Estrogen Domonance
PROGESTERONE MENUBAR
PROGESTERONE THERAPY (Increase body's PROGESTERONE levels)
Estrogen dominance - How to supplement
PROGESTERONE
***
FIRST*** - Please read:
Estrogen dominance treatment 1-2-3
Use PROGESTERONE supplementation cautiously
PROGESTERONE "therapy" to counter
estrogen dominance has 3 steps.
FIRST, use other tactics to
NATURALLY reduce estrogen
levels in the body and boost PROGESTERONE
via diet and lifestyle changes before considering supplementation
(Step 3):
Estrogen dominance treatment
1-2-3
Used in the long-term, it is important to use a delivery route that avoids hormonal build-up in the fat cells
- this problem is now recognized as a consequence of
long-term transdermal application. Delivery routes are discussed on this post.
An annual urine test
(most accurate)
or saliva test (next best alternative)
to monitor PROGESTERONE levels is advisable. The saliva value should
be below 300 (some have reported numbers over 10,000, which may take up to two
years to return to normal, since
PROGESTERONE is stored in the fat and releases very slowly). If
PROGESTERONE level is not below 300, one should not resume
PROGESTERONE
until it is.
To understand why blood tests for hormones are useless:
Testing hormone
levels
PROGESTERONE
supplementation may INITIALLY have an
estrogenic
effect. PROGESTERONE reactivates "sleepy" estrogen
receptors. In premenopausal women ,
a deficiency of PROGESTERONE causes a
"turning-down" of estrogen
receptor sensitivity, and when women begin using
PROGESTERONE , those
Estrogen
receptors
are reactivated. This causes them to become overly sensitive, with
ensuing estrogen
dominance effects - e.g.
water retention, headaches and swollen
breasts. There can also be a temporary buildup of the endometrium,
causing spotting and irregular
bleeding. Most of these symptoms should disappear within a couple of
cycles.
Use only bioidentical
PROGESTERONE cream or gel
Any PROGESTERONE
supplementation therapy should use BIOIDENTICAL
PROGESTERONE. i.e. the identical molecule that your body produces.
i.e. DO NOT use synthetic
PROGESTERONE (i.e.
Progestins ). This is DIFFERENT to the bioidentical molecule.
The label should say U.S.P.
PROGESTERONE
. USP (United States Pharmacopeia) means
the formulated PROGESTERONE is of pharmaceutical grade and provides assurance that the
product is bioidentical to that which is secreted from the female ovaries.
Natural, bioidentical
PROGESTERONE is
NOT DIRECTLY found in any plant.
It is synthesized from fat saponins such as diosgenin from Mexican
wild yam or soy. After extraction from
a plant source it is chemically modified/compounded in a laboratory -since the body can not metabolize diosgenin
(derived from plant dioscin) into PROGESTERONE .
Until 1970, wild yam was the main base source for production of
PROGESTERONE in the contraceptive pill, and
as a precursor for corticosteroids, such as
CORTISONE .
Today, natural and bio-identical
PROGESTERONE is mostly produced from soybeans.
"Natural" does not necessarily mean "bioidentical".
Bioidentical term refers to the shape of the molecule
rather than the source of the hormone being identical. Some formulations may have been derived
from plant-based sources, but are not even close to the shape of the natural
molecule. E,g, Numerous
plant-based HRT and purely yam-based creams that have not been
chemically-modified.
Soybean-source PROGESTERONE
should
use a NON-GMO soy
Cream/Gel should contain 1.5-3% USP
natural
PROGESTERONE by volume - this is
equivalent to 450-900 mg /oz. of cream. When used transdermally , PROGESTERONE is absorbed into the fat and is released from the fat into the blood stream in
direct proportion to the concentration of the cream. A higher dose cream will not release the hormone into the blood stream smoothly over a 12
hour period, and since PROGESTERONE only has a half life of five minutes once it is in the blood, this will
significantly limit its effectiveness.
Highlights From My Time With Dr. John Lee
by Dr. Mercola
The de facto
standard cream concentration is 500mg of
PROGESTERONE in 30g of cream
(1.6%)
~¼ tsp.
contains ~20mg
PROGESTERONE cream / gel / suppositories should NOT contain parabens as preservatives.
They
should also be free of any other harmful substances. E.g. liquid paraffin, parabens,
phenoxyethanol, sodium lauryl sulphate, propylene glycol, fragrances, artificial
colours and PEG emulsifying waxes (can contain the carcinogen dioxane).
Dr. Lee and Virginia
Hopkins did not and do not endorse any particular brand, but they provide the
following list of some good choices
http://www.virginiahopkinstestkits.com/PROGESTERONE list.html
- This
author has found these good brands:
• Pro-gest. Been
around for a while and has been used in clinical tests.
• NOW Natural PROGESTERONE. Easily found online; 1 -3oz (85g) container USP PROGESTERONE (1.54%) from wild
yam.
