Are you struggling with hot flashes, mood swings, and night sweats? Wish there was a natural way to relieve some of these symptoms without resorting to estrogen or female hormones as supplements that bring their own problems and negative side effects? Studies have been conducted on the link between phytoestrogens and menopause and show that this plant-based substance may help lower cholesterol levels and relieve many of the symptoms of menopause.

So what’s the connection between phytoestrogen and menopause? Phytoestrogens are plant chemicals very similar in structure to the most familiar of female hormones, estrogen. They work partially by tricking the body into believing that there’s more estrogen available than is actually there. After menopause, estrogen levels drop and rapid bone loss can occur. Plant estrogens found in fruits, vegetables, and soy foods help to naturally replace that lost estrogen, thereby relieving many of the symptoms caused by lack of estrogen after menopause.

You can take a phytoestrogen supplement, but eating foods rich in phytoestrogen and isoflavones (soy phytoestrogen) is more nutritionally complete, gaining you the much-needed health benefits of fruits, veggies, and soy. In fact, eating a diet high in soy, especially during the first 10 years after menopause, has been scientifically linked to stronger bones. Next time you talk with your doctor, ask his or her opinion on the link between phytoestrogens and menopause and whether he or she recommends a supplement or healthy change in diet to add more natural, plant-based estrogen to your diet.

Many women today take progesterone to replace hormones as they age and to cause the menstrual cycle to become regular again if it stops. Women also use progesterone during early pregnancy if they are at high risk to miscarry because this hormone will help the pregnancy along without the loss of the embryo or fetus. There are some progesterone side effects that should be considered when taking this hormone, however, and this is true no matter what form the hormone is taken.

Progesterone cream side effects are very similar to the progesterone suppositories side effects, or the hormone pill progesterone side effects. Women who use these products may experience headaches that can range from mild to severe. Breast tenderness may be noticed as well.

Another of the common progesterone side effects can be diarrhea, and this may be constant or sporadic. Vaginal discharge can also be bothersome when taking this hormone supplement. Urination difficulty may also be noticed. These side effects are usually temporary and will go away, but if they do not, a visit to the doctor may be required. Some serious progesterone side effects should be reported to the doctor immediately because they can be serious or even life threatening. These can include dizziness, chest pain, blurred vision, tingling or numbness in the extremities, or a sudden difficulty in breathing. Other serious problems that may be rare and need to be reported are vaginal bleeding, uncontrollable shaking, lumps in breast tissue, or severe migraine headaches.

• Bloating as part of menopause
• Medical studies and menopause remedies
• 10 ways to help prevent menopause bloating: the menopause diet and herbal remedies for menopause

Menopause brings on a plethora of new and unusual body experiences. One day you feel normal, the next night you wake up in sweats. Gastrointestinal discomfort is another moment of discovery. You find yourself asking “where did my body go and who replaced it with this one”? Menopause bloating is embarrassing and uncomfortable. Gas distress can be rampant during menopause, as your body decreases in estrogen level. Medical studies suggest that the diet can also be to blame: too many high sugar foods including fruit and certain vegetables such as cauliflower, onion and broccoli that create more bacteria in already irritated intestines. Fear not, life does not have to be this way forever. You can take charge of your body and the new direction it has taken through medical and alternative methods. Here are the top 10 methods to help prevent menopause bloating:

The overall understanding is that you must adjust your eating habits to a newer and more healthy menopause diet.

1. Reduce salt intake

Excessive sodium in the blood leads to retaining water in the tissues. It would be ideal to cut down on junk foods. Avoiding salty fries, pepperoni pizza and other foods containing hidden salt, some types of salad dressings, cereals and canned soups would be a good start. Make reading the labels a part of your shopping routine, before you buy food off the shelves. American food manufacturers add sodium in everything, even when it doesn’t need it.

2. Get exercising

Start walking, bicycling, and similar activities. These can help reduce water build up in your body. With age, you generally tend to reduce such activities, when you actually need to do the exact opposite!

