Bioidentical Progesterone
Replacement Therapy

Low progesterone levels can enhance certain symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes and night sweats. By adding it to a hormone replacement program alongside estrogen and testosterone, it can relieve those pesky symptoms that many women endure during menopause. No more red faces and sleepless nights.

All medically prescribed hormones are not created equally. Traditionally prescribed hormones are actually NOT identical to human hormones produced by your body. The traditional estrogen replacement therapy is derived from horse urine, and is similar but NOT identical to human estrogen. This is presumably why many women will complain of unpleasant side-effects as well as carry increased risk for heart disease and breast cancers.

Bioidentical hormones, on the other hand, are IDENTICAL to human hormones in every way; this means that they are chemically and functionally identical to human hormones. They were identified in many fruits and vegetables, including yams and because they are identical to human hormones, they appear to be more effective, carry less side effects, and do not appear to have the increased potential for breast cancers.

Bioidentical hormone replacement can help restore a women’s estrogen levels, helping to alleviate the symptoms of menopause and give them back the freedom to enjoy their lives.

A simple blood test will help determine progesterone levels. We draw the blood from your arm and recommend a morning appointment because that is when the levels are at their peak. There is no preparation needed, is a very quick and easy blood draw and apart from possible bruising no after effects.

One of progesterone’s most important functions is to cause the endometrium to secrete special proteins during the second half of the menstrual cycle, preparing it to receive and nourish an implanted fertilized egg. If implantation does not occur, estrogen and progesterone levels drop, the endometrium breaks down and menstruation occurs.

Progesterone is used along with estrogen in women who still have their uterus. In these women, estrogen– if taken without progesterone–increases a woman’s risk for cancer of the endometrium (the lining of the uterus). During a woman’s reproductive years, cells from the endometrium are shed during menstruation. When the endometrium is no longer shed, estrogen can cause an overgrowth of cells in the uterus, a condition that can lead to cancer.

Progesterone reduces the risk of endometrial (uterine) cancer by making the endometrium thin. Women who take progesterone may have monthly bleeding, or no bleeding at all, depending on how the hormone therapy is taken. Monthly bleeding can be lessened and, in some cases, eliminated by taking progesterone and estrogen together continuously. Women who have had a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus through surgery) typically do not need to take progesterone. This is an important point, because estrogen taken alone has fewer long-term risks than HT that uses a combination of estrogen and progesterone.

Low progesterone levels can lead to the following symptoms:

• Low sex drive
• Weight Gain
• Mood Swings
• Fibroids
• Menstrual Cycle irregularities
• Infertility
• Acne
• Fatigue
• Brittle nails
• Dry cracked skin
• Memory issues
• Hot Flashes
• Migraines / Headaches
• Allergy issues

These facts about progesterone highlight the benefits of taking progesterone:

• Men and women have receptors for progesterone throughout their bodies.
• It supports healthy bones, breasts, heart, liver and brain tissue in both men and women.
• It improves cholesterol levels.
• It is beneficial for the prostate.
• It is important for the brain.
• It stimulates the brain’s GABA receptors, those feel-good, calming neurotransmitters.
• It has multiple functions in the central nervous system to regulate cognition, mood, inflammation, mitochondrial function, neurogenesis and regeneration, myelination and recovery from traumatic brain injury.
• Progesterone is a precursor of other hormones, including estrogen, testosterone and cortisol.

Some of the benefits of using BHRT over traditional HRT are:

• Identical to human hormones instead of just similar
• They are extracted from plants like soy and yams
• Less side effects than traditional hormone therapy
• Controlled and consistent release into your blood stream
• Treatments once every 3-4 months instead of daily
• Studies have shown that bioidentical hormones produce superior symptom relief over traditional hormones replacement.
• Some studies have shown that bioidentical hormones carry lower risks for things like breast cancer and cardiovascular diseases.