• Renewed Balance
• Serenity
• Life pro Progestacare
•
Natpro . Contains the maximum allowed dosage of USP
PROGESTERONE from soy (3.33%), which means you use a smaller amount, which takes
less time to rub in, and also absorbs quicker than lower percentage creams
Some Examples of PROGESTERONE Products
Delivery Form
Non-Bioidentical
Bioidentical
Oral
(NOT recommended)
Premarin®, Prempro®, and Provera®. (all progestins with common unpleasant side-effects and increased risk for serious health problems, including breast cancer)
Synthetic Hormones - FrankensteinVersion of Natural Hormones
Prometrium
Vaginal Bio-adhesive Gel
Crinone® Vaginal Gel (4% or 8%) / Prochieve®.
Topical creams
Pro-gest® (wild yam),
NOW® Natural PROGESTERONE (wild yam),
Natpro (Non-GMO soy)
Allvia Progensa 20
Suppositories
Which PROGESTERONE delivery route to choose?
PROGESTERONE
supplementation should try to emulate the body's natural production
PROGESTERONE is produced naturally by the
ovaries and adrenals - for
transport into the blood stream and delivery to hormone-sensitive cells in the
body. PROGESTERONE has an extremely short
half-life in the blood of 5-20 min.
Can
KJ. ABC of endocrinology. I. Hormones in general. Lancet 1970; 1:763-765.
PROGESTERONE is produced by the ovarian
corpus luteum during the luteal phase
(following ovulation) of the menstrual cycle.
Ovarian connections located in
the pelvic area are:
The fallopian tubes directly connect the ovaries
to the uterus;
The ovaries empty into a pelvic plexus of veins
having direct access to the blood
stream - Substances absorbed through the vaginal
membranes also enter this same pelvic plexus of veins.
All delivery methods should use
bioidentical
PROGESTERONE - i.e. the same molecule that your body produces. The label should say U.S.P.
PROGESTERONE
Vaginal or rectal route using hormonal gel or cream is the most efficient
RECOMENDED delivery method. Via absorption through the mucous membranes.
Topical PROGESTERONE
is well absorbed by the skin
However, long-term Topical PROGESTERONE
use can
build-up in fatty tissues causing high PROGESTERONE
levels .
Oral PROGESTERONE
supplementation route is
unsatisfactory
NOT a good route for any steroid hormones - since only 10% of the
PROGESTERONE reaches the bloodstream and metabolism by the GI tract and liver produces
several undesireable metabolites.
80-90% of oral PROGESTERONE
is destroyed in GI tract and liver (so-called "first pass"liver metabolism ).
Even when micronized and in oil, or with fatty foods (it does not dissolve
in water). PROGESTERONE does not
have any natural reason to be in the GI tract , which is not an efficient
transport route for an y steroid hormone. Swallowed hormones encounter
absorbing foods, but PROGESTERONE is not
affected by stomach acid. "Survivors"must later be broken down by the
liver, and since only 10-20% reaches target cells a dose 5 times higher than
utilized is needed .
Simon JA, Robinson DE, Andrews MC, Hildebrand JR
3rd, Rocci MLJr, Blake RE, Hodgen GD. The absorption of oral micronized PROGESTERONE
: the effect of food, dose proportionality, and comparison with intramuscular PROGESTERONE
. Fertil Steril 1993;60:26- 33.[PubMed ]
When processing PROGESTERONE ,
the liver creates >30 different metabolites. These can have several undesirable side-effects. Notably 5a-reduced metabolites
are known to cause neuropsychological side effects. Arafat et al addressed the sedative
and hypnotic effects that may be mediated through these metabolites. The bioidentical
PROGESTERONE Prometrium® can have several unpleasant side-effects.
KhalilNahoul,
LouisDehennin,
MichelJondet,
MarcRoger. Profiles of plasma estrogens, PROGESTERONE and
their metabolites after oral or vaginal administration of ESTRADIOL or PROGESTERONE
.
Volume 16, Issue 3 , Pages 185-202, May 1993
Maturitas
Arafat ES,
Hargrove JT,
Maxson WS,
Desiderio DM,
Wentz AC,
Andersen RN.Sedative and hypnotic effects of oral administration
of micronized PROGESTERONE may be mediated through its metabolites.
Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1988 Nov;159(5):1203-9.
PubMed
Sublingual / buccal drops
Drops of
PROGESTERONE in an oil-based suspension
are placed under the tongue. Enter the blood stream directly
and will not build up in your tissues like dermally applied cream. This method is
preferred by Dr. Raymond Peat because it is efficiently absorbed through mucosa
in the mouth. Sublingual PROGESTERONE
, being fat-soluble is more effective
when dissolved in vitamin E .
He purports that it will stimulate the ovaries to produce
PROGESTERONE
(if the ovaries are still functioning)
and will energize the adrenals and thyroid. Since each drop is about one milligram ,
you can determine an accurate dose. However, IT IS VERY BITTER!
