What is Progesterone Cream?
Progesterone is a steroid hormone manufactured by the corpus luteum of the ovary during ovulation and in minimal amounts by the adrenal glands. In the normal menstrual cycle, the corpus luteum produces a daily dose of about 20 to 30 mg of progesterone during the luteal phase.
One of the most important roles of progesterone is to balance or oppose the effects of estrogen in the female body. Since estrogen creates a strong risk of breast cancer and reproductive cancers, sufficient progesterone should be present in the body to prevent these effects from occurring. Unfortunately for women, levels of progesterone drop significantly especially during the menopausal stage. It is due to this reason that many women are compelled to go on progesterone replacement treatments upon reaching menopause.
One of the most effective means of replenishing the needed progesterone is through the use of a progesterone cream. Although there are many synthetic progestins available in drug stores, many women would prefer a progesterone cream over a progestin because it is natural to the body and has no side effects when used responsibly as directed.
Progesterone creams come from plant fats and oils. It is manufactured from a substance called diosgenin which can be extracted from a specific type of wild yam that grows in Mexico. Diosgenin is chemically synthesized in order to mimic the real human progesterone. Although some drug labels sell diosgenin as “wild yam extract, ” claiming that it would convert into hormones when taken, it has never been proven that such conversion is actually possible in the body. It is therefore still best that patients be prescribed with progesterone cream as it is complete and need not go through further biological compounding in order to take effect.
Progesterone cream is usually prescribed for women experiencing menopause discomforts. In present times, however, many younger women (from ages 35 to 45) are faced with the concerns of progesterone disorders and are required to use this cream in order to suffice the hormone requirements of their bodies. Apparently, the environment is now overflowing with xenoestrogens (industrially made compounds that have estrogenic effects) and these substances easily set the stage for estrogen dominance for both men and women. Unfortunately for women, the result of this is PMS. In order to overcome the discomforts of PMS, many woman are prescribed with progesterone cream. Not only is it safe, it also acts as an agent for fertility so women who wish to get pregnant can also safely use it.
Side Effects of Progesterone Cream:
Too much of a good thing has its negative effects. In the case of any progesterone cream, too much of it can lead to side effects that can be harmful to the female body. It is therefore advised that women use this cream only under the supervision of a physician. A good physician will be able to determine the level of progesterone needed and, thus, will be able to prescribe the right dosage to be applied.
Progesterone Overdose
After 15 days of application of the cream, the progesterone levels in the body begin to rise abnormally. Countless patients who use progesterone cream from the 12th day through the 26th day, month after month, end up with progesterone overload. In an attempt to duplicate their cycle, they end up building up a tremendous reservoir of progesterone which leaks into the blood system. As a result they experience symptoms of progesterone overdose which include headaches, weight gain, fatigue, water retention and depression. These symptoms begin gradually and are often times unrecognized for months. By the time they become noticeable progesterone levels have already become too high and the termination of the treatment becomes inevitable. At this point it would already become impossible to return progesterone levels to normal. It may take three to six months before progesterone is reduced. During this waiting time, the symptoms surface worse and they only become better after levels of progesterone have returned back to the pre-cream baseline.
Drowsiness
The application of too much of it can cause sleepiness. This, however, is only the short-term effect of too much application of progesterone cream at one time.
Adrenal Problems
A more extreme side effect of the use of too much progesterone cream is that it disrupts adrenal function. The adrenal glands are the glands located above the kidneys that produce DHEA, cortisol, and testosterone. At the beginning of the treatment, this problem is hardly noticeable. But as time passes, the cream accumulates and contributes to disruption in the adrenal hormones. It is due to this reason that it is advised that adrenal issues should always be addressed first, before resorting to it. In many cases, solving an underlying adrenal problems make the need for the application of progesterone cream unnecessary.
Click here to read about the symptoms of PMS