How effective is natural progesterone on treating amenorrhea?

Hi Catherine,

How effective is natural progesterone on treating amenorrhea? Is it? Please write back as soon as possible.

Thank you,

Natalie

Dear Natalie,

You haven’t given me much information to go on here, nevertheless, I’ll do my best to present a relatively broad overview of amenorrhea in relation to progesterone supplementation.

Amenorrhea means not having menstrual periods.

Amenorrhea is either primary or secondary. Primary amenorrhea is not having menstrual periods by the age of 16. Secondary amenorrhea is the absence of three or more periods in a row in a woman who has had regular menstrual periods.

The most common cause of secondary amenorrhea is pregnancy. Sometimes a breast-feeding mother may not have menstrual periods. Periods may also take 3 months or longer to resume after a woman stops taking birth control pills or stops nursing.

Secondary amenorrhea may also result from:

• emotional stress


• brain injury


• tumor in the brain (pituitary gland), ovary, or adrenal gland, or a cyst in the ovary


• pseudocyesis (when a woman is convinced she is pregnant, but is not)


• depression


• thyroid problems, such as on underactive or overactive thyroid gland


• malnutrition


• vigorous exercise, such as daily or long-distance running


• increased production of the hormone prolactin by the pituitary gland


• drugs, such as tranquilizers and antidepressants


• rapid weight gain or loss


• chemotherapy


• chronic illness (for example, kidney failure, cystic fibrosis, and colitis)


• radiation therapy (especially in the pelvic area)


• Asherman’s syndrome, which is scarring of the lining resulting from an infection or surgery such as a D&C (dilation and curettage)heavy smoking, in some cases.

Smoking may contribute to amenorrhea. A survey study found that young women smoking one pack or more per day were more likely to be amenorrheic than other women.

Long lapses between periods, lasting 6 months or longer, are common with ongoing physical stress. This is particularly the case if you have lost a lot of weight, as with anorexia. It may also happen if you have little or no body fat, as is true for some women athletes.

Permanent secondary amenorrhea occurs after menopause. Menopause may occur prematurely before age 40. Periods also stop after a hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus).

Not having menstrual periods is a symptom, not a disease. Other symptoms depend on what is causing the amenorrhea. For example, if you have a hormone imbalance, you may have a lot of body and facial hair, acne, breast milk secretions, a change in voice or sex drive, weight gain, or weight loss.

Frequently, amenorrhea with normal puberty is associated with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), typically characterized by irregular or absent periods, anovulation, hirsutism, acne, weight gain, insulin resistance, and male-pattern balding that tend to suggest androgen dominance.

Often the cause of amenorrhea is that the ovaries do not release eggs (ovulate). Your ovaries may be releasing the hormone estrogen but not producing progesterone, a hormone necessary for periods to occur. In this case, the usual treatment is physiologic doses of progesterone cream of between 20-30 mgs progesterone per day from day 12 to day 26 to mimic what the body would produce naturally. In more advanced cases [of PCOS], high doses of progesterone may be required.

To prevent amenorrhea from recurring, examine your lifestyle. Make changes in your diet or activities to maintain your ideal weight, consider herbal support like Vitex (chaste tree), Dong Quai, Maca and/or Tribulus; incorporate vitamin & mineral supplements; avoid cigarette smoking, excessive use of alcohol and mood- altering stimulants or sedative drugs; try to resolve areas of emotional stress and conflict in your life; be moderate in all your activities; try to balance your work, recreation, and rest; and above all maintain a positive outlook.

Natalie, given that amenorrhea may also result from potentially serious disorders of the ovaries, the hypothalamus, or the pituitary gland, I strongly suggest you seek out a competent healthcare professional to evaluate your menstrual cycles in relation to your hormone levels, and guide you back to optimal health.