Treatments for Progesterone Imbalance

Progesterone is key in the normal function of the reproductive system, the regulation of a woman`s menstrual cycle, and a number of other systemic functions including skin, blood, and bone health. In consequence, when progesterone imbalance presents, the condition can lead to unpleasant side effects and symptoms, both physical and psychological. Fortunately, there are a variety of treatment options available to ease this health issue.

To treat progesterone imbalance, experts often indicate three options, with different levels of effectiveness, difficulty and risk. Treatments for progesterone imbalance are.

Three approaches for treating Progesterone Imbalance

There are three approaches to treating progesterone imbalance. These are lifestyle changes, alternative medicine, and HRT.

It is recommended to begin with the option offering the lowest risk - lifestyle changes - before progressing to the next stage of treatment. HRT should really only be used only in extreme cases.

1. Lifestyle Changes for Progesterone Imbalance

This first treatment option involves both the smallest amount of risk and the largest amount of self discipline. Many times, though, simple changes in lifestyle can yield significant success in fighting symptoms caused by hormonal imbalance and improve overall health.

Techniques for stress reduction, such as yoga or meditation, combined with regular exercise and an improved diet can render positive changes for every woman. Diet in particular is key.

Progesterone Boosting Foods
	• Avocados • Nuts and Seeds • Olives • Oils

When estrogen levels are high, progesterone levels will drop. Studies have shown that diets rich in foods that promote stable estrogen levels (soy, apples, alfalfa, cherries, potatoes, rice, wheat, and yams) go a long way toward regulating or preventing symptoms of progesterone imbalance.

Making lifestyle changes is easier said than done, given the time and commitment they demand to be effective.  While lifestyle changes can help alleviate many symptoms, they do not address the problem at the hormonal source; thus, further treatment may be necessary.

Alternative medicine has proven an excellent choice for treating hormonal imbalance in a safe and natural way.

2. Alternative Treatments for Progesterone Imbalance

Alternative approaches, the only options that treat the problem at the source, involve little or no risk and can be an extremely effective way to treat progesterone imbalance. These approaches involve several different therapies, herbal remedies being the most popular choice. Dong quai, fenugreek, unicorn root, licorice, and wild yams, among others, have all been successfully used to balance progesterone.

There are two types of herbs that can be used for treating progesterone imbalance: phytoestrogenic and non-estrogenic herbs.

Phytoestrogenic herbs (e.g. Black Cohosh) contain estrogenic components produced by plants. These herbs treat the hormonal imbalance by introducing plant-based estrogens into the body. However, external addition of hormones can damage the body’s ability to produce its own hormones naturally, further decreasing hormone levels.

By contrast, non-estrogenic herbs, as the name suggests, don't contain any estrogen. These herbs stimulate hormone production by nourishing the pituitary and endocrine glands, causing them to more efficiently produce natural hormones. Non-estrogenic herbs (e.g. Macafem) are considered the safest way to treat the symptoms of progesterone imbalance naturally.

A combination of approaches usually proves most effective. Lifestyle changes combined with alternative medicine will most likely be the best way to alleviate the symptoms of progesterone imbalance.

However, for women who are unable to find relief from either lifestyle changes or alternative medicine, hormone replacement therapy may be the answer. Women who wish to explore this option should bear in mind that side effects are inevitable. It is highly advised to consult a physician before beginning.

3. Progesterone Replacement Therapy

Interventions of the third type involve the highest risk and often the highest costs. The most common drug therapy for treating progesterone imbalance in the U.S. is progesterone replacement therapy (HRT). This is a quick and surefire way to combat progesterone imbalance, but it is also rife with serious and potentially fatal side effects and has been proven to increase the risk of several types of cancer. Read on:

In 1991 the National Institute of Health (NIH) launched the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), the largest clinical trial ever undertaken in the United States. The WHI was designed to provide answers concerning possible benefits and risks associated with use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). This study was canceled in July 2002, after it was proven that synthetic hormones increase risks of ovarian and breast cancer as well as heart disease, blood clots and strokes. The findings were published in JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, and to this date have not been disputed.

If symptoms are severe enough to merit consideration of HRT, it is recommended that women speak to a healthcare professional for guidance.

These three levels of approaches are not mutually exclusive. It is possible and even normal to utilize different approaches at different times or any combination of them, depending on the duration and severity of symptoms. Today, more and more women find that dealing with the symptoms of progesterone imbalance is best accomplished via a combination of healthy lifestyle and alternative treatments.

Progesterone imbalance is not the only source of body discomforts, as it interacts actively with other hormones (estrogen, testosterone, etc) to regulate and manage body functions. For a better understanding of them, return to home page and learn more about the natural hormones.




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