3. Watch your Vitamin C

Although ascorbic acid – Vitamin C – increases water output from the kidneys, its excessive use could stress your kidneys and there is a likelihood of increase in retaining water in the future. There are certain things you can try to increase the output of water from your body.

4. Tincture of Dandelion ; one of the herbal remedies for menopause

About 10 to 20 drops of this tincture is a great way to reduce your water levels. It helps in removing excess fluid from the cells, nourishing and toning your kidneys, the adrenals and the liver. It increases the ability to digest food and aids hormones to ease menopausal change.

5. Dong Quai; another of the menopause remedies

When used regularly, it relieves bloating, and has a diuretic effect – increase in the discharge of urine. This oil also has a mild sedative effect, soothing the intestines and bladder.

6. Helpful Foods

Eating asparagus, corn, cucumber, grapes, and watermelon may be helpful. Reduce intake of parsley, celery, black tea and coffee in order to avoid water retention.

7. Other herbal remedies for menopause

Certain oils, such as cypress, geranium, juniper, lavender and rosemary, may help reduce water retention in your body. These essential oils may be used in the form of baths, gargles, mouthwashes, vaporizers, inhalants, as well as compresses and massages.

8. Herb and Mineral Supplements for your menopause diet

Talk to your doctor about herbal and mineral supplements. Communication with your doctor is important as some people may have different reactions to herbal supplements for various reasons. Just because herbs come from nature doesn’t mean they are necessarily safe. Some herbs that are reported to aid in the relief of bloating are common home remedies in the relief of menopause.

9. Probiotic foods may help as a menopause remedy

Natural foods that include probiotic (good) bacteria can help to balance the digestive tract. Yogurt, sour cream and whey are easy to buy. Just make sure that they are low in sugar and sodium.

10. HRT or BHRT

Synthetic hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is surrounded by problematic situations: Higher cancer risks are on the top of the list and water retention that causes bloating at the bottom of the list. Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is hailed by naturopaths, independent compounding pharmacists and many in the medical community. Main stream medicine, tied in so tightly with the pharmaceutical companies, refuse to embrace anything that may reduce the income of the drug companies.

• What herbal remedies contain as replacement
• Studies on menopause remedies
• Top 10 most popular and the benefits of a menopause diet

Many women may not choose to take synthetic drugs for menopausal symptoms. Their choice may be based on the fact that they don’t have to or simply that it’s too risky. BHRT (bio-identical replacement therapy) may be another option, since it is based on natural hormone replacement. If your selection is to remain in the mainstream of homeopathic, natural or herbal remedies for menopause, then you will probably have to accomplish a trial-and-error method to establish what works for you; starting with the top ten. Studies on herbal remedies are not plentiful, but they are promising.

According to WomensHealth.com: “Soy and soy products have been used for the alleviation of menopausal symptoms due to their high concentration of phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens are plant-derived compounds that possess estrogenic activity, and therefore could have some of the same effects as HRT, but their long-term safety has not been adequately studied. There is limited, and sometimes conflicting, research on the safety and effectiveness of many other popular herbal products that claim to help menopause, including ginseng, black cohosh, dong quai, and evening primrose.” Adding these as part of your menopause diet will take time to prove whether they work for you.

There are scientific studies of herbal remedies for menopause in the U.S. They have been small, but the results are encouraging. In Germany, 70% of physicians prescribe herbal remedies, which are covered by insurance. The German Health Department’s Commission on Herbal Remedies, known as Commission E, has reviewed 315 medical herbs. Two thirds of those reviewed are deemed safe and effective. Menopause remedies come in all shapes and sizes and you must consult with your primary medical caregiver before adding anything to your diet.

The American College of Obstetricians (ACOG) issued the following guidelines on the most popular “alternative” medicines also known as herbal remedies for menopause:

1. Soy and Isoflavones (plant estrogens found in beans, particularly soybeans)

High isoflavone intake (about 50 grams of soy protein per day) may be helpful in the short term (2 years or less) in relieving hot flashes and night sweats. Taken over the long term, it also may have beneficial effects on cholesterol and bones. While safe in dietary amounts, the consumption of extraordinary amounts of soy and isoflavone supplements may interact with estrogen and may be harmful to women with a history of estrogen-dependent breast cancer and possibly to other women as well.

