Progesterone and Hot Flashes

Hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, weight gain – all symptoms that a woman may have entered the menopause zone created by the change in her body’s levels of progesterone and estrogen. While indications of menopause are common to all women of a certain age, they can be demoralizing, depressing and in some cases even debilitating. For years the diminished production of estrogen was thought to be the main cause of menopause symptoms. As a result hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was routinely prescribed as an answer to menopausal distress. In the last decade though HRT has come under increasing scrutiny from a wide variety of women and their doctors; as a result, many females have opted for other solutions to their menopause symptoms. Some women have opted to battle hot flashes and their ilk through the use of vitamin supplements, herbs, diet and exercise; others have chosen weaker forms of natural estrogen and progesterone to relieve the maladies of menopause.

Mainstream hormone replacement therapy generally consists of a pill or a patch which delivers a combination of estrogen and progestin. Progestin is a synthetic form of progesterone. Some studies have found that taking these hormones in tandem can put a woman at higher risk for heart disease, blood clots, stroke, breast cancer and forms of dementia; taking estrogen alone has shown elevated incidence of stroke. These findings prompted many women to stop their HRT. Still, since hot flashes and the other affects of menopause can be so uncomfortable for many women some have sought ways to lower the risks of hormone replacement therapy while retaining the documented benefits. Applying progesterone cream is one of the ways some women have used to garner the remedial properties of post menopause hormone therapy.

The main areas of concern for a woman considering progesterone cream are: Is it safe? Is it effective?

Evidence concerning the safety and efficacy of progesterone cream is largely anecdotal. Progesterone is a hormone and there are risks associated with hormones whether taken orally, administered through a patch or applied topically. The level of risk from progesterone cream applied to the skin for a minimal amount of time is rather low. Still any woman using progesterone cream should discuss its use with her doctor. In addition, all women should undergo appropriate diagnostic and preventive tests such as pap smears and mammograms on a regular basis.

There has been only one controlled study of progesterone cream’s ability to relieve hot flashes. The study did appear to show that a large number of women experienced fewer hot flashes when using progesterone cream. Many women who use progesterone cream do find that it addresses specific symptoms of menopause and some swear by its ability to diminish both the number and severity of hot flashes. Progesterone cream is also touted as lowering the danger of developing osteoporosis. There is no conclusive evidence either clinical or anecdotal to support this conclusion. Again, menopausal and post menopausal women should consult their doctors about how to avoid osteoporosis particularly if there is a history of it in their families.

The current popularity of progesterone cream stems largely from a theory advanced by the late Dr. John Lee. According to Dr. Lee many of the symptoms of menopause derive not from lack of estrogen but rather from estrogen dominance. He believed that while both estrogen and progesterone secretion decrease at the onset of menopause, progesterone decreases at a far faster rate. Thus, even when a woman receives both hormones via HRT estrogen still has an overbearing affect on progesterone. Although many physicians are at odds with some of Dr. Lee’s findings there is support in the medical community for the concept of the ill affects of over abundant estrogen.

A woman who chooses to use progesterone cream should be aware that there are many brands on the market and that not all of them are prepared in the same manner. Progesterone cream is a form of diosgenin which comes from wild yams. Wild yam cream, however, is not the same as progesterone cream. A woman who chooses to use progesterone cream should look for a bio-identical micronized brand formulated according to the practices of the Food and Drug Association (FDA) and designated as United States Pharmacopeia (USP) standard. This does not mean that the progesterone is FDA approved only that it met FDA production dictates. Since progesterone cream is classified as a supplement not as a drug, FDA approval is not mandated. Still, the body may not be able to properly absorb progesterone cream which was not produced in accordance with FDA requirements. It is also recommended that progesterone cream contain at least 500 milligrams of pure progesterone per ounce. As with most topical preparations, consider using an all natural hypoallergenic progesterone cream as well.

Menopause symptoms have long been the subject of derision and humor. While a sense of humor may help a woman deal with hot flashes, night sweats and the other indications of menopause, she may want to take some other weapons into the menopause fray. Progesterone cream may very well be a powerful tool for some women fighting menopause. Any woman who decides to embark on a progesterone regimen will want to keep in close contact with her doctor. She should also maintain all routine diagnostic tests for osteoporosis, breast and reproductive system cancer as well as for heart disease. Coupling the use of progesterone cream with proper diet and exercise will increase the benefits of all three approaches. No woman should passively accept the ill affects that may result from menopause. Taking an active part in relieving her own menopause symptoms may indeed be the most effective relief of all.