A woman loses virtually all of her estradiol, testosterone and progesterone when menopause takes place. Her endocrine system becomes permanently imbalanced and out of sync when this happens. The best way to treat this hormonal imbalance is to replace what’s missing, which means restoring healthful levels of all three of these hormones and not just one or two. It’s especially important when estrogen is prescribed that natural progesterone also be taken.
Evidence Clearly Shows the Many Benefits of Natural Progesterone
Progesterone has many important functions in the body. One of its most vital tasks is to protect a woman’s uterus in the presence of estradiol. Research has indicated that this hormone acts as an anti-estrogenic, anti-androgenic substance and also provides anti-mineralocorticoid effects.1
What that means for HRT users is that taking natural progesterone with estradiol and testosterone:
• Helps protect against the negative effects of estrogen dominance
• Helps moderate the effects of androgens
• Helps regulate the body’s salt and water balances
In a scientific article published in 2005, researchers concluded that natural progesterone used in conjunction with HRT does not increase breast cancer risk and could even have a protective effect. On the other side they found evidence that synthetic progestins used in tandem with estrogen replacement therapy does increase the risk of breast cancer.2 Taking it a step further, two new studies published in 2015 demonstrate progesterone’s potential for breast protective effects in relation to breast cancer.3,4 Conversely, the link between unopposed estrogen and cancers of the breast, ovaries and endometrium is well established.5.6
Meanwhile, positive findings on the benefits of natural progesterone continue to mount. This important hormone can increase deep sleep,7 promote bone formation, and/or increase bone turnover.8 Another important finding indicates that progesterone has an antihypertensive effect and not a hypertensive effect as was previously thought.9
Choose Natural Progesterone
Many doctors continue to prescribe synthetic hormone replacement despite the strong evidence of serious health risks. If you are taking pharmaceutical progestins, talk to your doctor about switching you to natural progesterone. Better yet, consult with a physician who specializes in bioidentical hormone therapy—an expert who understands hormonal balance and how to achieve it safely and effectively.
SottoPelle® BHRT Experts
SottoPelle® has specialized in BHRT using the pellet method longer than most. Our founder, Dr. Gino Tutera, developed a proprietary method for diagnosing, dosing and implantation that makes us a leader in our field. We have a long history of success when it comes to balancing hormones and helping people take control of their health. In fact, we are honored to say that, according to Ranking Arizona, an annual consumer publication by AZ Big Media, our patients have voted us Arizona’s #1 Hormone Therapy Clinic in 2015.
Call Us Today!
Learn more about SottoPelle® at www.sottopelletherapy.com and then give us a call at (877) 473-5538 to schedule a consultation.
1Sitruk-Ware R, Bricaire C, De Lignieres B, Yaneva H, Mauvais-Jarvis P. Oral micronized progesterone. Bioavailability pharmacokinetics, pharmacological and therapeutic implications–a review. Contraception. 1987 Oct;36(4):373-402. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3327648
2 Campagnoli C, Abbà C, Ambroggio S, Peris C. Pregnancy, progesterone and progestins in relation to breast cancer risk. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2005 Dec;97(5):441-50. Epub 2005 Oct 24. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16249080?dopt=Abstract
3 Mohammed, Hisham, et al “Progesterone receptor modulates ER-a action in breast cancer,” Nature 2015; 523; 313-317. http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v523/n7560/full/nature14583.html
4 Perks, Bea “Progesterone receptor could slow breast cancer growth,” Pharmaceutical Journal, PJ 17 Jul 2015. http://www.pharmaceutical-journal.com/news-and-analysis/news/progesterone-receptor-could-slow-breast-cancer-growth/20068984.article
5 O’Connor KA et al. Total and Unopposed Estrogen Exposure Across Stages of the Transition to Menopause. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2009 Mar; 18(3): 828–836. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2675575/
6 Henderson BE, Ross RK, Pike MC, Casagrande JT. Endogenous hormones as a major factor in human cancer. Cancer Res. 1982;42:3232–3239. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7046921
7 Friess E, Tagaya H, Trachsel L, Holsboer F, Rupprecht R. Progesterone-induced changes in sleep in male subjects. Am J Physiol 1997; 272:E885-E891. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9176190
8 Prior JC. Progesterone as a bone-trophic hormone. Endocr Rev 1990; 11:386-398. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2194787
9 Rylance PB, Brincat M, Lafferty K, De Trafford JC, Brincat S, Parsons V et al. Natural progesterone and antihypertensive action. Br Med J 1985; 290:13-14. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1415335/pdf/bmjcred00428-0015.pdf