2. St. John’s Wort

May be helpful in the short-term (2 years or less) to treat mild to moderate depression in women (when given in doses of less than 1.2 milligrams a day.) A recent study showed it is not effective in treating severe depression. It also can increase skin sensitivity to the sun and may interfere with prescription antidepressants.

3. Black Cohosh

May be helpful in the short term (6 months or less) to treat hot flashes and night sweats. It seems to be extremely safe, although studies have been small and brief, none longer than six months.

4. Chasteberry (also known as monk’s pepper, Indian spice, sage tree hemp, and tree wild pepper)

This may inhibit prolactin, a natural hormone that acts on the breast. It is touted for breast pain and premenstrual syndrome. There are very few studies in menopausal women. A study of women with premenstrual syndrome found they reported improvements in mood, anger, headache, breast fullness, but not bloating and other symptoms.

5. Evening primrose

This plant produces seeds rich in gamma-linolenic acid, which some experts believe is the nutritionally perfect fatty acid for humans. Although evening primrose capsules are taken for breast pain, bladder symptoms and menopausal symptoms, there is little or no evidence that they work. The one high quality study of effects on hot flashes found that evening primrose was no better than placebo.

6. Dong Quai

A study aimed at reducing hot flashes found that dong quai was not better than placebo – although the 4.5-gram dose used in the study was lower than that typically given in Chinese medicine. The herb is potentially toxic. It contains compounds that can thin the blood, causing excessive bleeding, and make the skin more sensitive to sun, possibly increasing skin cancer risk.

7. Valerian Root

This has traditionally been used as a tranquilizer and sleeping aid. But the U.S. Pharmacopoeia, which sets manufacturing standards for medicines, does not support its use, and there have been reports of heart problems and delirium attributed to sudden withdrawal from valerian. Use caution when adding to part of your menopause diet.

8. Ginseng

Most of the many types of ginseng (including Siberian, Korean, and American, white and red), are promoted for relieving stress and boosting immunity. A study of menopausal women by the leading ginseng manufacturer found the product did not relieve hot flashes but did improve women’s sense of well being. Analyses of ginseng products have found a troubling lack of quality control: some contained little or no ginseng, contained large amounts of caffeine, or were tainted by pesticides or lead. Before adding any of the menopause remedies to your diet, consult with a high quality health food store.

9. Wild and Mexican yam

There are no published reports that show wild and Mexican yam cream is effective in helping menopausal symptoms. The hormones in wild and Mexican yam do not have any estrogenic or progestational properties, so they are not expected to help women with these symptoms.

10. Red Clover

Red clover is one of the premium sources of phytoestrogens, plant estrogens that mimic the female sex hormone. These phytoestrogens help to increase the levels of estrogen in our bodies, thereby reducing menopausal symptoms. Red clover also contains many vitamins and minerals including calcium, magnesium, niacin, potassium and Vitamin C.

Before embarking on any herbal or natural additives, be sure to confer with your pharmacist to ensure that there aren’t any drug interactions with all medicine, OTC and other supplements.

Any use of an alternative treatment should be combined with a consultation with your medical physician. The information supplied in this article is not to be considered or used as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.

• Pharmaceutical drugs and side effects
• Types of herbal remedies for menopause: BHRT, OTC and newest
• Hormone levels that need to be monitored
• Pharmacy and physician information for drugs, natural remedies and the menopause diet

Thank heavens the topic of menopause is out in the open. Gone are the days when women had to quietly (or not so quietly) suffer through the changes that our bodies undergo as we grow older and our bodies stop producing some of the youthful hormones. There are diagnoses of all the varying elements; peri- and post- menopause as well as a variety of treatments. Pharmaceutical companies push their drugs, which have been associated with a stream of side affects; the worst of which is potential cancer risks. Homeopaths encourage natural, bio-identical hormones and herbal remedies for menopause. Studies on both sides negate each other. So which is the best path to choose? A little education goes a long way to help you select the treatment that’s right for you.

