What Are The Signs Of Low Progesterone And What Are The Health Benefits
Progesterone is responsible for balancing estrogen and the female reproductive cycle. Deficiency results in symptoms of PMS, bloating, headaches, cramping, mood swings, breast tenderness and irritability. A deficiency in progesterone can be a factor in frequent miscarriages.
Research shows that natural progesterone stimulates bone building osteoblasts, thus providing protection against osteoporosis. Progesterone reduces the mitotic change in breast and uterine tissue, thereby protecting against cancer . Progesterone protects against heart disease. Progesterone is necessary for adequate sexual response, lubrication and vaginal vasodilation. Progesterone is responsible for the physiologic equilibrium with estrogen. At menopause, women lose both estrogen and progesterone, and both should be replaced. Progesterone replacement is important even if you have had a hysterectomy, because it does much more than just protect the uterus.
Menopause Symptoms And Hrt
Menopause symptoms that may be relieved by HRT include:
- hot flushes and night sweats
- vaginal dryness
- hair loss or abnormal hair growth
- dry and itchy eyes.
Other therapies, including vaginal oestrogen products, antidepressants or other medications, may be used depending on the symptoms and risk factors. Seek advice from your doctor.
Bioidentical Hrt Vs Traditional Hrt
When it comes to comparing the two natural HRTs, its important to note that bioidentical hormones differ from those in traditional HRT in the sense that theyre chemically identical to those that our bodies naturally produce. Theyre also made from plant oestrogen.
According to bioidentical HRT supporters, its a lot safer because its identical to the hormones that the body produces, but experts believe that the risks of HRT and bioidentical HRT are similar. Compounded bioidentical hormones or compounded bioidentical hormone therapy may have more risks, but there has been no reliable evidence proving that BHRT is more effective when compared to HRT.
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Lack Of Evidence For Claims
In 2006, actress Suzanne Somers released the book Ageless: The Naked Truth About Bioidentical Hormones endorsing the use of bioidentical hormones. The book was criticized by a group of doctors who state that more research is required, and object to protocols mentioned in the bookâbecause of their potential danger and the promoters’ lack of qualifications. Somers’ book may have increased awareness of the existence of BHT for a growing number of menopausal women, but also may have caused confusion by making unsubstantiated claims for BHT and referring to bioidentical hormones as non-drug products with fewer risks. Bioidentical hormones have also been discussed on The Oprah Winfrey Show, with Somers as a guest.
Dangers Behind Hormone Replacement:
When hormones such as thyroid, estrogen, & progesterone are supplemented through prescriptions, creams, & contraceptives such as birth control pills, they are abnormally flooding their body with an unnatural amount of hormones . This causes several responses within the body:
1) Reduced Receptor Sites: In response, the cell receptor sites for the particular hormone are reduced in an attempt to protect from too much hormone interaction. Therefore, one could have plenty of thyroid hormone, progesterone, etc, in the bloodstream, yet have poor cellular sensitivity.
2) Hormone Regulation is Altered: The hypothalamus and pituitary gland, key centers in the brain that control hormone secretion, are in a constant communication with hormonal cells to regulate and control the amounts of circulating hormones. If the brain senses that there is not enough hormone, it will signal for more production and secretion.
If it senses that there is too much, as is the case with hormone replacement, than it will slow down production. After a while, the constant bombardment of artificial hormone will shut down production of the natural hormone all together. The gland then atrophies and loses all function, making the hormone creams and pills a necessity.
3) Increased Liver Stress: An excessive bombardment of hormones taxes the liver, which desperately tries to break down the excess to effectively eliminate it from the body. Over time, the hormone eventually is stored in fat cells.
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What Is Biote Pellet Therapy
Hormones affect every stage of a womans life from puberty and menstruation to pregnancy and menopause. They affect your brain, hair, skin, and cardiovascular system. As you get older and approach menopause, your hormone levels fluctuate and eventually start to diminish. The change in hormone levels can cause numerous symptoms and issues.
One way to reduce these issues is to rebalance or replace hormones. BioTE pellet therapy is a type of bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. Bioidentical hormones like BioTE are composed of plant extracts. These natural hormones behave like the hormones your body naturally produces. By replacing the hormones your body has lost, BioTE slowly eliminates your symptoms.
BioTE consists of small rice-sized pellets that we insert under the top layer of your skin. The hormones release slowly into your system. You dont have to think about the pellets, and soon, you wont be thinking about your hormone imbalance symptoms. Each pellet lasts between four and six months.
Low Estrogen Level: Symptoms And Causes
As previously mentioned, menopause commonly causes decreased levels of estrogen in females. However, women of all ages can experience low estrogen levels from a variety of causes, including hysterectomies , radiation treatments, and severe cases of anorexia.
A common and well-known consequence of low estrogen levels is the increased fragility of bones seen in post-menopausal women, leading to osteoporosis. Estrogen is known to work in conjunction with calcium, vitamin D, and other minerals to keep bones strong, and without it, bones become brittle and tend to fracture more easily.