Sublingual PROGESTERONE
for hot flashes, migraines and cramping
(at 15 minute intervals until symptoms resolve) has been suggested.
Intramuscular (I.M.) injections
Most common administration in clinics
Guarantees adequate and verifiable plasma levels of active component.
Effective
in infertility.
PROGESTERONE half-life significantly longer than when injected
into arm. Due to higher concentration of adipose cells, which
store then release PROGESTERONE when plasma
levels decrease;
Injections cause pain at injection site.
They are also inconvenient and invasive, but do get the hormone directly into the
blood stream.
Tolerated by those women highly motivated to reduce threat
of abortion, prevent pre-term labor and for assisted reproductio n (especially those
with PCOS who are resistant to clomiphene citrate, which is used to stimulate hormones
promoting ovulation); for those not willing to undergo the pain, this is not an
effective method for long-term treatments.
How much
PROGESTERONE to use, when to
use it, and for how long?
How long to supplement?
A minimum 2-3 months supplementation -
needed to raise and maintain your
PROGESTERONE
level for maximum improvement of symptoms due to
estrogen dominance. For menopause and osteoporosis treatment, use
PROGESTERONE cream indefinitely.
How much USP bioidentical
PROGESTERONE should you use and when?
Proper dosage and compliance are essential
The right dose is the dose that works, but . . . -
when
it comes to balancing hormones, more is not better. The amount required depends
on the specific application and should be tailored to the individual's needs and
response. To avoid hormonal imbalance one should not use higher than the
recommended dosage; A dosage chart is given as a guideline (most dosages
recommended by Dr. John R. Lee, MD for transdermal application):
PROGESTERONE Dosage Chart
FDA-approved ORAL Dose. I n Oct 1999, the FDA approved a 200 mg daily dose of Prometrium, an
oral
PROGESTERONE ,
for use in preventing uterine cancer in women taking
estrogen - i.e. this dose has been acknowledged as sufficient to oppose estrogen.
Bear in mind that a 200 mg dose of oral PROGESTERONE actually delivers about 20 mg of
PROGESTERONE (also be aware that with oral administration, 180 mg is excreted by the
liver or transformed into other substances, which can cause problems).
The cream, gel or suppositories are best used
twice a day - to better simulate the body's natural
production. With slow-release bio-adhesive gel, once/day may be sufficient
(follow package instructions)
Pre-menopausal women
Pre-menopausal women
must take at least 3-7 days off each month
without applying any PROGESTERONE cream/gel/suppository - since
the body's natural production of
PROGESTERONE
is cyclical, supplementation should ideally mimic the body's naturally
changing concentrations to affect a proper physiological response . i.e. the
body should recognize some times when the
PROGESTERONE llevel is low.
Non-ovulating -
PROGESTERONE supplementation should re-create what your body would produce if you were ovulating
- both in the timing and amount used. The usual dose is 15-24 mg/day for 14
days before expected menses , stopping the day or so before menses.To
figure the PROGESTERONE
start date, count back 14 days from when your next period is due (i.e.
Day 1 of next cycle), then beginning on that date, supplement
PROGESTERONE for 14 days.
The abrupt lowering of the
PROGESTERONE
level is the primary trigger for starting your period , at
which time any PMS and painful periods will be dramatically reduced.
Ovulating
- wait until the day after ovulation (i.e. the
luteal phase) to begin supplementation, which will then augment the body's own
PROGESTERONE production from the
corpus luteum .
Supplementation should continue through the last 14 days of the cycle. After
which, stopping the supplementation should initiate menses.
Using PROGESTERONE earlier than ovulation would prevent ovulation resulting in
no corpus
luteum and therefore no
PROGESTERONE production, which would be working against the body's own mechanisms .
To accurately determine ovulation, you
should purchase a fertility monitor.
Family Planning Tools
Menopausal women - may only need ~15 mg
PROGESTERONE ,
but taken for the first 25 days of the month, then take 5 or 6 days off without
applying any PROGESTERONE
cream/gel/suppositories - so that one's body will not develop resistance or
tolerance to the PROGESTERONE , and so become
ineffective. Restart on the first of the month.
Men - may
need 5-10 mg/day to keep in range of their normal, low, but constant amounts of
PROGESTERONE production and counter
estrogenic presence. Take 5 or 6 days off each
month without using any PROGESTERONE cream/suppositories so that
one's body will not develop resistance or tolerance to the
PROGESTERONE .
Ensure sufficiency of magnesium
and B-vitamins
It is essential to ensure sufficient
B-vitamins and Magnesium
whilst supplementing PROGESTERONE.
Magnesium & B vitamins aid liver's
estrogen clearance
B-vitamins. You need ~5-8 mg of
B6 along with
all the other B-complex vitamins ).
Magnesium - The Missing MIneral .
Supplement with
400-600 mg oral Magnesium and also use transdermal magnesium for a few months to
quickly increase magnesium levels in your body.