Synthetic Hormone Drug Treatment:

Standard synthetic hormone replacement drugs are, of course, by prescription only. Studies in the 1970s linked the synthetic estrogen and progesterone drugs to endometrial cancer. The drug company that produce the product released new products that promised to eliminate the original hazard and do everything from strengthening bones to an almost fountain-of-youth. Medical studies then linked those drugs to increased breast cancer, heart disease and strokes. When the scare began creating the need for a more natural approach, independent compounding pharmacies began creating bio-identical hormone prescriptions. So that they wouldn’t lose another ‘cash cow’ drug, the drug company fought back by rallying the FDA to push a law through that would keep the pharmacies from creating the more natural alternatives. To combat the competition, the drug company created their own BHRT drug. It has been approved by the FDA, however, it is in a one-size-fits-all concept.

Bio-Identical Hormones:

BHRT (Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy) has existed for over 20 years. The benefit is that the treatment doses are individualized and the mixture of products are mostly available only to the compounding pharmacies. Bioidentical hormones are those that are molecularly identical to the hormones that are produced in the body. These hormones are chemicals that are derived from sources of yam or soybean. Steroids and hormones are taken from animals and plants then altered to be identical in molecular structure. They can be formed in cream, oral, suppository or injection and are absorbed quickly by the body. These are also based on a prescription, but from a physician that understands the benefits and can write a compounded prescription. There are three hormone categories that must be balanced: estrogen, progesterone and androgen.

Categories of Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy…

1. Natural Estrogens

Most of the prescription estrogens when taken by mouth are converted in your GI tract and end up predominantly as estrone. Three estrogens to consider are Estrone, Estradiol and Estriol.
o Estrone
If you want to get your estrogen levels up to where they were before menopause then estradiol is your natural estrogen. Studies indicate that Estrone is the estrogen responsible for breast cancer.
o Estradiol
The primary estrogen produced by the ovary is Estradiol and estrone which is formed by the conversion of estradiol. Vaginal rings, estradiol creams, and transdermal patches, provide pre-menopausal levels of estradiol.
o Estriol
Estriol is prevalent primarily during pregnancy because very large amounts of Estriol are produced which leads to the protection against breast cancer. If you desire a natural estrogen that is the least likely to cause cancer then estriol may be the right choice.

2. Natural Progesterone, one of the menopause remedies

• Natural progesterone is made by the ovaries prior to menopause and by the adrenal glands and fat cells after menopause and is the precursor for natural estrogen. It is the single most important hormone in the female body.
• Natural progesterone corrects hormone imbalance of the two primary female hormones. This will protect from the effects of Estrogen Dominance.
• Natural progesterone has many positive benefits. Some possible benefits include…
• Facilitates Thyroid Hormone Action
• Natural Anti-depressant
• Natural Diuretic
• Normalizes Blood Sugar Levels
• Normalizes Zinc & Copper Levels
• Normalizes Blood Clotting
• Helps to Normalize Ovaries
• Osteoblast Stimulated in Bone Tissue Cells

3. Natural Androgens

The body uses natural or supplemented androgens as a source of estrogen. Produced by the female ovaries, Androgens are essential to normal sexual development and are a major part in maintaining sexual desire along with strong and healthy skin, muscle and bone. The natural testosterone will not produce the side effects of synthetic testosterone.

OTC as part of the menopause remedies

There are a few over-the-counter, soy based, pill form products on the market for another form of natural hormone replacement. Medical studies seem to lean more towards the fact that these have not proven any significant improvements than placebos; however, women who take them say otherwise. Many women taking these products have experienced a reduction in most of the menopause related symptoms. Part of the menopause diet of remedies, you must see what works for you.

