Progesterone Cream Benefits (Men & Women)

What are the benefits of progesterone cream & can it benefit you? Learn about progesterone in cancer prevention, hormonal balance, etc - for both men & women! 

In this article, we talk about an important therapy that is not just easy to find, but also very affordable and does not need a doctor's prescription. Yes! This over-the-counter therapy has proven to be very beneficial to both men and women alike and today, you will learn if and how this therapy can help you and add to your overall well-being.

What are bioidentical hormones?

Bioidentical hormones are hormones made in laboratories to mimic the actual human hormones (ones made by the human body) - mainly, estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. The whole concept here is to help balance the hormones that are either low or out of order in the human body. Bioidentical hormones were developed mainly as a safer alternative to conventional hormone therapy (HT) that comes with many side effects. They are generally sold as over-the-counter creams, lotions, gels, supplements, pills/drugs and injection. 

In this article, we talk mainly about the pros and cons of progesterone cream and wild yam. 

History of wild yam?

Wild yam (Dioscorea Villosa) was first used by Native Americans, Aztec & Mayan for its medicinal properties and then its use expanded to the modern herbalists. Wild yam is a native to eastern North America and south to Florida & Texas. Wild yam was also called colic root and rheumatism root indicating the way it was used by the European settlers. Wild yam has been also used for fertility issues in women, to reduce discomfort during labor and pregnancy, gastrointestinal issues and to combat estrogen dominance.

The link between wild yam and progesterone?

"Natural" progesterone is derived from Mexican wild yam (no - not yams or sweet potatoes you see in the market).
Wild yam's main compound used is diosgenin - a phytoestrogen (a plant based estrogen) and it is converted by a laboratory process into progesterone cream. This is because of 2 reasons - wild yam does not contain any progesterone by itself, and human body cannot convert diosgenin into progesterone, thus making it important for laboratories to do the work in presenting progesterone creams to us. Diosgenin was used to make the first birth control pill in 1960s. 

Benefits for Women:-

Reduces Perimenopause (less estrogen produced by ovaries) & Menopausal Symptoms - They help in reducing or eliminating hot flashes, vaginal dryness, fatigue, headaches and migraines, night sweats, reducing hair fall, helping with dry skin, better sleep and energy, better mental and emotional well-being.

For Healthy Mensuration & NO PMS! - Progesterone cream can help promote regular cycle, reduce cramps, nausea and vomiting that is associated with periods. This also helps with better, happier mood during the monthly cycles and also in reducing insomnia that can occur for many during periods. This is because progesterone is responsible for keeping PMS away! Yes! If you have enough progesterone in your body, you will have zero menstrual symptoms. 

For Trying-to-Conceive (TTC), Healthy Pregnancy & Healthy Baby - For women who are trying to conceive and especially for those who have had miscarriages, progesterone cream has been a God-sent. This is because low progesterone has been linked to miscarriages and inability to deliver a healthy baby. However, you must work with your functional/holistic doctor to determine the right dosage and days to use the progesterone cream - a very important factor as too much progesterone can cause fetal abnormalities.

Inflammation, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoporosis & Pain Issues - Low progesterone levels are one of the factors to loss in bone density, poor strength and poor joint health. Progesterone also helps in lowering the inflammation. Applying progesterone cream might be a viable option for you if you suspect you have low progesterone or estrogen dominance. 

Weight Loss & Cholesterol  -  That weight you just can't get rid of on belly or hips or thighs?  Yep - that is because of imbalance in progesterone-estrogen ratio in the body. When estrogen is higher and takes over and simultaneously, progesterone is not there to keep estrogen in check, weight gain and inability to lose weight 'no-matter-what' is certain. This is why so many women, despite eating healthy and what-not, still can't lose the weight. Give progesterone cream a try - you might be in for a sweet surprise! Similarly, progesterone balance is also helpful in keeping cholesterol levels in check and healthy.

Estrogen Dominance - Thanks to pollution and heavy use of plastic and unhealthy diets, most of the modern day health issues can be related to estrogen dominance. Estrogen dominance happens when your estrogen is in excess and progesterone is low. Xenoestrogens (xenohormones that imitate estrogen and are found in pesticides sprayed on food & yards, animal products (like meat, dairy, cheese, etc), plastic water bottles/tupperware, cosmetics, laundry detergents, birth control, perfumes, etc) are the main culprit behind excess estrogen in a human body.

Estrogen dominance in women results in painful and heavy periods, hair loss, weight gain and inability to lose weight despite trying "everything," mood swings, dry skin, wrinkles, insomnia, fibroids, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, anxiety, water retention and breast tenderness.

Progesterone is the hormone that keeps estrogen in check and that is why progesterone cream can help both men and women suffering the symptoms of estrogen dominance. 

Mental Clarity, Depression, Brain Fog, etc - Progesterone cream/wild yam supplement is known to help with better sleep and mood, better focus, and better clarity.

Benefits for Men:-

Andropause -  Progesterone is a precursor to testosterone - the main male sex hormone. With age, as progesterone declines,  testosterone declines and estrogen (estradiol) rises, leading to estrogen dominance (ED). Estrogen dominance is also a result of xenoestrogens in our air, water, lifestyle, food and so on as explained above. Low progesterone leads to symptoms like low libido, weight gain, moodiness, hair loss, fatigue, depression, gynecomastia ("man-boobs"), mid-life crisis syndrome, erectile dysfunction, prostate and bladder issues, frequent urination (esp. at night) and loss of mental clarity and good sleep. 

