Hi GeordieGirl
where did you get that from, in regards to that they are not as good as our own hormones?
"progestin and progesterone are the synthetic hormones and these may ... They don't possess the properties of our natural hormone"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progesterone
These work fine for me
There are countless studies that prove the superiority of progesterone versus progestin. The most notable is the PEPI study, but an ongoing report of over 50k women in France also highlights differences - these are summarised below, at the bottom I've noted just a handful of the reports:
Differences between Progestin (medroxyprogesterone) and Progesterone:PROGESTERONE sustains pregnancy and the developing foetus. Used to prevent miscarriage. PROGESTIN may cause birth defects if taken during pregnancy, can cause masculinisation in some female foetuses.
PROGESTERONE builds bone, increases bone density and helps prevent osteoporosis. PROGESTIN can decrease bone density, as reported in young women who regularly use an injection of Provera as a form of contraception.
PROGESTERONE decreases the risk of blood clots, working with oestrogen to protect against cardiovascular disease. Normalises blood clotting. PROGESTIN may cause blood clots, which can lead to cerebral and myocardial infarctions. (strokes and heart attacks)
PROGESTERONE is a diuretic, PROGESTIN can cause fluid retention.
PROGESTERONE is a natural anti depressant that can relieve headaches. PROGESTIN can cause depression, mood swings and headaches.
PROGESTERONE helps maintain normal blood sugar levels. PROGESTIN can exacerbate diabetes mellitus.
PROGESTERONE relieves breast tenderness and protects against fibrocystic breast disease. PROGESTIN can cause breast tenderness, swelling and pain. (According to NHS direct ) Women who take progestins frequently complain about annoying side effects like breast tenderness, skin irritations, depression, breakthrough bleeding, swelling and other unpleasantries. These side effects could be the reason so many women quite conventional HRT early. The main side effect of progesterone is sleepiness.
The claim that progesterone may protect against breast cancer is backed up by
a big ongoing French study of 54,548 menopausal women, comparing what happens to those who take progesterone in their HRT with those who get progestin.The latest report has found that after eight years, while those on progestins have a raised risk of breast cancer, those on progesterone don't. As a result of this research there has been a change in prescribing in France. “After the WHI study, many women had stopped taking oestrogen pills,†says Dr Virginie Ringa of the French Institute for Health and Medical Research, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, Paris. “Now they are taking an oestrogen patch together with progesterone which is taken orally.
According to Dr Michael Schumacher of the French Institute for Health and Medical Research: “ There is evidence that progesterone has beneficial effects on the breast tissue, on blood vessels and for strengthening bones. Many of the benefits of progesterone comes from the fact that while oestrogen stimulates cells, progesterone calms them down. As a result, one striking claim for progesterone is that it might lower your risk for dementia.â€
In the brain, oestrogen and progesterone combine to protect cells, while progestins reduce this protective effect.
While the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study showed that combining progestins with oestrogen slightly raised the risk of strokes and breast cancer, Schumacher's work (as well as similar studies below) explains how progesterone can lower these dangers.
1.- PEPI trial : The Postmenopausal Estrogen/ Progestin / Progesterone Interventions.
2. Dai D, Wolf DM, Litman ES, White MJ, Leslie KK. Progesterone inhibits endrometrial cancer cell growth and invasiveness; down regulation of cellular adhesion molecules through progesterone B receptors. Cancer Research 2002; 62 881-886
3. Leonetti HB, Anasti JN, Litman ES. Topical progesterone; an alternative to progestin in hormone replacement therapy. Obstet and Gynecol 2003;101, 85
4. Steinbery D, Transdermanl progesterone cream as an alternative to progestin in HRT Health Med 2005
5. Montz FJ, Bristow RE, Bovicelli A, Tomacruz R, Kurman RJ Progesterone treatment of early endometrial cancer, American J Obstet Gynecol 2002; 186; 651-657
6 Moyer DL, Felix DC The effects of progesterone and progestins on endometrial proliferation. Contraception 1998
7 Miller BE, De Souza MJ, Slade K, Luciana AA. Sublingual administration of micronized estradiol and progesterone – effect on biochemical markers of bone metabolism and bone mineral density. Menopause 2000, 318:326
8. Chlebowski, Rowan T., 2009. Breast cancer after use of estrogen plus progestin in postmenopausal women, New England Journal of Medicine, February 5, Volume 360:573-587. I have previously used a progestin for many years as a form of birth control. I had minor side effects with it which soon wore off - what I don't know however is whether this had any longer term effect on my body? Reading the studies and reports doesn't reassure me.
Although not huge money spinners for the pharmaceutical companies (natural progesterone can't be patented) progesterone is available as branded producsts in HRT , eg Utrogestan, Prochieve, Prometrium, Crinone.
HRT is such a personal thing and what works for one may not work for another, but information is key in this. Unfortunately our GPs seem to fob too many off with a box based on little more than guess work and a list of products on screen.
GG x