Newest Therapy:

According to the July, 2009 report from MedicalNewsToday: “New research, has revealed that an extract which concentrates specific nutrients from Klamath blue green algae, could provide an effective natural remedy for women looking for an effective alternative to HRT to control mood swings and improve overall wellbeing. The data, published in Gynecological Endocrinology, demonstrated that oxidative stress, which influences both psychological and physical symptoms of the menopause, could be reduced by significantly increasing the body’s naturally produced antioxidant and anti-inflammatory defenses.”

So now what?

If you are going to go the synthetic route, be sure to do your homework and ask questions of your medical provider. Get the names of the drugs, the drug monographs; find out the medical statistics on the drugs affect regarding heart attack, stroke and cancer. Require that you have your blood work done to analyze your current hormone levels. Do follow up blood work to make sure that the drug is not having any adverse affect. Talk to your pharmacist to see if there are any drug interactions with standard medication, OTC or natural products that you might be taking.

If you have made the choice to go the BHRT route, find a compounding pharmacist in your area. They will have a list of physicians that are educated on the benefits of BHRT and can write a compounded prescription. Require the same blood work pre and post prescription to ensure that the hormone levels are balanced. Your physician can customize the prescription and the compounding pharmacist will adjust the dosage.

If you want more information on herbal remedies for menopause you can talk to a nutritionist at your local health food store
If you decide to start with the OTC products. Read the labels and give it at least three months to see if it works for you.

• Some of the biggest changes in your skin due to hormonal changes
• Signs of skin problems due to hormones
• What hormonal changes can do to your skin and what visible effects there could be
• Some tips and tricks to help your skin when you are going through hormonal changes

It is pretty obvious that as women, we go through a lot of different changes and hormonal changes are definitely one of them. Whether we are having our period, getting pregnant or we are going through the change of menopause, us women have a rollercoaster of hormonal changes throughout our lifetime. All of these changes of course wreak havoc on our skin and let’s go ahead and explore some of those visible signs of skin problems!

#1: One of the very first hormonal skin changes is break outs. Whether you just have a few tiny pimples or you have bigger zits that seem to always come in right around your period, this is definitely the first sign of hormonal changes in your skin!

#2: Dry and itchy skin is very common when you are going through pregnancy as having a baby inside you can honestly change your hormone balance completely.

#3: Greasy or oily skin is another very common trait that you might find when you are either on your period or you are going through menopause. Usually, this is due to the food that we are eating and around these times in a woman’s life, you tend to want to eat things that are not all that good for you, thus your hormones and skin will react to your eating habits.

#4: If you are pregnant, this is one of the most common signs of skin problems that you will ever experience, hyperpigmentation. This is one of the many common hormonal skin changes that occur when a woman is pregnant. In short, it basically means that some of the skin around her nipples, armpits and even some scars or birthmarks will get darker during her pregnancy.

#5: Less elasticity is something that happens whenever a woman is going through some type of hormonal changes as well. Not only will this increase wrinkles but it also will make the skin paler and the flesh itself is a bit more fragile.

#6: One of the biggest and noticeable changes that women are constantly trying to bring back is that glow that seems to happen on fresh and new skin. Hormones and skin do not go together, they are more like oil and water and when you involve hormones in your skin, it is bound to make it lose its glow!

#7: Finally, the seventh sign of hormonal changes coming through your skin is another kind of break out, this one happens over the tops of your arms and all over your back. Pimples usually happen on your face, when you are dealing with hormones they can come out anywhere and everywhere!

There you have it folks! Now of course, there are many different ways to handle some of these signs. Anti-acne treatments now are better than ever and there are so many different creams out there to help with keeping your skin young and fresh, you should have no problems!

• A hormone imbalance can be caused by adrenal adenoma
• Adrenal gland function is important for the production of sex hormones, including estrogen and progesterone
• This glad also plays a role in metabolism and the body’s flight or fight response

The adrenal gland is a small pair of glands located atop the kidneys. The structure of these glands consists of an external cortex and an interior medulla. Each part of the gland performs a very different function with the medulla’s function being generally considered less essential for life and the external, or cortex, being considered more essential as the hormones that it produces impact metabolism and other processes vital to life. Adrenal gland function contributes to a number of processes within the human body.

