Linda Bruton asked:


Progesterone cream is used to treat progesterone deficiency, which can cause you to experience swollen breasts, fibrocystic breasts, low thyroid, water retention, weight gain, depression and loss of libido. While you are experiencing menopause, the amount of progesterone in your body drops to 0. We will talk about how to use progesterone cream to treat these symptoms, but first let’s look at why you would want to use it.

The use of progesterone cream helps to replace the progesterone in your body. By introducing progesterone into the body you help to restore the natural balance between progesterone and estrogen. The fluctuations of these two hormones are responsible for the majority of all symptoms of menopause and perimenopause. The combination of herbal remedies and the application of a naturally occurring progesterone cream can help restore your body’s natural balance.

Progesterone cream is a moisturizing cream that is based on the Mexican Yam root. How to use progesterone cream most effectively is to apply it to your face and hands. It can also be applied to your chest, abdomen, inner thigh and even your arms. This cream will not only help keep your skin free of dry patches but also raise the amount of naturally occurring progesterone in your body. This restoration of progesterone in your body is what helps relieve the symptoms of menopause.

There are several makers of this type of cream and you should look for the amount of progesterone in the cream and what its source is. A good cream will be aloe vera based for the moisturizing effect but it should also not clog your pores. Creams like this should also be fragrance free and should be hypoallergenic. You do not want to risk an allergic reaction to the treatment. You also don’t want to go around smelling like you have been using a progesterone cream treatment. We all know what Ben-Gay smells like.

The reason for the use of a cream to deliver progesterone is that is can be absorbed into the skin in just a few minutes. This process also allows the progesterone to bypass the liver and go straight to the specific receptors that need the progesterone in the first place.

Progesterone cream is one of the easiest steps to take in combatting menopausal symptoms. How to use progesterone cream most effectively is to simply apply it once a day in the recommended amount. You still need to be careful with anything you use to treat your menopause symptoms to make sure that you are getting what you pay for. Keeping a symptom diary will show you over time if the treatment is effective. Always be sure to let your doctor know what you are doing so you can avoid any complications from drug interactions with other meds.



Evelyn

Cathy Taylor asked:


Do women going through menopause have lowered levels of progesterone?

Recent research tells us that women do suffer from decreased levels of progesterone and also experience other symptoms such as unexplained weight gain (particularly in the stomach area), depression, fatigue, hair loss, memory loss, mood swings, migraines and loss of libido. A natural cream can balance estrogens without side effects.

Progesterone and estrogen are the two main hormones made by women’s ovaries when they are menstruating. Smaller amounts of these hormones are also secreted by the adrenal glands. It’s necessary for the survival of the fertilized ovum, its embryo as well as the fetus during gestation.

Progesterone’s primary functions include: acting as a precursor to estrogen and testosterone; it maintains uterine lining and aids in gestation; protects against fibrocystic breasts, endometrial and breast cancer; acts as a natural diuretic, helps use fat for energy; can be a natural antidepressant; aids thyroid hormone action; normalizes blood clotting; restores sex drive; normalizes blood sugar, zinc and copper levels; restores proper cell oxygen levels, has a thermogenic effect; builds bone and helps to protects against osteoporosis.

Some doctors feel that menopausal symptoms, osteoporosis and heart disease may not be due to a deficiency of estrogen, but to a relative estrogen excess due to progesterone deficiency.

Synthetic progestins, such as an HRT drug called Provera (a synthetic chemical), do not have the same biological effects as natural progesterone and have been known to cause side effects including: fluid retention, depression, breast tenderness, stroke, jaundice, blood clotting and cervical erosions.

On the other hand, natural progesterone has no known side effects and has been found to be helpful in alleviating symptoms such as PMS and hot flashes. It has also been credited with helping to prevent osteoporosis.

Many doctors now prescribe for women in menopause the use of a low-dose, natural progesterone cream during the last two weeks of the menstrual cycle. (On a personal note, I use the Emerita cream and believe it single-handedly stopped my mood swings and sudden outbursts of crying.) The cream is easily absorbed into thin-skin areas such as the breasts, inner arms, neck or belly by the subcutaneous fat and then released into the bloodstream. You should be careful of the dosage level in these products. Some may have none to very little and others provide 20-30 mg in an average application. It’s always best to first check with a doctor.

The information in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice.



Ramon