The following symptoms and diseases respond to progesterone therapy, if they are hormone related. It is important to remember that progesterone is not a drug, it is a hormone vital to our well being.

Please click a letter to show symptoms and diseases begining with that letter (if you cannot click a letter, it means that section is empty):

Cancer of hormonally sensitive tissue

Oestrogen causes the proliferation of almost all cells, whereas progesterone encourages old cells to breakdown and new ones to form. Researchers now believe that cancers may be initiated or worsened by oestrogen. Both oestriol and oestrone activate the gene Bcl-2 which prevents cells from dying naturally, whereas progesterone inhibits the Bcl-2 gene and activates the protective gene p53. Research has shown that the longer a women is exposed to her own natural oestrogen, ie a long reproductive lifetime, the greater the chances of her getting cancer. Women with low levels of progesterone have a 5.4 greater chance of getting breast cancer with 10 times a greater chance of dying from all cancers. Breast cancer recurrence after a mastectomy is more likely if the surgery is performed in the first half of the cycle when oestrogen is dominant than in the second half. The Pill increases the risk of getting cervical cancer. HRT, unopposed by progesterone, causes endometrial cancer. 2 studies published in 1995 found that women who had been exposed to HRT for longer than 5 years had a 32% increased risk of getting breast cancer, if combined with a progestin it went up to 41% and for those women who were post menopausal the risk went up to 71%, while the risk of getting ovarian cancer went up by 72%. Tamoxifen, a weak oestrogenic drug used in the treatment of breast cancer, is classified as a carcinogen. It causes an increase in both endometrial and liver cancer. Men treated with oestrogen for prostate cancer or after transsexual surgery have an increased risk of getting breast cancer. There are at least 40 if not more carcinogens to which we are exposed on a daily basis. Of main concern are: alcohol; artificial sweeteners; bleaches used for whitening flour etc; charred food eg toast and browned meat; chlorine in drinking water; fluoride; food preservatives; all mineral oil, inc liquid paraffin; oestrogen; pesticides; plastics; radiation from the sun, nuclear power stations, TV sets, computers and cell phones; refined cooking oil and margarine; tobacco smoke; vehicle exhaust fumes; x-rays.

Prevention : Avoid all forms of oestrogen, the Pill; HRT; Tamoxifen. Use progesterone in place of HRT and Tamoxifen, change to another form of contraception. With the advice of your health practitioner, use between 20 to 200 mg/day of progesterone, depending on the level of stress. Reduce exposure to the above carcinogens. Increase all the anti-oxidants, vitamins A, C and E, zinc and particularly selenium. Other cancer preventing anti-oxidants are cruciferous extract, silymarin and the amino acids glutamine and cysteine. Omega 3 has been found to reduce the quantity and size of tumours. Avoid dairy products and meat, including chicken, as these often contain oestrogenic growth hormones. It has been calculated that we can reduce our risk of getting cancer by 70% if the above guidelines are followed.

Candida

Carpel tunnel syndrome (numbness of hands)

The reason for the numbness is that the nerve which travels from the arm to the hand passes through a narrow bony tunnel in the wrist and if the surrounding cells are swollen with water (often worse in the morning) the nerve is pinched.

Prevention : Progesterone is an excellent natural diuretic, with none of the side effects of the synthetic forms. 20mg/day of progesterone is generally effective. Avoid all forms of oestrogen.

Chronic fatigue

Characterised by muscular weakness; exhaustion; confusion; procrastination; lethargy; excessive yawning; lack of libido; shortness of breath and joint pains. Some or all of these symptoms can be experienced after a stressful situation, either an emotional trauma, after an illness, after giving birth, when it is termed post natal depression, and during the five to ten years preceding menopause. Many people have benefited from using progesterone for chronic fatigue. As our stress hormones are made in the adrenal glands from progesterone, a lack of progesterone during these times could lead to the above problems manifesting themselves. Unfortunately many women now experience adrenal exhaustion, particularly in their mid thirties, so their adrenals are incapable of making enough progesterone to counter the stress: a vicious circle.

Prevention : A high dose of progesterone is needed to overcome chronic fatigue - 200mg/day should be used until the symptoms have disappeared. Once gone the amount can be reduced to the level of stress being experienced, usually in the region of 20mg/day.

Clumsiness

In women there is an increase in accidents and a lack of coordination during the paramenstruum, which is the 4 days before menstruation and the 4 days after, when the level of progesterone is very low. Vision, hand steadiness and movement are impaired at this time. A survey done in a few UK hospitals found that half of all car accident admissions involving women occurred during these 8 days.

Prevention : 20mg/day of progesterone should be enough to improve coordination.

Cold hands and feet

A circulatory problem, called Raynaud's disease in its severest form, where the blood vessels in the hands and feet are so constricted they turn white and icy cold. Chilblains are a likely outcome if correct clothing is not worn.

Prevention : Depending upon the severity of the problem, between 20 and 200mg/day of progesterone will prevent it returning. Progesterone helps to thin blood making it easier to travel through constricted vessels. 15 to 75ml/day of flax oil for its' Omega 3 should also be taken because of its' ability to reduce levels of thromboxane, a prostaglandin that causes arteries to constrict and blood to clot. Omega 3 also thins blood and increases red blood cell flexibility, as does Niacin (Vitamin B3).

Constipation

Constipation is almost always due to incorrect food with a lack of dietary fibre. One other cause is too little water in the gut. Many women have found that progesterone, because of its' ability to reduce water retention, has cured them of their constipation.

Prevention : It appears that 20mg/day is sufficient.

Cracked heels

Many people have found their cracked heels go after using progesterone, particularly if the cream is rubbed on to the feet.

Prevention : About 20mg/day is all that's needed. An Omega 3 deficiency leads to chapped, cracked and raw skin, hands and feet, so it would be advisable to take between 15 to 75 ml/day of flax oil.

Cravings

The drop in progesterone before a period causes many women to have uncontrollable food cravings. Interestingly enough this same problem has been observed in baboons and rhesus monkeys. The reason is that progesterone plays a major role in blood sugar regulation in all vertebrates.

Prevention : It is essential to eat small meals of slow release carbohydrate every 3 hours and to supplement with 20 to 200mg/day of progesterone, depending on the severity of the problem.

Cysts - breast and ovarian; including PCO (polycystic ovarian disease)

Breast cysts are due to a low level of progesterone and a high level of oestrogen and are easily corrected with progesterone. Ovarian cysts are caused by a failed ovulation and can grow to 5cm before detection. Luteinizing hormone normally stimulates ovulation, but in the case of a cyst it merely makes it grow larger. PCO is a similar but more complex problem. The symptoms include many small cysts on the ovaries, irregular or no periods, obesity and facial hair.

Prevention : Breast cysts will respond to approx. 20mg/day of progesterone, sometimes disappearing within three weeks. Ovarian cysts and PCO will require 20 to 200mg/day depending on the severity of the problem. To give the ovaries a rest and to prevent ovulation, the progesterone should be used continuously for at least three to six months. After this return to the normal menstrual cycle still using the progesterone.

Cystitis and urethritis

These are more common during the premenstruum and are probably due to water retention caused by high levels of oestrogen.

Prevention : Keep levels of progesterone high by using at least 20mg/day. Mix together 100 ml bicarbonate of soda to 275 ml Vit C powder, take 5 ml of this mixture 3 times/day until symptoms have gone. Check acidity of diet.