The hormones that are produced and by these glands control how an individual’s body uses a number of substances, affect the immune system, inhibit the amount of urine that is passed into the urine, thus maintaining blood pressure and the volume of blood, increase the rate and force of the heart’s beating, aid the liver in converting glycogen to glucose. “Sex hormones” that impact development of the sexual system during puberty and throughout maturation are also produced by the adrenal gland.

Metabolism

An individual’s metabolism may be the most vital, direct way that the function adrenal gland’s function impacts an individual’s health. The adrenal cortex or outer section of the gland is responsible for the production of the hormones that have the greatest direct impact on these functions. Among the hormones that are produced in this section of the gland are: the aldosterone hormone and the corticosteroid hormones. Aldosterone hormone inhibits the amount of urine that is excreted into an individual’s urine.

This impacts blood pressure and the volume of blood and has a resulting impact on the dietary needs and metabolism of sodium. The corticosteroid hormones produced include hydrocortisone hormone. Hydrocortisone hormone which is also known as cortisol controls the body’s use of fats, proteins and carbohydrates making its presence significant in the metabolic process and making a hormonal balance important to an individual’s overall health. Epinephrine helps with the conversion of glycogen to glucose in the liver; epinephrine is produced in the adrenal medula and we’ll mention it in the fight or flight section of this article.

Among the causes of hormonal imbalance of these hormones is the presence of a benign growth called an adrenal adenoma. Adrenal adenoma growths occur in the cortex section of the adrenal gland and can cause an over-production of these hormones.

Fight or Flight

This commonly termed choice of reaction to stress is closely associated with the adrenal medulla and the hormones that are produced there. In this section of the adrenal gland you will find the production of the hormone typically brought to mind by the mention of the gland, epinephrine or adrenaline. Adrenaline creates many of the thrill feels that some enjoy including an increase the heart rate and the force of the heart contractions. It also promotes the flow of blood to the muscles and the brain. This hormone also causes the smooth muscles to relax.

Sexual System

The adrenal glands also produce the sexual hormones that initiate the initial sexual maturation. The hormones that are produced by the adrenal glands also contribute to development of the sexual system throughout the maturation process. Some of these same hormones estrogen and testosterone also act to influence the function of mature sexual systems including fertility and libido.

Another significant factor in the adrenal gland’s function in the production of these hormones is that after menopause when ovary production of estrogen diminishes causing a change in the balance of estrogen and progesterone the adrenal gland function may continue to produce estrogen helping to reduce the severity of the change in the hormone balance.

• Estrogen and progesterone must be in balance in a woman’s body for her to be in good health
• High estrogen levels can cause problems especially if that leads to a hormone imbalance
• A woman may want to increase estrogen levels to fight off many of these health problems

Estrogen and progesterone work in conjunction during the regular menstrual cycle to ensure that reproductive functions are performed optimally. In a normal menstrual cycle, estrogen functions as the dominant hormone but midway in the cycle, the levels of estrogen drop. At this time, progesterone levels increase until the point at which they begin to drop which ushers in the next menstrual cycle in a couple of days. Progesterone is produced in the ovaries in the second half of the menstrual cycles. It works biologically to alter the uterus lining by facilitating the ability of the cells to nourish the developing embryo after conception. Progesterone plays a key role in guiding the process of conception and preparing the uterus for possible implantation of the fertilized egg should conception have occurred successfully.

During menopause, hormone imbalance is rampant and it becomes beneficial to increase estrogen which plays a profound role in enabling sound reproductive health in a woman. Progesterone levels, on the other hand, may require boosting more during the reproductive years than in menopause. The following discussion focuses on the need to boost estrogen levels in the body should imbalances arise.

Hormonal Imbalance Effects

Menopause is the post-reproductive phase in a woman’s life when ovaries decline in the production of the reproductive hormones, estrogen and progesterone. Various physical and mental discomforts tend to be experienced by menopausal women associated with the decline in these hormones. Hot flashes are perhaps the most rampant of these discomforts. Other symptoms are mood swings, dryness in the vagina and urinary complications.

