anxiety and depression.
(Anti-depressants and barbituates bind these same receptors).
PROGESTERONE also raises
SEROTONIN hormone levels in brain;
PROGESTERONE is concentrated
in brain cells to levels 20 times higher than that of blood serum levels.
Effective against some forms of epilepsy.
PROGESTERONE is a natural antidepressant and prevents anxiety.
|
Diuretic
|
PROGESTERONE acts as a natural diuretic.
ALDOSTERONE promotes water retention and swelling. Although a
building block of ALDOSTERONE, PROGESTERONE
blocks ALDOSTERONE receptors, thereby causing normal fluid loss and
decreasing swelling.
|
Balances Copper and Zinc
|
Helps to balance
copper and
zinc levels
|
Thyroid
|
PROGESTERONE increases the activity of thyroid hormone
- by decreasing thyroid binding globulin. Thyroid hormone increases
metabolism, and utilizes the fat stored under the influence of
estrogen
for energy.
|
Brain Function
|
PROGESTERONE
supplementation after menopause supports brain metabolism
and cognitive functioning.
PubMed
|
Ensures Cellular Oxygen
|
Corrects
oxygen supply to
cells
|
Anti-Inflammatory
|
PROGESTERONE is a building block for the
anti-inflammatory CORTISONE
hormone from CORTISOL in the adrenals;
Known stimulant of
anti-inflammatory cytokines
IL-10 and Th2;
Directly inhibits
pro-inflammatory Th1 cytokines;
Shown to reduce the response
of natural killer cells, as well as other know initiators of inflammation;
PROGESTERONE
inhibits MMPs -
Estrogen maintains secretion of
matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) implicated in cancer and arthritis;
Heart protective.
Normalizes risk of blood clots (inhibits platelet aggregation); Prevents
lipid peroxidation;
Brain. Readily crosses
the blood brain barrier (BBB) reducing edema to barely measurable levels;
systemic injections of PROGESTERONE
given after traumatic brain injury shown to improve cognitive, sensory
and motor recovery, enhancing both short and long term recovery
|
Prevents osteoporosis
|
To keep bones strong, osteoblasts (bone builders)
must exceed osteoclasts (bone dissolvers, leaving tiny unfilled spaces).
PROGESTERONE
remineralizes and restores bone mass for new bone growth by stimulating
osteoblasts - increases number of human osteoblastic cells; Supplemental
bio-identical PROGESTERONE
is 3x more effective than synthetic
PROGESTERONE ;
In contrast, estrogen slows rate of bone loss by inhibiting osteoclast activity,
which breaks down old bone, but unlike
PROGESTERONE, estrogen
does not build bone.
PROGESTERONE and Osteoporosis
/ Bone Building
|
Precursor to most other Hormones
|
Necessary precursor of CORTICOSTERONE
/CORTISOL (stress hormone)
production;
Used to make
DHEA (precursor to
estrogen)
and TESTOSTERONE.
|
Converts fat into energy
|
Fat metabolism; stimulates
LEPTIN hormone secretion
|
Normalizes blood sugar control
|
Metabolizes
glucose. A
PROGESTERONE deficiency
tends towards hypoglycemia
|
Suppresses Immune System
|
PROGESTERONE- induced "blocking factor" directly
blocks T-cell activation;
Reduces the expression of
pro-inflammatory genes and their protein products;
|
Fights insomnia
|
Raises
SEROTONIN level in brain -
SEROTONIN is the precursor
to MELATONIN;
|
Skin Anti-aging
|
Significantly increases skin
elasticity, greatly reduces wrinkle counts and wrinkle depth,
promoting
a greater decrease in nasolabial wrinkle depth and a significantly higher
increase in skin firmness in peri- and postmenopausal women; topical
PROGESTERONE is rapidly absorbed
through skin;
|
Relaxes urinary smooth muscle
|
Brings about smooth muscle
relaxation in the urinary system.
|
Neuroprotective
|
PROGESTERONE
readily crosses the blood brain barrier;
Promotes regeneration and
myelination of axons (myelin forms around neural axons, allowing
nerve impulses to travel faster) - influences growth, differentiation
and increases expression of myelin-specific proteins in oligodendrocytes,
and potentiates the formation of new myelin sheaths by Schwann cells
in vivo;
Antioxidant effect in injured
nervous system - studies have shown efficacy in traumatic brain
injuries;
Multiple effects on glial
(Neuron support) cells;
|
Anti-Stress
|
PROGESTERONE is an essential building block for the stress hormone
CORTISOL;
PROGESTERONE metabolite allopregnanolone reduces the brain's
response to stress;
PROGESTERONE
regulates the secretion of catecholamines during stress -
positively modifies the cardiovascular and catecholamine response
to mental stress in menopausal women;
|
Reduces facial hair
|
Natural PROGESTERONE supplementation
will cause facial hair to disappear or decrease in time.
DHEA is a precursor for
androgens and
estrogens. When
PROGESTERONE is deficient, an alternative DHEA
pathway is called upon to take up the slack, which leads to increased
androgen production, which is
the cause of unwanted facial hair.
C Norman Shealy,M.D.,
PhD, PROGESTERONE Cream, Safe and Natural Hormone Replacement, 1999;
|