Progesterone Hormone Therapy For Menopause

The other main part of hormone therapy for menopause, apart from estrogen, is progesterone therapy. Progesterone supplements are given either in a gel, cream, or orally.

Progesterone works in the reproductive cycle to prepare the uterus for possible pregnancy. It is also involved in preparing the breasts for lactation. But as women age, less progesterone is produced by the body.

Progesterone hormone therapy for menopause helps balance the effects of estrogen, as well as helping with hot flushes, endometriosis, and fibroids.

Progesterone cream helps with endometriosis, and estrogen dominance, but it does not balance synthetic estrogen. It is however, excellent for controlling excessive bleeding, PMS symptoms, hot flushes, and strengthening bones.

Progesterone is given with estrogen because it lowers the risk of uterine cancer. Estrogen on it's own increases this risk. The exception to this is low dose estrogen hormone replacement therapy. Dr Laura Corio prescribes her patients on low dose estrogen therapy with a complementary low dose of natural or synthetic progesterone supplement as well. She suggests that if women are still not taking a combination estrogen progesterone therapy even at low doses, then at least have progesterone daily for 10 to 14 days every 3 or 4 months.

Progesterone comes in natural and synthetic forms. The synthetic forms have more side effects, such as weight gain, depression, breast tenderness, fluid retention, migraines, as well as increasing the risk of coronary heart vasospasm.

Natural progesterone does not have these side effects, but some women cannot take it because they are allergic to peanuts. Peanuts are one of the biggest ingredients in it. Natural progesterone also makes some women very tired.

Side effects of synthetic progesterone include weight gain, headaches, and possible narrowing of the blood vessels. This means less oxygen travels to the heart, and it can result in chest pains. Lower sexual desire is another potential side effect of the synthetic progestogens used in hormone replacement therapy for menopause.

Progesterone cream is not as strong as the progestogen used in oral hormone replacement therapy. So, it should never be used as a substitute. It does not counteract the effect of estrogen on the uterus, whereas progestogen does.

Taking estrogen without progesterone therapy to balance the hormonal cycle could cause over stimulation of the endometrium tissue lining the uterus. This was found to lead to uncontrolled tissue growth, known as hyperplasia, which develops into endometrial cancer. Progestin (but not progesterone cream) can counteract this risk.

There are some natural alternatives to hormone therapy for menopause. You can read about them and the experiences of women taking them here.

References:

1. Dr Northrup, The Wisdom Of Menopause
2. Dr Corio, The Change Before The Change

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