Although there has been much debate regarding hormone therapy, it is widely accepted that despite possible risks to health, hormone therapy avails much more benefits to menopausal women that exceed the potential risks. Thus, estrogen remains highly regarded in the treatment of menopausal discomforts and increasing estrogen levels where they are low in a woman effectively helps correct hormone imbalance.

Benefits of Estrogen Intakes

Declining levels of both estrogen and progesterone are a typical feature that women experience during menopause. Estrogen intakes are highly recommended to increase estrogen in the body. Research studies have shown that when estrogen is taken early in the post-menopausal years, the risk of heart disease declines considerably. In hormone therapy, estrogen has proved the most effective treatment in addressing the various menopausal discomforts that women experience.

Natural estrogen and progesterone supplements can be found in health food stores or may be prescribed under hormone therapy. It is a highly effective way of addressing declining levels of these hormones. Estrogen application has also proved beneficial in addressing vaginal dryness which can cause a lot of pain during sexual activity and associated discomforts like burning and itching. Research studies have shown that intakes of estrogen help combat the risk of osteoporosis and fracturing of bones in menopausal women. Estrogen intakes also enhance a woman’s mood and overall mental balance. Skin that tends to be dry, dull and itchy responds well to estrogen intakes.

However, it should be noted that high estrogen levels can also create unfavorable conditions such as countering the productivity of progesterone.

• Understanding the symptoms low progesterone can help you find out if are suffering from a hormone imbalance
• If your estrogen and progesterone levels are not balanced you may need hormonal imbalance treatment
• Correcting progesterone imbalances is important because of the many functions of this hormone

Progesterone is produced in the ovaries as well as adrenal glands, and along with estrogen, plays a fundamental role, in conception and pregnancy. Sometimes, hormonal imbalance occurs in a woman’s body and symptoms of low progesterone become apparent. Following is a discussion on the functions of progesterone and why low progesterone should be addressed as a medical condition.

Functions of Progesterone

Progesterone plays a critical role in the second half of the menstrual cycle where it prepares the uterus lining to nourish the fertilized egg should conception have occurred successfully. In the event that there is no implantation, both estrogen and progesterone levels decline and the uterus lining disintegrates, resulting in menstruation. This monthly shedding of the uterus lining is thought to play a role in reducing the risk of uterine cancer. When pregnancy occurs, the placenta produces progesterone and throughout the pregnancy, the progesterone levels remain high.

During pregnancy, progesterone facilitates the growth of milk-producing glands. It is quite often used in birth control pills to suppress ovulation or thicken cervical mucus, causing it to be unwelcome to the sperm and restricting entry to the uterus.

Besides primarily reproductive functions, progesterone plays a key role in facilitating the growth of new bones and warding off osteoporosis. It is a basic component in the composition of many of the other hormones in a woman’s body. Progesterone works to combat stress. When stress afflicts us, during which process the adrenaline glands release cortisol, the body summons progesterone and directs it to combat cortisol. Should too much progesterone get diverted in the process, there will be too little left available which is required for a woman’s healthy sexual desire and this is translated to low interest in sex when under stress.

Progesterone is also an active agent in the metabolism of glucose, conversion of fats into energy and facilitating numerous other functions of the body’s cells.

Symptoms of Low Progesterone and Effects

A woman with low levels of progesterone may experience some of, although not limited to, the following symptoms: irregularities in menstrual cycle, infertility, depression, anxiety, vaginal dryness, painful intercourse and reduced libido.

Research has determined that low progesterone levels play a role in infertility in women as well as miscarriages, sometimes recurrent miscarriages. Progesterone creates an enabling environment for the fetus. During pregnancy, after the first trimester, the placenta continues to produce progesterone which facilitates the development of tissues in the uterus that will nurture the fetus. When progesterone levels are agreeable, this delays the shedding of the uterus lining that would otherwise result in menstruation. Should the levels of progesterone be low during the first weeks of pregnancy, it is likely to cause a miscarriage.

