I have read that estrogen and progesterone must be used together to work.

Hi Catherine,

I have been doing research on bioidentical hormones and what I have read indicates that estrogen and progesterone must be used together to work. After reading your information I am confused. If this is the case, can’t I purchase a natural progesterone cream on my own and try it? I am meeting with a Doctor to discuss starting this program … but ready to go now!

Thanks,

Trish

Dear Trish,

In ovary and breast cells, estrogen actually stimulates the formation of progesterone receptors. This means that progesterone alone cannot deliver its message to these cells unless estrogen has prepared the way.

If, therefore, you are a woman with virtually no estrogen levels to speak of, you may need to incorporate some estrogen into the equation [to prime progesterone receptors] otherwise it may prove to be somewhat of a fruitless exercise.

On the other side of the coin, estrogen receptors do not require the presence of progesterone, although progesterone does appear to up-regulate estrogen receptor sensitivity (estrogen dominance wake-up), albeit temporarily, when given to a woman who has been deficient in progesterone.

Conversely, add a tad too much progesterone and you’ll end up ‘losing’ the benefits of progesterone altogether as progesterone receptors down-regulate.

Progesterone replacement therapy needs to be considered in relation to your existing hormone levels, your exposure to and ability to manage stress (not to put too finer point on this!), exposure to toxins in your environment, your diet, your lifestyle in general, etc., etc.

When you next meet with you GP, Trish, ask him [or her] to help you order a baseline salivary hormone profile from which a more accurate BHRT treatment program can be prescribed that best suits your needs.