Other symptoms of low estrogen include:
- Painful sex due to the lack of vaginal lubrication
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How Long Is It Safe To Use Hrt
Dr Davison says there is “no correct time frame” for using HRT, as it depends on the woman’s individual circumstances and the hormone therapy involved. But for the majority of women, this will be a few years.
Dr Newman says women aged under 60 generally benefitted from using HRT. “We certainly know that under the age of 60, women on HRT, compared to women who do not take HRT, have both better morbidity and mortality outcomes that is, they’re less likely to experience health problems,” says Dr Newman.
“Overall the scientific studies are positive regarding women with menopausal symptoms taking HRT. The same cannot be said for bioidentical hormones because they have not been widely or appropriately researched.”Further information about menopause treatment options can be found here.
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What Is The Safest Natural Female Hormone Replacement Therapy
Menopause symptoms can be managed with hormone replacement therapy , also called menopausal hormone therapy, which is a treatment that replaces hormones that are at a lower level. The treatments current role is to relieve menopausal symptoms. These symptoms include hot flushes, mood swings, night sweats, reduced sex drive, and vaginal dryness.
So whats the safest natural female HRT? The two main types of natural HRT are bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and traditional natural hormone replacement therapy, and those two are the safest ones. The former is derived from plants and is chemically identical to the hormones that our body produces. The latter involves the consumption of supplements or plants that have compounds that could alleviate hormonal symptoms.
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Tips To Balance Your Hormones:
Here are 12 key strategies to help reduce estrogen dominance balance your hormones. This is a great place to begin when it comes to improving your health.
If after 3-4 months you are not seeing the progress and changes you want than you should consider working with a functional health practitioner so they can do some detailed lab work with you and figure out a customized treatment plan to address your unique challenges.
Natural Solutions For Dryness
At menopause, vaginal blood flow falls. Dryness and irritation can occur, and bacteria infections that pass to the urinary tract are more likely.
What is to be done? First of all, even after the ovaries stop, the adrenal glands and the fat tissue continue to contribute to estrogen production after menopause. In addition, phytoestrogens in plants provide weak estrogen effects. Soy products, such as tofu, tempeh, and miso, contain huge amounts of these natural compounds.
The plant-derived estrogen and progesterone creams described above can be helpful. Used on a regular basis, these creams maintain a moist vaginal lining. However, please note that they should not be used as a sexual lubricant. Estrogen cream is a medication, not a lubricant, and it goes through any skin it touches, including mens. Many women prefer to avoid hormone creams entirely and use ordinary lubricants or moisturizers instead.
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Use An Infrared Sauna:
Your skin is your largest organs and one of your most important detoxifying organs. Its way of detoxification is through sweating. While being outside on the summer heat is a great way to sweat, it is not the most effective. The sun is not available year-around and you have to be careful with the ultraviolet light and skin damage.
Infrared sauna, on the other hand, is a sauna that releases infrared light. Infrared light is safe and goes deeper into your body allowing to release fat-soluble toxins, lower toxic burdens, and even enhance internal detox pathways as well. Here is a helpful article on how to use an infrared sauna for detoxification.
Foods That Increase Estrogen Level
There are several estrogen-rich foods that may help boost your estrogen level. These foods contain phytoestrogen, which is a plant-based estrogen that mimics estrogen once it is processed by the body.
The following is a list of foods that are known for containing excessive amounts of phytoestrogens. It is important to keep in mind that estrogen rich foods may have unwanted effects in men.
Soybean products: Soy is a rich source of phytoestrogen and comes in a variety of easy to consume forms like soy milk, tofu, or edamame. Soy products are the greatest source of isoflavones, a class of phytoestrogen that can be easily consumed in your diet. Soy is also a great source of protein, making it an ideal meat substitute for vegans and vegetarians.
Flaxseeds: These little seeds contain up to three times the phytoestrogens of soybeans, but your body will not reap their benefits unless they are cracked or ground prior to consumption. Also high in fiber, flaxseeds will make you feel full and may aid in weight loss and in the reduction of cholesterol.
Sesame seeds: Whole seedsor even sesame oilcontain lignans that possess phytoestrogens. The seeds are also loaded with fiber and are a great source of minerals.
Beans: They are relativity high in phytoestrogens, but they dont get much attention. Beans are known for having a high fiber content, which helps to control cholesterol levels. Types of beans include peas, pinto bean, and lima beans
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What Is Natural Estrogen Replacement
Natural estrogen replacement hormones are an alternative hormone replacement therapy for women going through menopause. During menopause, the body produces a much lower amount of estrogen and progesterone, and the woman no longer has a menstrual cycle because her ovaries have ceased releasing eggs on a monthly basis. Natural estrogen replacement therapy consists of consuming products and foods which stimulate or have a high level of phytoestrogen. Chemical estrogen replacement therapy is available, but there have been studies that have shown that these chemicals greatly increase the womans chance of developing breast cancer, so many women look for natural alternatives to chemical hormone replacement therapy.
