Progesterone - The Missing Link

[Guest guest]

DrHotze@...

Progesterone - The Missing Link

To function optimally, the female body requires an optimal balance of progesterone and the estrogen hormones (a trio of related hormones called estradiol, estrone and estriol). Progesterone Deficiency occurs when the hormonal balance is shifted in favor of the estrogens. This condition is also referred to as Estrogen Dominance.Signs and SymptomsMillions of women suffer from Progesterone Deficiency and the following are the Premenstrual Signs and Symptoms of Progesterone Deficiency:• Breast Tenderness• Mood Swings• Fluid Retention and Weight Gain• Headaches• Cramps• Clotting• Irregular CyclesIn addition, here are some other Signs and Symptoms of Progesterone Deficiency:• Uterine Fibroids• Breast Disease• Endometriosis• Infertility• Miscarriage• Joint Pain• Muscle Pain• Decreased Libido• Panic AttacksHow Does Progesterone Deficiency Happen? For the most part, it is the inevitable result of the aging process. A woman's ovaries generally function best between a few years after puberty until around age thirty. However, as a woman ages, so do her ovaries. By the time a woman reaches thirty-five years of age she is over halfway through her menstrual life and her ovarian function begins to falter. The ovaries are the primary site for the production of both the estrogens and progesterone. But while both estrogen and progesterone levels decline with age, progesterone declines much more dramatically. By menopause, a woman's progesterone level is likely to be a mere 1/120 of the level she experienced in her early twenties. In contrast, her postmenopausal estrogen level may remain at 40% of the level she experienced in early adulthood, because even when her ovaries no longer produce estrogen, her fat cells continue to do so. Thanks to this additional source of estrogen, an obese postmenopausal woman may have higher estrogen levels than a thin premenopausal woman. Another reason why Progesterone Deficiency becomes more common with age is that as a woman ages she begins to have anovulatory cycles, menstrual cycles during which her ovaries do not release eggs. When a woman does not ovulate, her ovaries produce NO PROGESTERONE AT ALL. The stimulatory effects of estrogen unopposed by progesterone can cause the endometrial lining to become abnormally thickened, resulting in heavier periods, clotting, and painful menstrual cramps. As women enter their thirties, anovulatory cycles become more common, and symptoms of estrogen dominance become progressively more severe. In addition, other causes of Progesterone Deficiency are:• Hysterectomy• Bilateral Tubal Ligation• Childbirth• Oral Contraceptives• XenoEsrogens (Petrochemical products found in plastics, herbicides and pesticides) There Is HelpSupplementing with progesterone balances the estrogen levels in menopausal and premenopausal women. Currently, Physician's Preference (owned by F. Hotze, M.D.) carries a product called ProgestaFem, which contains USP Progesterone (United States Pharmacopeia), which is a pharmaceutical grade Progesterone. For those of you who suffer from Progeserone Defeciency, ProgestaFem may be an excellent way for you to fight it. Each pump of ProgestaFem delivers 20mg of Progesterone and is applied topically to the skin (inner arms, wrists, inner thighs or abdomen). ProgestaFem is soy based and contains natural, bioidentical progesterone. It is an excellent source of progesterone that is delivered in an effective skin cream format with a balancing herbal blend to enhance absorption. Each 3 oz. bottle dispenses a carefully measured and recommended 20 mg dose per pump and contains 70 pumps per bottle. Save $10 on ProgestaFemFrom now until Tuesday, June 3, 2008, you can receive $10 off your purchase of ProgestaFem ($36 Retail Value) when you order online at Physician's Preference. When you are out Checkout, please enter the following code into the "Web Coupon" field: PROG052008.