Progesterone Therapy for Women
Progesterone is the yin to estrogen’s yang. It allows estrogen to do its good work, while keeping cell growth in check. Beyond that, progesterone offers its own benefits relative to symptom relief and overall optimization.
Facts About Progesterone
- Only bioidentical progesterone should be used in hormone therapy. Synthetic progesterone (also known as progestin) increases cancer risk and the risk for blood clots.
- Estrogen should never be taken without bioidentical progesterone. Progesterone keeps estrogen safe by blocking excessive cell growth.
- Bioidentical progesterone is not associated with breast cancer. On the contrary, bioidentical progesterone decreases breast cancer risk.
- Progesterone promotes the proliferation of ER beta receptors. ER beta receptors block excessive cell growth and are abundant within healthy breast tissue.
- Bioidentical progesterone is molecularly identical to the progesterone produced by a woman’s body. Progestin, on the other hand, is not. This difference in molecular structure between progestin and natural/ bioidentical progesterone negatively impacts how synthetic progesterone functions within a woman’s body.
- When estrogen is present without sufficient levels of progesterone, a woman becomes “estrogen dominant”. Estrogen dominance increases breast cancer risk and causes unpleasant symptoms like hot flashes, weight gain, fatigue, and insomnia. Perimenopausal women are usually estrogen dominant.
- Prescribing a perimenopausal woman estrogen will generally make her feel worse (because more estrogen just exacerbates estrogen dominance), whereas prescribing progesterone typically relieves symptoms.
- Women who have had a hysterectomy are often told by medical professionals they don’t need progesterone. This is 100% false. Women who have had a hysterectomy need progesterone just as much as women who have not. The idea that they don’t is outdated.
- Progesterone can be taken either topically or orally. However, taking progesterone orally has a greater impact with regard to helping women sleep.
Benefits of Progesterone
Following are some of its many benefits of bioidentical progesterone:
- Protects against estrogen dominance
- Protect the breasts, uterus, and ovaries from cancer
- Protects against cognitive decline
- Reduces anxiety
- Acts as a natural antidepressant
- Promotes quality sleep
- Acts as an anti-inflammatory
- Prevents water retention
- Improves the breakdown of fat into energy
- Combats osteoporosis by promoting the creation of new bone
- Increases “good” cholesterol (HDL)
Synthetic Progesterone (Progestin) Is Poison
The negative health consequences from synthetic progesterone are numerous. Studies have shown that progestin does the following:
- Increases breast cancer risk
- Reduces the diameter of coronary vessels leading to the heart
- Undermines the protective benefits of estrogen related to plaque formation
- Contributes to insulin resistance
- Promotes fluid retention and causes weight gain
- Causes breakthrough bleeding
- Contributes to hair loss
Many medical professionals confuse progestin with progesterone, or they use the two terms interchangeably. It’s in every woman’s best interest to understand the difference.
Remember:
Progesterone = natural or bioidentical = safe
Progestin = synthetic = dangerous
Renew Youth’s physicians only prescribe bioidentical progesterone—never synthetic.
Method of Treatment
While the focus is often on estrogen when it comes to hormone therapy, it’s important to remember that estrogen is at its best and safest when combined with bioidentical progesterone…and that progesterone has important benefits of its own that are independent of estrogen.
- Our physicians’ will tailor your treatment regimen to your unique needs, based upon your lab levels and your symptoms.
- Treatment will include routine monitoring via lab testing to ensure lab levels remain optimal.
- You’ll play an active role in determining what’s best for you.
- Dosing is adjusted over time as needed.
The nuances to prescribing hormone therapy correctly are many. Every woman is unique, and one size does not fit all. At Renew Youth, it’s our job to provide the information and guidance you need, so you can decide what’s best for you. Beyond that, the choice is yours…and we’re here to support you.