Correcting Low Progesterone Levels

Menopausal hormone therapy may make use of either estrogen therapy on its own or sometimes combine with progesterone to offer an effective strategy as a relief for menopausal discomforts. Progesterone and estrogen are also often used in combination as a hormonal imbalance treatment strategy in women who have reproductive disorders associated with hormonal imbalance.

• The balance of estrogen and progesterone in a woman’s body should be balanced naturally
• Low progesterone effects can sometimes lead to difficulties in reproduction, menstruation, and physical changes
• Some women may need to increase estrogen levels or combat high estrogen levels to restore hormone balance
• Women's More Than A Multiple can balance hormones before and during pregnancy, The Total EFA can help with PMS support and Folic Acid 800 mcg can restore overall hormonal health.

The hormones estrogen and progesterone found in the female body are responsible for managing the menstrual process and reproductive functions. They are produced in the ovaries although progesterone is also produced in the adrenal gland. These hormones work hand in hand and both must be available in the right quantities to achieve the desired balance in a woman’s health. In women, the hormonal supply tends to decline as they approach 40 years of age. Fewer eggs are produced by the ovaries monthly and ovulation tends to become irregular. This causes a decline in fertility which may be attributed to these hormonal imbalances. Thus, as women get into their 40s, they are bound to experience changes and irregularities in their menstrual cycles in as far as frequency, duration and volume of flow. Ultimately, the ovaries close, which in effect, is the onset of menopause in a woman.

Sickness, diet, stress and use of birth control pills may all play a role in affecting hormonal balance in the body. Declining levels of estrogen are well known to cause various discomforts in menopausal women while low progesterone effects primarily are associated with infertility in women and miscarriages.

Effects of Hormonal Imbalance

An imbalance of estrogen and progesterone in a woman can cause various conditions. Abnormal menstrual periods are one of the most typical indications of hormonal imbalance in a woman. Many women experience some irregularity or other in their menstrual cycle. There may be heavy bleeding or the flow may be very low. For some women, the period can be long, going up to 7 days while others may just have blood flow for a shorter time, even just a day.

Some women experience painful cramps or other physical discomforts that hinder them from being active during menstruation. Other women may go for a stretch without having their period. Menstrual bleeding is absent in pregnancy and once menopause sets in but some otherwise young and healthy women may miss their periods, a condition known as amenorrhea, and which is also know to be caused by hormonal imbalance.

Abnormal hair growth on the face and body, also known as hirsutism, can develop. When a woman is not nursing a baby yet her breasts produce milk, it usually indicates an imbalance of estrogen and progesterone. This is referred to as galactorrhea.

Correcting Hormonal Imbalances

Hormone therapy is frequently prescribed for menopausal women grappling with hot flashes. In many cases, hot flashes can be tolerable and many women are able to manage without any treatment strategies. But some women suffer the discomforts of menopause and need assistance to cope. Estrogen therapy has proved highly effective in many women as it works to increase estrogen in the body. The hormone is usually administered in minimal doses for a short period to relieve the discomforts of menopause.

If you suffer from low or declining estrogen levels, changes in diet are recommended as well as using certain herbs and nutritional supplements to boost estrogen levels. These measures have proved highly effective in boosting estrogen levels.

It is also possible to suffer from high estrogen levels especially common among women undergoing hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or using certain kinds of birth control pills. Such women would be better off withdrawing from HRT procedures and switching to alternative birth control methods.

For some women, insufficient progesterone which is needed to balance effectively with estrogen is the problem. Low progesterone effects can be effectively corrected through dietary measures, use of nutritional supplements and using progesterone cream or a doctor may prescribe progesterone pills.

If you’re hormones are off balance, there are some natural supplements that can help. Check out products like Women's More Than A Multiple to balance hormones before and during pregnancy, The Total EFA for PMS support and Folic Acid 800 mcg to restore overall hormonal health.