Premenstrual Tension Syndrome (PMS) ~ Why Natural Progesterone is Your Best Option
Nov 30, 2021 09:55AM ● By Les Cole, MD
Last
month I discussed PMS, which is caused by a mismatch between your estrogen and
progesterone. During the first half of your cycle, estrogen stimulates the
growth of the uterine lining and wall, as well as your breast tissue. During
the second half of your cycle, after ovulation, your ovaries produce enough
progesterone to offset the effects of estrogen. This prevents continued growth
of your uterine lining and wall and breast tissue so that when your period
begins, you have normal flow and no cramping and no breast tenderness and
emotional dysregulation the week before. This also helps prevent increased risk
for endometriosis, fibroids, fibrocystic breast disease, and breast and uterine
cancers.
But,
if you have PMS, your ovaries produce less progesterone than estrogen during
the second half of your cycle, causing PMS symptoms and increasing the above
risks. This imbalance, called Estrogen Dominance, is the root cause of PMS.
Because you are low in progesterone, the ideal treatment is progesterone—completely
bioidentical to your own progesterone, and which is an extract from yams.
A
recent article states “combined estrogen and progestin oral contraceptives, as
well as progestin-only preparations (oral contraceptives, implants or
injections) are widely used for contraception, but they are also indicated in
menorrhagia, endometriosis, acne and hirsutism, fibroid uterus and premenstrual
syndrome. However, they have been associated with high rates of cardiovascular
events, venous thromboembolic disease, ischemic strokes and breast cancer.” Progestins
(non-bioidentical forms of synthetically altered progesterone) are also known
to cause emotional dysregulation. Most of the conditions for which oral
contraceptives are used, other than birth control, can more safely be treated
with bioidentical progesterone.
Most
patients who come to St. Pete Health & Wellness with women’s health issues
have seen another doctor first and been treated with birth control pills (BCP)—because
that, unfortunately, is the standard of care. They come because they are not
happy with that treatment choice, or it isn’t working adequately, or it is
causing other problematic symptoms. They state they have not been offered
bioidentical progesterone and have not been informed of the associated risks
and side effects. If you want birth control pills as your form of birth control
and are informed of the alternative forms and the risks, that is one thing. But
if you have PMS, you can now see that bioidentical progesterone is not only the
safest treatment, but also helps reduce the risk for multiple other women’s health
issues.
Topical
progesterone may be sufficient to treat some of your PMS symptoms, but for more
severe symptoms—especially emotional dysregulation—oral progesterone can be
much more effective.
If your emotional dysregulation is the most severe of your symptoms and starts
at ovulation and lasts through the beginning of your period, you may have
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), which is not the same as PMS as it has
a different cause. You do not want progesterone as it will make PMDD worse.
If
you have PMS, you don’t need to. If you have PMS, you are at risk for other
women’s health issues. If you have PMS, you don’t need to take the risks
associated with BCPs unless you also want this form of birth control. Call St.
Petersburg Health & Wellness to safely stop your PMS symptoms and prevent
future health issues.
To learn more and/or
to make an appointment, call 727-202-6807. St. Petersburg Health & Wellness
is located at 2100 Dr. MLK Jr. St. N, St. Petersburg.