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As women age,
their body goes through many changes often referred to as
the change of life. Their biological reproductive years come
to an end as they get ever closer to menopause, the moment
in their lives when they have their last period. Unless it
is caused by a surgical or medical procedure, it is a
naturally occurring stage in their life that also results in
less production of many hormones, which affects numerous
systems.
As they
transition from their childbearing years, a time known as
perimenopause, the imbalance of hormones can cause numerous
problems such a hot flashes, night sweats, difficulty
sleeping (insomnia), loss of concentration and the ability
to focus. While many synthetic hormones have been developed
to replace the hormones, the artificial ingredients they
contain cannot be metabolized in the body and most end up
being stored in tissue. These extra chemicals stored in the
body can cause water retention and other medical problems.
Little is understood about their long-term
affects.
There are also
some products available that are made with natural
ingredients that are bio-identical to what the body
produces. This means there are no chemicals in the products
and that they are either used by the body as they are
intended to be used. Unlike excess synthetic hormones,
excess natural bio-identical hormones are flushed out of the
system. Some of the more popular holistic products include a
natural progesterone cream that has provided relief of hot
flashes, night sweats and stress in many patients using
these creams.
Transdermal
applications allow for the natural progesterone cream to be
rubbed onto the skin where it is absorbed into the system.
Many of the creams are developed with all natural products,
resulting in no adverse side effects. They provide the same
type of relief as the ones created in a laboratory. In
addition to progesterone, most creams also contain other
bio-identical products for relief from different symptoms of
menopause.
A natural
progesterone cream may also contain some steroid hormones
such as estradiol and testosterone, to help balance the
hormone levels in a woman in perimenopause. DHEA is another
hormone that is often depleted in menopausal women under
stress. Including this in the natural progesterone cream,
stress-fighting hormones can be strengthened to reduce
incidents of anxiety. Additionally, pregnenolone is needed
to enhance moods. Pregnenolone, which is converted to
progesterone, helps reduce mood swings during menopause and
in women suffering from premenstrual syndrome.
Memory lapses and
lack of concentration are also known symptoms of menopause.
When pregnenolone is combined with DHEA in a natural
progesterone cream, many of the side effects associated with
perimenopause can be reduced in frequency as well as
intensity. Women should check the labels on any natural
progesterone cream bought over the counter since the amount
of progesterone can vary from under 10 mg to 400 mg,
depending on the manufacturer.
In most cases,
applying only one-fourth of a teaspoon daily and rubbing it
into the skin will be sufficient for many women. The amount
they use can be adjusted to meet their individual needs, but
before using any natural
progesterone cream, if they are taking prescription
hormones they will need to convey their concerns to their
prescribing physician.
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