Ovaries and adrenal glands produce progesterone, a steroid hormone that is necessary for female reproductive health. Progesterone promotes bone growth and protects against osteoporosis. Natural progesterone--most commonly prescribed as a body cream--is a supplement that has the same chemical composition as the progesterone your body makes. This makes it more bioavailable--your body absorbs and utilizes it better than synthetic progesterone. Consult with your doctor or naturopath prior to using natural progesterone.
Benefits
Natural progesterone has a number of benefits for women. It can assist your metabolism in utilizing fat for energy, facilitate thyroid hormones and act as a natural antidepressant and diuretic. Natural progesterone can also regulate erratic menstrual cycles, normalize blood sugar levels and restore your libido. It benefits the endometrial lining, regulates ovarian function and balances the effects of excessive estrogen.
Estrogen Dominance
Estrogen dominance occurs when the ratio of estrogen to progesterone is out of balance--estrogen becomes excessive or progesterone drops too low--as a result of environmental or hormonal factors. Estrogen dominance symptoms include bloating, weight gain, fatigue, mood swings, irritability, headaches, depression, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, fibrocystic breasts and hypoglycemia. Estrogen dominance may contribute to breast, ovarian and uterine cancers. Natural progesterone helps balance the ratio between estrogen and progesterone, thereby alleviating the symptoms of estrogen dominance and reducing the risks of cancer, suggests Dr. John R. Lee, a leading doctor in the development of natural progesterone and hormone replacement therapy.
Menopause
According to Dr Lee, your estrogen levels can drop by 40 to 60 percent during menopause. In some women, progesterone levels may drop to zero. This leads to excessive amounts of estrogen, which can increase your risk for breast and reproductive cancers. Furthermore, since progesterone is a precursor to other steroid hormones, your overall hormone balance can be negatively affected. Natural progesterone supplementation helps maintain hormonal balance, reducing menopausal symptoms and the risks for developing cancer and osteoporosis.
