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):

Libido loss, including loss of femininity/masculinity and impotence

Some of the causes are: Use of drugs such as Prozac; excess alcohol intake; fatigue; stress; low zinc; high cholesterol; some diseases; hypothyroidism and pre-menstrual drop in progesterone.

Prevention : Progesterone has been of benefit to many people, particularly those coming off Prozac. High levels of oxidised cholesterol can be reduced very easily by the anti-oxidants Vit A, C, E, B3, selenium and zinc. A combination of chromium and B3 (niacin) can lower cholesterol in 50% of those taking it. Excess alcohol reduces the essential fatty acids and Omega 3 is known to improve libido. Testosterone is always regarded as increasing libido, in both men and women. Possibly a sexist viewpoint, as a study on young men showed that although progesterone lowered testosterone levels to the point where it acted as a contraceptive by inhibiting sperm from maturing, it did not affect libido at all! As progesterone is involved in the manufacture of the stress hormones, any stress is helped by using it. Usually 20mg/day is sufficient, but in severe cases of stress more will be needed. (see also infertility).

Lupus erythematous

Lupus is an auto-immune disease causing inflammation of the connective tissue, with joint pain, fever and fatigue. It affects many more women than men, generally in the 15 to 65 age group. There are approx. 500,000 people in the USA who have it. There are three forms of lupus, discoid affecting the skin; systemic which damages the heart, joints, kidneys, liver, lungs, nervous system and the skin and drug-induced by prescription medication, which usually goes once the drugs are discontinued Users of HRT are more likely to get lupus. A fourth kind has recently been discovered. Aspartame, the sweetener used in most carbonated soft drinks is causing an epidemic of lupus and epilepsy in the USA. (See also inflammatory diseases)

Prevention : Normally corticosteroids and other anti-inflammatory drugs are used. Oestrogen is contra-indicated. Progesterone has been found to be beneficial, as it is a very effective anti-inflammatory, due to the fact that it is the precursor to cortisone. Between 20 to 200mg/day should be tried, depending upon the severity of the disease. To help the immune system take per day at least: 10,000 ius of Vit A; 15,000 ius of the carotenoids; a high value Vit B complex; at least 3000 mg Vit C; 500ius Vit E, 45mg zinc, 100mcg selenium. The amino acids glutathione and cysteine have been found to be helpful in auto-immune diseases.