Testosterone balance - Again, progesterone is a precursor to testosterone and this is why, men's hormonal support creams always have progesterone/wild yam to enhance the production of testosterone in the body. 

Prostate health - If you are concerned about prostate enlargement (benign prostatic hyperplasia - BPH), benign or malignant prostate cancer, bladder health, frequent urination or urgency or pain, painful orgasm or painful urination, impotence, lower back pain or urinary infections, then progesterone cream is your new best friend! 

Cancer - Progesterone (and testosterone) inhibit the cancer protective gene p53 whereas estrogen dominance activates the oncogene. This is because progesterone inhibits the enzyme 5-alpha reductase, which in turn inhibits the conversion of testosterone to di-hydro testosterone (DHT). DHT is responsible for male pattern baldness as well as allowing prostate cancer cells to flourish due to estradiol. This is where progesterone cream comes in - it helps prevent prostate cancer and prostate enlargement.

How to use & apply?

Your progesterone cream will come with simple instructions on how to apply. Usually you just take a dollop size and apply on arms, thighs, lower abdomen and so on. Make sure you buy from a quality company and that each pump is standardized. 

Diet for Hormonal Balance -

Healthy Fats - If you have been a member of TGR since launch and if you have been reading my articles, from the very beginning I have been writing things like -"I and the dogs eat high fat diet." or "Make sure you include lot of healthy fats in your diet." or "Add good amount of organic coconut oil in this recipe - don't skip!" and so on...This is because I know the importance of healthy fats for both men and women. When you eat good fats, your body is able to flush out toxic waste stored in ...fat. Makes sense? In men, fat cells are the ones that convert testosterone into estrogen in overweight males and this means only one thing - estrogen dominance. When you eat healthy fats, then this unhealthy toxic waste flushes out - leading to hormonal balance and well-being.

Balancing insulin sensitivity or blood sugar is crucial step to maintaining healthy hormonal balance - eat fats to maintain good blood sugar. Start your day with organic coconut oil in plant based milk smoothie or if you are dead set on having coffee, then make bulletproof coffee (article below). Eat good organic oils, nuts and seeds in every meal and you will see tremendous improvement in your hormones and thus, overall sense of well-being.

Eat whole-food plant based diet rich in greens and colors! 

Magnesium - This is another one that I repeatedly emphasize in many of my articles and again, my research confirmed I was right to mention this. Magnesium not only promotes good sleep but is also involved in healthy adrenal health, which in turn produces many hormones! Eat magnesium rich foods like cashews, brazil nuts, greens (ALL green are very rich in magnesium), seeds, legumes, etc. Applying magnesium oil at night can promote restful sleep which is a must for healthy hormones for both males and females. It can also aid in relieving aches and pains and lowering inflammation.

Liver cleansing herbs & foods - Eat foods that help the liver to detox - this is because liver is the most important elimination organ in the body and it is liver that gets rid of excess hormones. So, stat with herbs like milk thistle and dandelion root in your daily regimen and incorporate organic beets (powerful liver cleaners), lemon juice, garlic, onions, leeks, and cruciferous vegetables.

Some more herbs that you can research & combine for hormonal balance are- 

Women - Dong Quai, Chaste Berry (vitex), Black Kohosh, Saw Palmetto, Fenugreek, Red Raspberry tea, Yarrow, Red Clover, Aswagandha, Shatavari, Hops, Maca, DIM & I3C (Indole-3-Carbinol), Milk Thistle & Dandelion root (liver cleanse).

Men - Saw Palmetto, Fenugreek, Stinging Nettle, Maca root, Ashwagandha, Tomatoes (prostate health/cancer prevention), Milk Thistle & Dandelion root (liver cleanse).

Points to Remember:-

Bioidentical hormones -

• Bioidentical hormones are NOT natural hormones.
• Bioidentical hormones are used to mimic the actual human hormones.
• Bioidentical hormones can help balance the low or out of order hormones in the human body.

Progesterone cream benefits -

• Progesterone cream can benefit both men and women.
• Progesterone cream and/or wild yam supplement can combat signs of estrogen dominance in both men and women.
• Progesterone cream is NOT like synthetic pill Progestin - it is much safer than Progestin and is made from wild yam.
• Progesterone is very helpful for women in all stages of life - fertility, perimenopause and menopause.
• Progesterone can also help men with andropause, testosterone imbalance and prostate as well as bladder health.
• When using, be patient and don't give up - it might take some time to show improvements in your health and also, you might need to up the dose as well. 
• Diet should be your first mechanism for hormonal balance along with sleep and getting some Sunlight everyday. Liver cleanse is your first step to hormone balance.
  

Working with a Functional/Holistic doctor -

• Progesterone cream can also mask other serious issues like reproductive cancers, bleeding, etc so make sure to work with a functional doctor regarding the right dose for you and the days for application.
• Progesterone cream can also cause fetal abnormalities IF used in higher dose than what is needed by body - again, working with your doctor is the best way to go if you are trying to conceive. 
• Men & women with hormone-positive cancer should consult a doctor before taking any hormone - be it progesterone or herbal hormonal health supplement like wild yam, dong quai, chaste berry (vitex), black kohosh, saw palmetto, etc.
• People with protein S deficiency should consult before taking wild yam as it is known to cause blood clots. 

So, here is another great article for you - solution based, affordable and simple, easy steps that deliver enormous benefits to your overall well-being. Ref (1). Ref (2). Ref (3). Ref (4).

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To 'Happy-Hormones' - till next article.

-Somyata.

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