Soy bean products are extremely rich in isoflavones, a group of foods that contain phytoestrogen. Tofu, edamame, soy milk, and supplements are the most popular food sources containing high amounts of soy beans. Soy bean consumption by menopausal women has been the subject of many studies, and it has been found to reduce the side effects of menopause while increasing the womans bone mineral density.
Traditional Hormone Replacement Therapy Vs Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy: Whats The Difference
Although they do still need to be processed in some ways to make them effective for human use, natural hormones used in BHRT are derived from products like plants and animal sources, rather than being created synthetically in a lab like some products.
Some health care providers who prescribe BHRT products perform saliva or blood tests in their patients first in order to assess their unique hormonal needs and then prescribe customized treatment solutions. This is called custom-compounded hormone therapy. Not all BHRT is customized, however. There are also FDA-approved hormone therapy products that are commercially available which are not specialized for each patient, and those that are not naturally produced.
The FDA has reported that, according to clinical studies, hormones that are marketed as bioidentical or natural dont appear to be any more effective or safe compared to hormones used in traditional hormone therapy products. Some research also shows that hormones that are marked as bioidentical might not be much different at all from those in traditional hormone replacement therapy and might even be riskier in some cases.
FDA-approved hormone therapy drugs undergo a lengthy process to meet federal standards for approval, but custom-compounded BHRT drugs usually dont meet these standards. Its possible for some BHRT mixes to contain other inactive ingredients that help bind pills, creams or lotions, which can cause side effects or allergies in some patients.
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Why People Use Bioidentical Hormones
As people age, their bodies experience a decline in the levels of various hormones. These hormones are estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone. The drop in the level of these hormones can cause certain symptoms.
Some are common among women who are in their post-menopause phase. Common effects of reduced hormones are:
- Night sweats
- Floggy thinking
- Loss of muscle mass
Hormone therapy is the treatment for these conditions as it replaces the hormones. After using hormone therapy, hormone levels rise, and symptoms improve as well.
Recommendations from national societies and medical experts state that people should consider the benefits and risks of both bioidentical and conventional hormones. Your physician can share with you the available options and guide you on what to use depending on what you prefer.
Take Epsom Salt Baths:
Epsom salts are a powerful way to relax and cleanse the body and mind. Epsom salts are a fantastic source of magnesium and sulfur compounds that relax the muscles, ease stress and support liver detoxification.
I recommend taking a healing bath with Epsom salts and add in some essential oils such as chamomile and passionflower which are relaxing and have a hormone balancing impact on the body. Diffusing some of these essential oils your home while taking the bath in the evening to help wind down can be extremely helpful.
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The Relationship Between Estrogen And Progesterone
Progesterone and estrogen are two of the most prevalent hormones in a womans body. When these two are in balance with one another, your body will be firing on all cylinders. When theyre out of balance, your body will start to react negatively.
Both of these hormones work to balance the other. The majority of their characteristics stand in opposition to one another, which is why a healthy woman needs the appropriate balance of each. Unfortunately, many women are unaware of their natural hormone imbalance and dont understand why their emotions and bodily functions are out of sync.
To understand the relationship between estrogen and progesterone, we must first take a look at the function these two hormones play in a womans body.
How Is Biote Different Than Conventional Hrt
Conventional hormone replacement therapy consists of synthetic hormones. Some conventional hormone replacement products, such as Premarin, are made from the urine of pregnant horses. BioTE therapy is ideal for women who prefer a more natural approach to reducing hormonal imbalance issues.
Each pellet is customized for your specific needs and composed of the right mix of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Because the pellets are natural and release slowly into your system, their effects are subtle and consistent. You dont experience a roller coaster-like hormone impact as you might with conventional hormone therapy.
The benefits of hormone replacement therapy, both conventional and bioidentical, may go beyond reducing menopause symptoms. Boosting your hormone levels may reduce your risk for diabetes, tooth loss, and cataracts, and even improve your skin texture.
The effects of BioTe pellet therapy are usually immediate. After we inject the pellet, you can return to a life where you sleep well, maintain a healthy weight, have energy, and have interest in sex.
If hormonal imbalances are disrupting your life, call us at the Center for Womens Health in Wichita, Kansas, for an appointment or make one online through this website.
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What Does The Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy Program Involve
Once you decide to enter the Program, you will be sent an intake questionnaire prior to your first appointment. This will be reviewed by your physician so that we have an understanding of your current health issues, pertinent symptoms and wellness goals. This allows your first visit to be as meaningful as possible.
At your first visit, you will go through a comprehensive assessment with your physician that includes:
- An initial questionnaire to evaluate your personal needs and goals
- Blood work to check hormonal levels
- Other tests may be scheduled depending upon your specific situation
- A follow-up appointment to discuss test results
During your time together, you will not only address the symptoms of menopause and andropause but also discuss a wide range of lifestyle choices that affect health and wellness, including nutrition, exercise and stress.
At the conclusion of your first visit in addition to receiving your first bio-identical hormone pellets if appropriate you will also be given a personalized integrative health diet and additional recommendations to maximize wellness and minimize health risks during midlife.
Your physician will also streamline access to other Brind Center programs and services, including Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Fitness and Lifestyle Programs, and Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.