Menopause Treatment

Natural Progesterone Cream as a menopause treatment can ease menopause symptoms

Although it has long been accepted that menopause symptoms are caused by a decrease in levels of the hormone oestrogen, some medical experts now believe that an imbalance of hormones may play a greater part than the decline in oestrogen itself.  Although it is not yet scientifically proven, many doctors are suggesting that women take progesterone on its own to address this imbalance.

Currently most women are encouraged to take a combination of oestrogen and progesterone; oestrogen to limit the symptoms of menopause, and progesterone to protect the lining of the uterus and reduce the risk of contracting endometrial cancer.

Taking progesterone on its own could be an effective alternative for women that are unable to take traditional Hormone Replacement Therapy due to a close family history of heart disease.

Menopause Treatment – why take progesterone as a cream rather than a pill?

Progesterone is not very effective when taken orally because it has to pass through the liver where it is broken down and greatly reduced in strength. To achieve the same results with an oral dose of progesterone as with a cream would require a dose around six times greater. Progesterone can be absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream using a cream, a patch, or a gel.

There are some problems with absorbing progesterone through the skin however. The rate at which the hormone is absorbed varies from person to person depending on skin type. The absorption rate is also affected by changes in temperature. Finally the cream needs to be applied in exactly the right areas to achieve full effect, which makes administering it more complicated than taking a simple pill.

Menopause Treatment – can I use synthetic progesterone?

Using synthetic progesterone is not recommended as it has a slightly different chemical structure to the progesterone that   occurs naturally in the body. This can cause additional problems and symptoms as the body tries to reject the hormones, or responds unpredictably to them. Side effects of synthetic progesterone include water retention, depression, and increased risk of cancer.

Natural progesterone is chemically identical to the hormone produced in the ovaries of menstruating women, the placenta of pregnant women and the adrenal glands of post menopausal women. Check your progesterone cream to make sure it contains natural and not synthetic progesterone.

Menopause Treatment – can progesterone cream be bought over the counter?

Currently natural progesterone cream can only be obtained on prescription, and it is important that you consult your doctor before you begin any treatment for menopause symptoms anyway. You may be offered an over the counter alternative to progesterone cream which contains diosgenin, a plant steroid extracted from yams grown in Mexico. It is possible that the female body can convert this substance into natural progesterone, but clinical trials have yet to support this theory, so over the counter products are not recommended.

Menopause Treatment – other uses of progesterone cream

Menstruating women may be prescribed natural progesterone cream to treat severe pre-menstrual syndrome. PMS is caused by an imbalance of hormones prior to a period, and progesterone cream can address this imbalance, treating the cause and not  simply the symptoms. Women taking progesterone cream to treat PMS may find that it alters or disrupts their cycle a little.

A range of other possible benefits have been linked with progesterone cream including a better quality of sleep, reducing migraines, limiting fluid retention, reducing risk of certain cancers, stabilizing blood sugar and preventing depression. These benefits are not all proven though, so consult your doctor before beginning any progesterone treatment.

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